Effects of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on Growth Performance of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru Local Variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)

Aims: To evaluate the effect of different types of organic fertilizers on growth performance of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452).

Study Design: A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for the experiment.

Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was carried out in the nursery of a homestead garden at No 20, Isaiah Balat Street, Sabo GRA, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Methodology: The study consists of seven treatments which includes control (no fertilizer), 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 poultry manure, 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 sewage sludge, 35 kg ha-1 and 70 kg ha-1 NPK compound fertilizer and also with Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452) in factorial arrangement fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Growth performance data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index from 2 weeks after transplanting (WAT) to 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT).

Results: The plant height and number of leaves of the two varieties were found in the range of 18.30 - 135.67cm and 13.33 - 78.33cm respectively. Leaf area and leaf area index of the two varieties had values in the range of 41.71 - 258.29cm2 and 1.76 - 41.72 respectively. At 6 WAT, 10 t ha-1 poultry manure recorded the highest value for all the growth parameters for both varieties except for leaf length, leaf width and leaf area of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety), where 10 t ha-1 sewage sludge and 70 kg ha-1 NPK compound fertilizer were highest.

Conclusion: The experimental results of this study have shown that poultry manure had higher growth performance on the two varieties of Amaranth when compared with sewage sludge and NPK compound fertilizer. The application of poultry manures at 10 t ha-1 is therefore recommended for farmers to use to obtain higher yields of Amaranth.