Growth and Yield of Vegetable Amaranth as Affected by Poultry Manure and Seedling Age at Transplanting

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted 2010 cropping season at the Institute for Agricultural Research Farm, Samaru, (110, 11' N, 070 38'E). Experimental site was 686 m above sea level in the northern Guinea savanna ecological zone of Nigeria. Study focused on to assess the effects of poultry manure rates (0, 4, 8 and 12 t ha-1) and seedling age (2, 3 and 4 weeks after sowing) at transplanting on growth and yield of amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.). Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of four levels of poultry manure and three transplant ages in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results indicated that plant height (cm), shoot fresh weight (kg) and number of leaves and branches per plant were significantly (P<0.05) higher with the application of 8 t ha-1 of poultry manure compared with no–manure than the other treatments. However, in most cases, the difference in growth characters using poultry manure rates varying from 4 to 12 t ha-1 were non-significant. Seedlings transplanted at 4 weeks of age were significant taller with shoot fresh weight than 2-weeks old seedlings at the initial growth stage. Transplant age had no effect on these parameters at later stage. All the other growth parameters were not affected (P<0.05) by transplant age. Study suggested that marketable yield increased significantly with increasing poultry manure (4 t ha-1) with transplanting age (2-3 weeks) after emergence to benefit farmers the highest.