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The performance of Amaranthus cruentus and Celosia argentea as affected by varying sowing depths F.O. Odeleye1* and A. O. Olufolaji 2 1Dept. of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. 2National Horticultural Research Institute, Jericho, Idi-ishin, Ibadan,Nigeria *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Screen house trials were carried out to evaluate the optimum sowing depths of Amaranthus and Celosia at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. Seeds of NHAc3 and ED82/1040A varieties of Amaranthus and local green and TLV8 of Celosia (chosen on the basis of maturity period) were sown at 0,1,2 and 3cm depths using split-split design in randomized blocks with 4 replications. Data were taken on % germination, seedling emergence and establishment indices. Results indicate that Celosia had a higher % seedling emergence than Amaranthus . However, Amaranthus grew significantly taller than Celosia at plant establishment. Highest number of seedlings emerged at 0 cm depth but plants had highest number of leaves and total fresh vegetable production at 1 cm sowing depth. The two crops sown at and 1 cm gave significantly higher root development index than other interactive effects. However, the highest shoot development index was obtained at 0cm depth. The study demonstrated a significant interaction of sowing depth x variety such that the varieties (irrespective of species) performed best at 1 cm depth. The early maturing variety in the crops also had higher vigour, germination and root and shoot development indices than the late maturing variety. Keywords: Sowing depth, shoot/root development indices, seedling emergence, Amaranthus, Celosia INTRODUCTION emergence is also influenced by the depth of sowing as small seeded crops like amaranths have limited Amaranthus cruentus and Celosia argentea are two food reserves to support germination and seedling leafy vegetable crops with wide acceptance in Nigeria emergence (Mayer and Polkajoff-Mayber, 1975). and worldwide. They provide cheap sources of This limitation often restricts the depth from which an vitamins minerals and proteins. The leaves are amaranth seedling could emerge. Webb, et al., consumed as vegetable whereas the seeds could be (1987) reported that seeding as deep as 2.5cm processed into snacks. The productivity of these should be practical in friable soils if seeding rates are crops is largely dependent on the cultural practices adjusted to compensate for reduced percent employed during their cultivation. Some of the emergence associated with depth of sowing. Mayer cultural practices employed during the cultivation of and Polkajoff-Mayber (1975) also reported that these crops in Nigeria include intercropping with emergence could be influenced by soil type since other crops like maize (Muoneke and Ndukwe, 2008; soil, strength has an important type of effect on the Awe and Abegunrin, 2009); fertilizer application ability of roots to penetrate into the soil especially (Zobolo,et al, 2008); weeding Ogunyemi et al., 2001 through clods or firmly structured layers. The rootlet ), disease and pest control (Lovisolo and Lisa,1979, must therefore develop a pressure to pierce the soil. Siddiqui and Alam, 1989) and depth of sowing The growing roots could develop a pressure up to 10 Seedling emergence and establishment has been bars. shown to be a function of size of the seed and the Depth of sowing is a cultural practice that may be depth of sowing during cultivation. Emergence is an particularly crucial for Amaranthus and Celosia since expression of a complex interaction of seed factors they have very small seeds. In okra with relatively including genotype, vigour, and soil factors acting at large seeds, Odeleye et al reported that planting or after the time of sowing. For example, evidence beyond 3cm depth led to reduced emergence, vigour showed the superiority of large carrot seeds over and yield. Effects of sowing depths have also been small ones in emergence and standard establishment reported in pigeon pea (Tayo, 1983); Corn (Gupta et (Jacobsohn and Globerson, 1980). Seedling Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2010, 1(6): 1162-1168

al 1983, Alessi and Power (1971), Soybean, Abrecht taken of the number of germinated seedlings for 1989, but the seeds of all these crops are much depth 0 and emerged seedlings for 1, 2 and 3cm bigger than those of Amaranthus and Celosia . depths of sowing up till 2 weeks and the percent Farmers usually mix the seeds of these crops with seedling establishment at 4 weeks. soil and broadcast. This practice usually expose the The experiment involved two varieties of Amaranthus seeds on the soil surface. This may adversely affect (NHA 3) and ED82/1040A) and two varieties of the germination and performance of these crops. It is C Celosia (TLV8 and Local green). The design was pertinent therefore to determine the optimum sowing split plot in randomized complete block design with 4 depth for Amaranthus and Celosia which was the replicates. objective of this study. RESULTS MATERIALS AND METHODS The percent seedling emergence was significantly Two trials were carried out to evaluate the optimum higher in Celosia than in Amaranthus. At plant depth of sowing of Amaranthus and Celosia at the establishment (4 weeks after sowing) Amaranthus greenhouse of National Horticultural Research grew significantly taller than Celosia. Among the Institute, Ibadan. Seeds of NHA 3 and ED82/1040A C sowing depth, seedling emergence was significantly varieties of Amaranthus and local green and TLV8 of different in the order 0cm > 1cm > 2cm > 3cm; while Celosia were sown at 0, 1, 2, and 3 cm depths. One the significant difference in the leaf area was in the hundred seeds were sown per depth per variety in 60 order 1cm > 0cm, 2cm > cm. the highest leaf area x 18 x 6cm nursery trays. production was recorded in Celosia sown at 1cm The planting medium was top soil mixed with cured depth, while the least occurred in Amaranthus sown poultry droppings in the ratio 4:1. Records were at 3cm depth (Table 1). Table 1: Mean values of the vegetable characters of A. cruentus and C. argentea at varying depths of sowing Treatment Emergence Stem height (cm2 Leaf number Leaf area (cm2 plant-1 plant-1 Celosia 52:19 7.45 7.58 64.02 Amaranthus 42.19 9.78 7.76 25.55 LSD (P=0.05) 6.89 1.17 0.88 7.92 Depth 0cm 61.56 8.43 7.45 30.94 1cm 53.75 8.92 8.12 42.05 2cm 42.50 9.20 8.30 26.67 3cm 30.94 7.91 6.84 19.00 LSD (P=0.05) 5.66 1.11 0.80 5.69 Depth x spp 0cm x Celosia 80.63 7.78 7.84 35.16 1cm x Celosia 50.63 7.29 7.64 48.19 2cm x Celosia 45.63 7.63 7.99 30.32 3cm x Celosia 31.88 7.08 6.85 22.42 0cm x Amaranthus 42.50 9.09 7.06 26.72 1cm x Amaranthus 56.88 10.55 8.60 36.85 2cm x Amaranthus 39.38 10.77 8.61 23.03 3cm x Amaranthus 30.00 8.73 6.83 15.59 LSD (P=0.05) 9.54 1.76 1.29 10.30 accumulated in the shoot to the weight of viable The total plant fresh weight was similar in both seeds sown was significantly better in Celosia than in Amaranthus and Celosia species, however total Amaranthus. The shoot development index was vegetable production was higher at 1cm depth than significantly different among the depths in the order at the other three sowing depths which had similar 0cm > 1cm > 2cm > 3cm. the highest shoot values. Both species sown at 1cm and 3cm gave the development index was similar in both species and highest and lowest total fresh vegetable production, was similar but significantly lower in 1, 2 and 3cm respectively Table 2. depths of sowing than in 0cm depth. Celosia at 0cm, Amaranthus at 0 and 1cm gave significantly higher The shoot development index which is an absolute figure and defined as the ratio of the dry matter

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root development index than at the other interactive highest number of leaves were produced at sowing effects (Table 2). depths 2cm and 3cm, leaf area was in the order 1cm >2cm. 0cm > 3cm. Interaction showed that NHA Amaranthus cruentus: In this crop the % seedling C and ED82/1040A at 1cm depth were superior in leaf emergence was significantly higher in the early area production to all the other variety x sowing depth flowering NHA 3 than the late flowering ED82/1040A C interactions (able 3). The total plant fresh weight was (Table 3). The percent seedling emergence was similar in both varieties of Amaranthus but significantly different in the order 1cm > 2cm > 0cm > significantly different among the depth in the order 3cm. The variety x depth interaction indicated that 1cm > 2cm > 0cm > 3cm. At 4 week ED82/1040A at the highest seedling emergence occurred in NHA 3 C 1cm depth gave the highest fresh vegetable sown at 1cm, while the least emergence was production than all other variety x effects (Table 4). observed in ED82/10440A sown at 3cm depth (Table The shoot development index was highest at 1cm 3). The stem height per plant was similar in the two sowing depth and least at 0cm (surface) and 3cm varieties while sowing at 1cm and 2 cm depths gave sowing depths. Variety ED82/1040A gave the similar but significantly taller plants than sowing at highest shoot development index when sown at 1cm 0cm, and 3cm depths both of which gave similar and the least at 3cm (Table 4). The root development stem heights (Table 3). index was highest at 1cm and least at 3cm depth Variety NHAC3 at 1cm and ED82/1040A at 1cm and (Table 4). 2cm depths gave significantly taller plants than all the other varieties x sowing depth combinations. The

Table 2: Mean values of total weight, shoot and root development indices of A. cruentus and C. argentea at varying depths of sowing depths Treatment Total fresh wt. (g plant-1) Shoot dev. Index (gg-1) Root dev. Index (gg-1)

Celosia 1.38 4.05 0.252 Amaranthus 1.77 1.92 0.232 LSD (P=0.05) 1.83 0.53 0.098 Depth 0cm 3.31 4.10 0.328 1cm 1.10 3.22 0.246 2cm 0.76 2.49 0.175 3cm 1.67 2.11 0.219 LSD (P= 0.05) 0.79 0.41 0.074

Depth x spp 0cm x Celosia 1.29 7.11 0.366 1cm x Celosia 2.19 3.31 0.208 2cm x Celosia 1.12 2.99 0.175 3cm x Celosia 0.92 2.77 0.258 0cm x Amaranthus 0.93 1.09 0.289 1cm x Amaranthus 4.44 3.14 0.284 2cm x Amaranthus 1.06 1.99 0.175 3cm x Amaranthus 0.61 1.45 0.181 LSD (P=0.05) 2.68 0.71 0.130

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Table 3: Mean values of some vegetable characters of A. cruentus at varying depths of sowing Treatment Emergence (%) Stem height (cm2 Leaf number cm2 Leaf area (cm2 plant-1 plant-1 plant-1

NHAC3 51.7 9.7 12.2 25.2 ED82/1040A 44.7 9.4 7.6 21.2 LSD (P=0.05) 4.75 1.10 7.64 4.61 Depth 0cm 40.8 8.4 7.6 23.7 1cm 75.1 10.4 7.6 32.5 2cm 48.8 10.8 9.0 23.3 3cm 4.30 85 15.4 14.6

LSD (P= 0.05) 4.30 1.37 6.92 3.22 Depth x spp 0cm x NHAc3 40.5 9.2 7.5 26.3 1cm x NHAc3 81.0 10.7 7.1 33.4 2cm x NHAc3 55.5 9.6 9.9 24.8 3cm x NHAc3 29.6 9.1 9.4 16.5

0cm x ED82/1040A 41.0 7.6 7.7 19.1 1cm x ED82/1040A 69.1 10.0 8.2 31.5 2cm x ED82/1040A 42.0 11.9 8.1 21.9 3cm x ED82/1040A 26.6 7.9 6.3 12.7 LSD (P= 0.05) 6.09 1.94 9.78 4.56

Table 4: Mean values of total fresh weight (g plant -1), shoot and root development indices (g g-1) of A. cruentus at varying depths of sowing. Treatment Total fresh wt. (g plant- Shoot dev. Index (gg-1) Root dev. Index (gg-1) 1) NHAC3 1.09 2.01 0.28 ED82/1040A 1.15 1.89 0.15 LSD (P=0.05) 0.16 0.30 0.012 Depth 0cm 0.91 1.19 0.13 1cm 1.74 3.07 0.32 2cm 1.15 2.16 0.28 3cm 0.68 1.38 0.12 LSD (P= 0.05) 0.11 0.21 0.038 Depth x spp 0cm x NHAC3 0.98 1.57 0.18 1cm x NHAC3 1.43 2.75 0.43 2cm x NHAC3 1.26 2.05 0.35 3cm x NHAC3 0.71 1.67 0.14 0cm x ED82/1040A 0.84 0.82 0.09 1cm x ED82/1040A 2.06 3.39 0.020 2cm x ED82/1040A 1.04 2.27 0.21 3cm x ED82/1040A 0.65 1.09 0.10 LSD (P=0.05) 0.15 0.29 0.053

Celosia argentea: The percent seedling emergence 1cm depth gave significantly higher percent was higher in local green than in TLV8 of C. emergence than the other variety x sowing depth argentea. Seedling emergence was significantly interactions (Table 5). Seedlings were taller at 1cm different among the various sowing depths in the that at 3cm depth. The variety x sowing depth effects order 1cm, 0cm > 2cm > 3cm. Local green sown at were significantly higher for TLV8 at 1cm that at 3cm

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depth. The variety x sowing depth effects were at 2cm than all the other interactive effects (Table 5). significantly higher for TLV8 at 1cm and local green Table 5: The mean values of the vegetative characters of C. argentea at varying depths of sowing Treatment Emergence (%) Stem height (cm2 Leaf number cm2 Leaf area (cm2 plant-1 plant-1 plant-1 TLV8 51.1 7.2 7.4 38.82 Local green 58.7 7.0 8.3 20.67 LSD (P=0.05) 2.95 0.54 0.67 4.25 Depth 0cm 63.5 7.0 8.3 30.16 1cm 66.9 8.2 7.9 42.46 2cm 52.4 6.9 7.7 27.29 3cm 36.9 6.3 7.6 19.09

LSD (P= 0.05) 4.32 0.95 0.91 5.85 Depth x spp 0cm x TLV8 63.9 7.7 7.0 37.24 1cm x TLV8 63.5 9.7 8.0 60.36 2cm x TLV8 42.1 4.9 7.0 27.23 3cm x TLV8 35.0 6.6 7.9 23.08 0cm x Local green 63.1 6.3 9.7 24.56 1cm x Local green 70.3 6.6 7.8 24.10 2cm x Local green 62.6 9.1 8.5 10.95 3cm x Local green 38.9 6.0 7.3 8.27 LSD (P.=0.05) 6.11 1.34 1.29 10.63

Table 6: Mean values of total plant fresh wt, shoot and root development indices of C. argentea at varying sowing depths Treatment Total fresh wt. (g plant-1) Shoot dev. Index (gg-1) Root dev. Index (gg-1) TLV8 1.52 4.51 0.28 Local green 1.23 4.23 0.18 LSD (P=0.05) 0.16 0.41 0.03 Depth 0cm 1.26 5.88 0.31 1cm 2.01 5.87 0.30 2cm 1.21 3.68 0.20 3cm 1.02 2.05 0.16 LSD (P= 0.05) 0.18 0.57 0.03 Depth x Variety 0cm x TLV8 1.25 6.73 0.34 1cm x TLV8 2.40 6.63 0.39 2cm x TLV8 1.21 3.32 0.18 3cm x TLV8 1.24 1.36 0.20

0cm x Local green 1.26 5.04 0.27 1cm x Local green 1.62 5.11 0.21 2cm x Local green 1.21 4.03 0.12 3cm x Local green 0.80 2.75 0.10 LSD (P=0.05) 0.25 0.81 0.04

larger leaf area and total fresh vegetable at 1cm Local green at 0cm produced the higher number of depth than any other combination. leaves than other combinations. TLV8 had large leaf The shoot and root development indices were similar area than local green at 4 weeks after sowing. in the two varieties. They were significantly higher at Sowing depth variation for leaf area was significantly 0cm and 1cm depths than at 2 and 3cm depths. The in the order 1cm > 0cm, 2cm . 3cm TLV8 produced root development index was significantly in the order 0cm > 1cm 2cm > 3cm.

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DISCUSSION emergence and that soil crusting or lack of moisture could adversely affect seedling emergence with In this study, both the depth of sowing and varieties increased sowing depth. influenced emergence and seedling growth in Amaranthus and Celosia. Although the main Amaranthus seeds broadcast on the surface (0cm treatment effects indicated that the depth of sowing sowing) had lower emergence than those sown at was more significant than varietal effect in 1cm depth. The shoot and root development indices Amaranthus, the varietal effect was also significant in of Amaranthus seeds sown at 0cm was 40% of those Celosia. This indicates that the choice of variety at 1cm depth. The low and poor root and shoot could be based on the flowering period since a late development of surface sown Amaranthus could be flowering variety is usually more vegetative than the due to the fact that such seeds were directly exposed early flowering type. to the high surface temperature and possible dessication. Broadcasting also tends to put the A highly significant effect of sowing depth on the total seeds in the hottest and perhaps the driest layer of plant fresh weight, root and shoot development the soil so that extra energy is required by the radicle indices in Amaranthus and Celosia were detected. In to penetrate the soil to effect establishment. Amaranthus, the effect of sowing depth was more significant on the total plant fresh weight and shoot Variety TLV8 performed better than the local green in development index than the variety effect. This is an Celosia while both varieties of Amaranthus gave indication that sowing any of the two varieties of similar responses. This study demonstrated a Amaranthus at an appropriate depth would ensure significant interaction of sowing depth and variety optimal root and shoot development as well as fresh such that the varieties (irrespective of the species) vegetable yield. Celosia was ultimately better than performed best at 1cm depth, whereas, delayed and Amaranthus in terms of growth even though at plant low percent seedling emergence occurred at 3cm establishment, Amaranthus grew taller than Celosia. depth of sowing. This is similar to the findings of Odeleye, et al, 2007 that the emergence and In each crop, seedling emergence was higher in the seedling vigor of okra were significantly reduced at early varieties compared to the late ones. Shallow sowing depths of 4 and 5cm leading to ultimate sowing (0 and 1cm) of the varieties gave better reduction of the yield of plants obtained from seeds development of plant characters than deeper sowing sown at these depths. (2 and 3cm). The progressive decrease in the number of emerged seedlings as sowing depth REFERENCES increased was similar in the tested varieties of both Abredit, D.G. 1989. No – till crop establishment on red crops. This indicates that the small seeds of earth soils at Katherine, Northern Territory. Effect of Amaranthus and Celosia have food reserve for the sowing depth and farming wheel pressure on the energy required for germination and emergence establishment of cowpea mug bean, soybean and which is usually sustained through the processes of maize. 29: 397 – 402. oxidation during respiration. Allessi, J. and Power, J.F. 1971. Corn emergence in For emergence, the root-let (radicle) and hypocotyl relation to soil temperature and seedling depth. have to develop a pressure to pierce the soil. As the Agronomy Journal 63: 717 – 718 distance the hypocotyls has to traverse in the soil to Awe, G.O. and Abegunrin, T.P. (2009). Effects of low input the surface increases, the pressure that must be tillage and amaranth intercropping system on growth developed and utilized to pierce the soil also and yield of maize. African Journal of Agricultural increases, while the inherent seed energy decreases. Research 4 (7): 578-583 Hence, the greater the depth of soil to be traversed, Fehr, W. R., Burris, J.S. and Gilman, D.F. 1973. Soybean the lower the residual energy for emergence and the emergence under field conditions. Agron. J. 65: 740 – lower the eventual seedling vigour. Onwueme and 742. Adegoroye (1975) reported a significant interaction of Gupta, S.C., Schneider, E.C. and Swan, J.B. 1989. sowing depth and heat stress on germination of Planting depth and tillage interactions on corn Amaranthus seeds. They showed that the delay in emergence. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52: 1122 – 1127. emergence due to heat stress tended to be greater with increasing depth of sowing. Webb et al (1987) Jacobsohn, R. and Globerson, D. (1980). Decuscarota on the other hand reported that sowing Amaranthus (carrot) seed wuality: I, Effects of seed size on germination, emergence and plant growth under deeper than 13cm delayed and decreased subtropical conditions and II The importance of the

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