Enhancing Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Spinach Growth through Organic Amendments

Abstract

Spinach is an important leafy vegetable crop in Pakistan, with substantial cultivation area and market demand, contributing to both household nutrition and farm income. Agriculture and biodiversity are negatively impacted by climate change factors like rising atmospheric CO₂ levels. So, the soil organic matter played an important role in maintaining the soil ecosystems and its biogeochemistry also in enhancing soil carbon sequestration dynamics. For that an experiment was conducted to enhance carbon sequestration using spinach crop in residual soil through organic manuring. Treatments were applied as Control (recommended fertilizers only); 1% organic amendment + 50% recommended fertilizers; 2% organic amendment + 50% recommended fertilizers; 1% organic amendment and 2% organic amendment. The experiment was conducted at the Institute of Soil and Environmental Science, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, using a Completely Randomized Design with five treatment combinations and three replications. Results demonstrated that carbon sequestration and spinach production were significantly (p<0.05) increased by soil organic amendment levels, 2% soil organic amendment proven to be more effective than 1%. Further, the application of organic amendment at higher level improved soil organic carbon, water use efficiency, infiltration rate and soil porosity and reduced soil bulk density compared to the control. Overall, the application of 2% soil organic amendment enhanced soil carbon sequestration, improved spinach growth, and increased soil health and water use efficiency.

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