Effects of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on the Nutrients and Anti Nutrients Composition of Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the effect of different types of organic fertilizers on the nutrients and anti nutrients composition 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 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 two varieties; Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452) with factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. At maturity, the leaves were harvested and prepared for laboratory analysis for both nutrients and anti-nutrient composition. Proximate composition was determined according to A.O.A.C protocol. Water soluble vitamins were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) while the metals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).
 Results: The ash, moisture, fat, protein, fibre, carbohydrate and energy of the two varieties were found in the range of 2.58 - 3.06%, 78.78 - 80.69%, 1.04 - 1.49%, 7.49 - 9.67%, 2.41 - 3.29%, 3.02 - 6.46% and 54.72 - 61.52 Kcal/100 g respectively. The micronutrients including β-carotene, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, iron and zinc were found in the range of 4.79 - 6.68, 14.37 - 40.36, 5.97 - 22.15, 8.37 - 27.99, 10.03 - 13.40 and 5.11 – 941 mg/100 g respectively. The anti-nutrients; tannins, phytate, saponins and oxalate were in the range of 0.33 - 0.69, 0.40 - 0.94, 1.29 - 2.30 and 0.53 - 1.01% respectively
 Conclusion: Poultry manure provided higher nutrients on the two varieties of Amaranth when compared with sewage sludge and NPK compound fertilizer. While sewage sludge resulted in the plants having higher anti-nutrients. The application of poultry manures at 10 tons/ha is therefore recommended for farmers to use to obtain more nutritious amaranth.