Abstract
Amaranthus hybridus L. is a nutritious leafy vegetable amaranth species grown primarily in tropical regions. Weedy amaranth species thriving in southern Ontario suggest the edible biotype could also grow efficiently as a crop. Field trials in Guelph, Simcoe, and Stouffville, Ontario, examined yield in response to three harvest frequencies (weekly, every 2 wk, and every 3 wk) cut at 15 cm above ground level, using two traditional harvest practices (Afro-Caribbean and European) cut every 2 wk, and a control which was not cut until the final harvest. The highest marketable yields and quality measures were observed in plants cut every 2 wk, every 3 wk, and using the Afro-Caribbean cutting technique which selects and harvests thicker stems while leaving new shoots for later harvests. The difference in growth among sites suggests plants prefer warm, well-drained soil. Marketable yield was as high as 4.02 ± 0.340 kg m−2in Simcoe with an average yield across all three sites of 2.37 ± 0.229 kg m−2. This demonstrates that A. hybridus has the potential to be grown as a vegetable crop in southern Ontario and that marketable yield can be optimized by method of harvest.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.