Authors : Joseph A.T. Olofintoye, Helen A. Adeniyi and Olagorite A. Adetula
Abstract: Grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is an ancient unpopular crop that is now gaining fresh attention and interest all over the world. This has led to a demand for crop management information like that on phosphorus fertilization and spacing. This study evaluates the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and spacing on grain amaranth growth and yield components. The study was carried out at the experimental field of National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Western region of Nigeria in the year, 2009. Three levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1) and three spacing (30x50, 40x50 and 50x50 cm) were tested under factorial fitted into Randomized complete block design with three replicates, respectively. Amaranth growth and yield was responsive to phosphorus fertilization. Plant spacing of 30x50 cm and fertilizer application of 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted to the highest plant height, number of leaves, dry matter yield, biological yield and grain yield which was higher than that of the other treatment combinations.
Joseph A.T. Olofintoye, Helen A. Adeniyi and Olagorite A. Adetula, 2011. Effects of Phosphorus Fertilizer and Intra Row Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Agricultural Journal, 6: 366-368.