Productivity, nutrient concentration, uptake and quality of Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus L.) as influenced by cutting heights and fertilizer type

Authors

  • Ehizogie J. FALODUN University of Benin, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Crop Science (NG)
  • Vivian E. EDAFE University of Benin, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Crop Science (NG)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb12310754

Keywords:

herbage yield; nutrient uptake; plant tissue; vegetables

Abstract

Amaranthus cruentus L. is a leafy vegetable that is cultivated mainly for its leaves and grains. Due to high demand for this crop in Nigeria, the need to boost its productivity becomes necessary. Field and laboratory studies were conducted during in two successive cropping seasons at the experimental farm and laboratory unit of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City. Three cutting heights C1: (10 cm), C2: (15 cm), C3: (20 cm) and a control C0: (no cutting) and four rates of fertilizer application F0: (Control), F1: (10 t ha-1 poultry manure), F2: (150 kg ha-1 NPK15:15:15) and F3 (75 t ha-1 NPK 15:15:15 + 5 t ha-1 poultry manure) constituted the treatments. The treatments were in three replicate laid out in a (4 × 4) factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Data collected were plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), stem diameter (cm) and number of branches. Fresh and dry herbage yield were taken at harvest. Growth, yield, and quality of Amarathus cruentus were significantly influenced by cutting heights and fertilizer application. In both years, number of branches (3.50 and 6.01) were lowest at C0 compared with other treatments. Herbage fresh and dry yield (49.10 t ha-1 and 18.20 t ha-1) were highest at C3 and was consistent in both years. Similarly, the concentration of K, Ca, and Mg in plant tissue and the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na) increase at C3 compared with other treatments. F3 significantly (p<0.05) produced highest dry herbage yield (13.08 t ha-1and 25.15 t ha-1) in both years. Crude protein, fibre and fat content of   the shoots were highest at cutting height of C3 and at F3 fertilizer rate. Therefore, for good yield and better quality of Amaranthus cruentus L, a combination of (75 t ha-1 NPK 15:15:15 + 5 t ha-1 poultry manure) at cutting height of C3: (20 cm above soil level) is recommended for Amaranthus cruentus L production in the study area.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Ademola JA, Aderemi FT, Olunloyo AA, Olomola DB, Elesho RO (2019). Evaluation of different fertilizer types for improved growth and yield of grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.). International Journal of Advanced Academic Research Sciences, Technology and Engineering 5(10):26-34.

Adeoluwa OO, Akinyemi O (2014). Amaranths (Amaranthus viridis) dry matter and soil qualities: organic vs inorganic fertilizers. In: Rahmann G, Aksoy U (Eds). Proceedings of the 4th ISOFAR Scientific Conference, Building Organic Bridges, at the Organic World Congress 2014, 13-15 October, Istanbul, Turkey pp 879-882.

Adeoye GO, Sridhar MKC, Adeoluwa OO, Oyekunle M, Makinde EA, Olowoake AA (2008). Comparative evaluation of organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) and mineral fertilizer (NPK) on yield and quality of maize (Zea mays L.). Nigerian Journal of Soil Science 18:132-137.

Agboola AA, Ayodele OJ (1985). Prospects and problems of using soil testing for adoption of fertilizer use in Ekiti-Akoko Agricultural development area. Proceedings of the workshop on appropriate technologies for farmers in semi-arid West Africa, April 2-5, 1985, Purdue University West Lafayette, pp 123-126.

Akanbi WB, Adeyeye AS, Ogunrinde JO, Babajide PA, Ajibola AT, Ilupeju EAO, Akinfasoye JA (2009). Effect of organic fertilizer and cutting height on growth, shoot yield and nutrient uptake of amaranth (Amarantus cruentus). Acta Satech 3(1):7-14.

Akanbi WB, Togun AO (2002). Productivity and Influence of maize stover compost on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of amaranth. Scientia Horticulture 93(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4238(01)00305-3

Akanbi WB, Togun AO, Adediran JA, Ilupeju EAO (2010). Growth, dry matter and fruit yields components of okra under organic and inorganic sources of nutrients. American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 4(1):1-13.

AOAC (1990). Official methods of analysis. 17th Edition Association of Official Analytical Chemist. Washington DC, USA.

Falodun EJ, Ehigiator JO, Egharevba RKA (2013). Growth and yield of onion as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer in Edo Rainforest of Nigeria. Agro-Science 12(3):15-24. https://doi.org/10.4314/as.v12i3.3

Gundlade MO, Adeyemi EA, Gunleti DOO, Ibiyomi PS (2011). Effect of cocoa pod husk, urea fortified cocoa pod husk and NPK fertilizers on the growth and yield of Solanum macrocarpon cultivation. International Journal of Organic Agriculture Research and Development 3:1-8.

ISTA (1993). International rules for seed testing association. Supplementary rules. Seed Science and Technology.

Kariuki S, Sila D, Kenji G (2013). Nutritional profile of amaranth grain varieties grown in Kenya. Journal of Agriculture and Food Technology 17:19-25.

Law-Ogbomo KE, Remison SU, Jombo EO (2012). Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the productivity of Amaranthus cruentus in an ultisol environment. Magnesium 1:1-44. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPPB11.028

Maruo T, Akimoto S, Wada N, Ito M, Takagaki M, Shinohara Y (2002). New leaf vegetable production system using automatic reaping harvester and rail system. In: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural 620:63-70.

Mnzava NA, Masam AM (1985). Regeneration potential, leaf and seed yield of vegetable amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), as a function of initial topping heights. In: IX African Symposium on Horticultural Crops 153:151-160. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.153.20

Moyin-Jesu EI (2002). Use of plant residues for improving soil fertility, pod nutrients, root growth and pod weight of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). Bioresource Technology 98(11):2057-2064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2006.03.007

NIHORT (1986). National Horticulture Research Institute. Advances in fruit and vegetable research at NIHORT, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Ojeniyi SO, Odedina AS (2014). Basic plant nutrients. Dominion publishers, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp 60.

Ojo OD, Olufolaji AO (1987). Optimum NPK fertilizer rates for growth and yield of Solanum macrocrapon (cv. Igbagba). Journal of Vegetable Crop Production 3(1):73-77. https://doi.org/10.1300/J068v03n01_09

Olufolaji AO, Tayo AO (1989). Performance of four morphotypes of Amaranthus cruentus L. under two harvesting methods. Tropical Agriculture 66(3):273-276.

Robert KM, Andrew JW (1989). An introduction to the physiology of crop yields. Pub. US John Wiley and Sons Inc. New York.

Takagaki T, Amuka S, Maruo T, Sukprakan S, Shinohara Y (2003). Application of reaping method for harvesting leafy vegetables grown in capillary hydroponic system. In: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural 620:71-76.

Tindall HD (1986). Vegetables in the tropics. Macmillan, 36-41 Education LTD, Hampshire, UK pp 36-41.

Downloads

Published

2020-09-29

How to Cite

FALODUN, E. J., & EDAFE, V. E. . (2020). Productivity, nutrient concentration, uptake and quality of Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus L.) as influenced by cutting heights and fertilizer type. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 12(3), 719–728. https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb12310754

Issue

Section

Research articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nsb12310754