Effects of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on Growth Performance, Nutrients and Toxicological Composition of Amaranthus Caudatus and Amaranthus Cruentus

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Effects of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on Growth Performance, Nutrients and Toxicological Composition of Amaranthus Caudatus and Amaranthus Cruentus EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENTS AND TOXICOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS AND AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS BY JERRY CHECHET KAHU DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA JUNE, 2017 EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENTS AND TOXICOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS AND AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS BY KAHU CHECHET JERRY, B.Sc (ABU) 2010 MSc/SCI/44499/2012-2013 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADUBELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN NUTRITION DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA JUNE, 2017 ii Declaration I declare that the work in this Dissertation entitled ‗EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENTS AND TOXICOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS AND AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS‘ has been carried out by me in the Department of Biochemistry. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the text and a list of references provided. No part of this dissertation was previously presented for another degree or diploma at this or any other institution. Mr. Kahu Jerry Chechet ………………………………. ……………………….. Name of Student Signature Date iii Certification This Dissertation entitled ‗EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, NUTRIENTS AND TOXICOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF AMARANTHUS CAUDATUS AND AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS’ by Jerry Chechet KAHU, meets the regulations governing the award of the degree of masters of Science in Nutrition of the Ahmadu Bello University, and is approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation. Prof. S. Ibrahim (Signature)………..……… Date………………… Chairman, Supervisory Committee Prof. E. Onyike (Signature)…………………… Date............................ Member, Supervisory committee Prof. M.N. Shuaibu (Signature)………………… Date………………… Head of Department Prof. S.Z. Abubakar (Signature)…………… Date…………………. Dean, School of Postgraduate iv Acknowledgements All praise and glory to God Almighty for his grace, mercy, and gifts of wisdom upon me. Special gratitude goes to all those who contributed to the success of this work. Firstly, I will extend my sincere appreciations to my supervisors, Prof. S.I. Ibrahim and Prof. E. Onyike for guiding me through the entire work and their inputs towards making this work a success. Special thanks also to the staff of the Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Many thanks to the staff of the Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, especially the Department of Soil science, Department of Horticulture and Department of Agronomy. A special thanks to Prof. C. Daudu for his support and intellectual contributions to this work. I also want to appreciate the staff of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for their support especially Mrs. Ijeoma Muoka, Mr. Moore Njoku, Mrs. Martina Mapis and Mr. Abubakar Umar I appreciate the contributions of my Lecturers, Mr. O.A Owolabi, Prof. D.B. James and Dr. Gloria Chechet Finally, to my entire family and loved ones who stood by me throughout the research period especially Mrs. Juliana Kahu, Mr. Gideon Kahu, Mrs. Linda Mande, Mrs. Nancy Akinlaja, Miss Patience Kahu, Mr. Seth Kahu, Miss Lag-ayan Chinyio, Miss Kuzangka Zakka and Mr. Chisom Umeh God bless you all. v Dedication This work is dedicated to my parents, (Late) Mr. Paul Y. Kahu and Mrs. Juliana P. Kahu vi Table of Contents Title Page.…………………………………………………………………………………....ii Declaration………………………………………………………………………………......iii Certification………………………………………………………………………………....iv Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………......v Dedication……………………………………………………………………………….......vi Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………....vii List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………….......xii List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………….....xiii Abstract...................................................................................................................................xv 1.0 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………….……….1 1.1 Background…………………………………………………………………….…….....1 1.2 Statement of Problem……………………………………………….……….………....3 1.3 Justification…………………………………………………………………………......4 1.4 Null Hypothesis………………………………………………………………..……......5 1.5 General Aim…………………………………………………………………….…..…..5 1.6 Specific Objectives…………………………………………………………….………..5 vii 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………………...6 2.1 Amaranth …………………………...………………………………………………...6 2.1.1 Taxonomy and origin……………………………………………………………......7 2.1.2 Uses of Amaranth………………………………………………………………........8 2.1.3 Environmental Response of Amaranth……………………………………………..12 2.1.4 Cultivation of Amaranth…………………………………………………………....12 2.1.5 Adaptability of Amaranth…………………………………………………………..13 2.1.6 Pest and Disease Management of Amaranth………………………………………..13 2.2 Nutritional value of Amaranth…………………………………………...…………14 2.2.1 Carbohydrates in Amaranth………………………………………………………...15 2.2.2 Proteins in Amaranth…………………………………………………………….....16 2.2.3 Lipids in Amaranth……………………………………………………………..…..18 2.2.4 Micronutrients in Amaranth…………………………………………………...……19 2.3 Toxic aspects of amaranth…………………………………………………………...21 2.3.1 Anti-nutrients……………………………………………………………………….21 2.3.2 Total Aflatoxins…………………………………………………………………….25 2.3.3 Heavy metals………………………………………………………………………..26 2.4 Fertilizers……………………………………………………………………………...28 2.4.1 Inorganic Fertilizers…………………………………………………………………29 viii 2.4.2 Organic Fertilizers…………………………………………………………………..31 2.4.3 Effect of fertilizers during germination, emergence and growth…………………...33 2.4.4 Frequency and timing of application of fertilizers………………………………….35 2.4.5 Influence of fertilizers on yield and quality………………………………………...35 2.5 Soil ……………………………………………………………………………………36 2.5.1 Application of organic compost to improve soil quality……………………………...36 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS……………………………………………………..38 3.1 Materials……………………………………………………………………………....38 3.1.1 Chemicals…………………………………………………………………………...38 3.1.2 Seeds………………………………………………………………………………..38 3.1.3 Study area……………………………………………………………………...…...38 3.1.4 Soil sampling.……………………………………………………………………….39 3.1.5 Fertilizers……………………………………………………………………………39 3.2 Methods…………………………………………………………………………….40 3.2.1 Soil analysis…………………………………………………………………………40 3.2.2 Experimental design and fertilizer treatment……………………………………….46 3.2.3 Planting and nursery management……………………………………………....…..46 3.2.4 Data collection for growth performance…………………………………………….47 3.2.5 Harvesting of the vegetable…………………………………………………………49 3.2.6 Preparation of plant for analysis…………………………………………………….49 3.2.7 Estimation for proximate composition….…………………...……………………...50 3.2.8 Estimation of micronutrients…………….…………………...……………………..54 3.2.9 Estimation of toxicological properties……………………………………………....58 ix 3.2.10 Statistical analysis…………………………………………………………………...61 4.0 RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………...62 4.1 Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil and Organic Fertilizers……………..62 4.1.1 Physical and Chemical Properties of the Soil used in this Experiment……….…….62 4.1.2 Chemical Properties of Organic Fertilizers used in this Experiment……………….62 4.2 Effect of Different Organic Fertilizers and Different Concentrations on Growth Performance of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……….…………………………………………………………………...…....65 4.2.1 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Plant Height of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………………...……..65 4.2.2 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Number of Leaves of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)………………………………………69 4.2.3 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Leaf Length of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………………….……72 4.2.4 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Leaf Width of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………………….……75 4.2.5 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Leaf Area of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………………….……78 4.2.6 Effect of Organic Fertilizer on Leaf Area Index of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)…………………………………...….81 4.3 Effect of Different Organic Fertilizers and Different Concentrations on Nutrient Composition of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)………………………………………………………………………………....84 x 4.3.1 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Macronutrient Composition of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)…………………………......84 4.3.2 Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Micronutrient Composition of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)…………………....……......88 4.4 Effect of Different Organic Fertilizers and Different Concentrations on Toxicological Composition of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………………..………...………..92 4.4.1 Effect of Organic Fertilizer on Anti-nutrient Composition of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)…………………..…….......92 4.4.2 Effect of Organic Fertilizer on Total Aflatoxins of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452)……………………………...……….95 4.4.3 Effect of Organic Fertilizer
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