A Comparative Study of the Effect of Organic Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer on Germination and Hydroponic Production of Amaranthus Hybridus (L) in South Eastern Nigeria.

A comparative study of the effect of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on germination and hydroponic production of Amaranthus hybridus (L) in South Eastern Nigeria. By *Udengwu O.S. and Nwaezeobi L.C. Genetics and Plant Breeding Division, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria e-mail obi.udengwu@unn.edu.ng, obiudengwu@gmail.com GSM. +2348037723300, +2348032034068 This study was carried out to compare the effect of organic manure (poultry droppings) (MNR) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK) (FTZ) on seed germination and hydroponic production of Amaranthus hybridus using two organic waste products, rice hull(RH) and saw dust(SD) as open system substrates. Garden top soil (TS) and river sand (RS) were used as controls. There were a total of 9 treatments with 12 replications set out in a completely randomized design. Data were collected in the following parameters: Plant height, leaf number, fresh and dry weights of shoot, fresh and dry weight of root, number of leaves per plant, plant biomass, leaf area, length of plumule, length of radicle and germination rate. The results showed that there were significant differences among the treatments on length of plumule and radicle. There were significant differences among the treatments on the number of days for seed germination. The results also showed that apart from the TS control, plants grown in RH treated with MNR differed significantly from other substrates. TS with MNR had the highest mean weight of shoot and root. Among all the substrates, RH and RS substrates treated with MNR had the highest mean fresh weight of shoot and root. RH and RS substrates treated with MNR had the highest mean dry weight of shoot. The plants treated with MNR significantly yielded more leafy vegetables than those treated with FTZ. This trend was also observed for nutrient content and shelf life. The studies hold good promise for cultivation of leafy vegetables in open system hydroponics using waste organic substrates in South Eastern Nigeria.