Growth and Dry-Matter YIELD of Amaranthus Cruentus As Influenced By Organic and Mineral Fertilizers in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria.

An experiment was conducted in the greenhouse and laboratory of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike to evaluate the growth and dry-matter yield of Amaranthus cruentus as influenced by organic and mineral fertilizers in an Ultisol of Southeastern Nigeria. The treatments were 0 tons/ha (control) 5tons/ha piggery manure (PD), 5tons/ha poultry manure (PM), 2.5tons/ha piggery manure +2.5tons/ha urea (PD+U), 2.5tons/ha poultry manure + 2.5 tons/ha urea (PM+U). The treatments were replicated three times in randomized complete block design. The soil used for the study was acidic, having a pH of 4.8 and was low in percent total nitrogen, percent organic carbon and the exchangeable bases. From the results of the growth parameters measured (plant height, stem girth, number of leaves and leaf area), 5 tons/ha piggery manure gave results that were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other treatments, followed by 2.5 tons/ha piggery manure + 2.5 tons/ha urea fertilizer. Also after harvest, the dry matter yield of Amaranthus cruentus was evaluated and 2.5 tons/ha piggery manure + 2.5 tons/ha Urea fertilizer gave the highest results. It can therefore be concluded that Piggery manure application either solely or in combination with the urea fertilizer performed best in this study and are therefore recommended for the cultivation of Amaranthus cruentus in the study area.