Table 1 Effect of different green manures on soil chemical properties.

From: Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) as green manure modifies the soil nutrients and microbiota structure for enhanced pepper productivity

Soil chemical properties

Treatments

Control

Spinach

Red mustard

Green mustard

pH

6.17 ± 0.03c

6.67 ± 0.03a

6.43 ± 0.03b

6.47 ± 0.03b

EC (dS m−1)

1.02 ± 0.00b

1.29 ± 0.13a

0.91 ± 0.02b

0.85 ± 0.01b

CEC (cmolc kg−1)

17.50 ± 0.10a

17.34 ± 0.16a

18.15 ± 0.52a

17.23 ± 0.32a

SOM (g kg−1)

26.23 ± 0.24b

28.56 ± 0.45a

28.05 ± 0.77a

24.97 ± 0.53b

TN (g kg−1)

1.60 ± 0.01b

1.90 ± 0.00a

1.70 ± 0.00b

1.60 ± 0.00b

TC (g kg−1)

14.66 ± 0.25c

14.83 ± 0.39c

15.90 ± 0.06b

17.00 ± 0.27a

C:N ratio

9.18 ± 0.19b

7.94 ± 0.09c

9.55 ± 0.20b

10.63 ± 0.17a

NO3 (mg kg−1)

6.40 ± 1.95b

7.73 ± 1.35b

9.20 ± 0.25ab

12.50 ± 0.32a

NH4+ (mg kg−1)

7.43 ± 0.23c

8.63 ± 0.20a

8.07 ± 0.09b

8.17 ± 0.09ab

AP (mg kg−1)

687.30 ± 2.91a

534.49 ± 2.07d

582.04 ± 2.55b

544.47 ± 2.36c

K (cmolc kg−1)

0.51 ± 0.01c

1.43 ± 0.02a

1.01 ± 0.01b

0.98 ± 0.01b

  1. Control: without green manure amendment.
  2. EC Electrical conductivity, CEC cation exchange capacity, SOM soil organic matter, TN total nitrogen, TC total carbon, NO3 nitrate nitrogen, NH4+ ammonium nitrogen, AP available P2O5, K Exchangeable potassium.
  3. Mean values (n = 3) followed by different letter (s) in a row represent significant differences at p ≤ 0.05, DMRT test.