Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research 9(2): 1-12, 2019; Article no.AJAAR.47838 ISSN: 2456-8864 Effects of Different Types of Organic Fertilizers on Growth Performance of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru Local Variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452) J. C. Kahu1, C. C. Umeh1* and A. E. Achadu1,2 1Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 1013, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. 2Department of Biochemistry, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author JCK designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors CCU and AEA managed the analyses of the study. Author JCK managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/AJAAR/2019/v9i229994 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Adebayo Jonathan Adeyemo, Lecturer, Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Reviewers: (1) Toungos, Mohammed Dahiru, Adamawa State University Mubi, Nigeria. (2) M. Abdullah Al Mamun, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/47838 Received 22 December 2018 Accepted 01 March 2019 Original Research Article Published 15 March 2019 ABSTRACT Aims: To evaluate the effect of different types of organic fertilizers on growth performance of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452). Study Design: A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used for the experiment. Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was carried out in the nursery of a homestead garden at No 20, Isaiah Balat Street, Sabo GRA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study consists of seven treatments which includes control (no fertilizer), 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 poultry manure, 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 sewage sludge, 35 kg ha-1 and 70 kg ha-1 NPK compound fertilizer and also with Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452) in factorial arrangement fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Growth performance data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index from 2 weeks after transplanting (WAT) to 6 weeks after transplanting (WAT). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]; Kahu et al.; AJAAR, 9(2): 1-12, 2019; Article no.AJAAR.47838 Results: The plant height and number of leaves of the two varieties were found in the range of 18.30 - 135.67cm and 13.33 - 78.33cm respectively. Leaf area and leaf area index of the two varieties had values in the range of 41.71 - 258.29cm2 and 1.76 - 41.72 respectively. At 6 WAT, 10 t ha-1 poultry manure recorded the highest value for all the growth parameters for both varieties except for leaf length, leaf width and leaf area of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru local variety), where 10 t ha-1 sewage sludge and 70 kg ha-1 NPK compound fertilizer were highest. Conclusion: The experimental results of this study have shown that poultry manure had higher growth performance on the two varieties of Amaranth when compared with sewage sludge and NPK compound fertilizer. The application of poultry manures at 10 t ha-1 is therefore recommended for farmers to use to obtain higher yields of Amaranth. Keywords: Growth; organic and inorganic fertilizers; amaranth; soil and insecticides. 1. INTRODUCTION Moreover, most vegetable farmers in tropical Africa are small holders who cannot afford the Increasing population of the world has doubled cost of inorganic fertilizers, although soil fertility the food demands and inundated the available limits yield of vegetables especially in urban land resources. Alongside other food centres [8]. In Nigeria, fertilizers, being costly and alternatives, vegetables are considered cheap sometimes scarce can make farmers not apply source of energy [1]. Vegetables are rich sources enough for good growth [5]. Fertilizer application of essential biochemicals and nutrients such as rates in intensive agricultural systems have carbohydrates, carotene, protein, vitamins, increased drastically during recent years in calcium, iron, ascorbic acid and palpable Nigeria. Farmers depend largely on locally concentration of trace minerals [2]. sourced organic fertilizers [8]. In Nigeria, huge amount of organic wastes such as poultry waste, Amaranth has been one of the most important animal excreta, sewage sludge, refuse soil and vegetables of Amaranthaceae family. Amaranth palm oil mill effluent are generated and heaped has been naturalized in central parts of on dump sites, posing potential environmental Asia and possibly Iran [3] and has hazard. Incorporating these waste materials into cultivation history of more than 2000 years the soil for crop production is expected to be [4]. Cultivation of the various Amaranthus beneficial to the buildup of organic matter layer species is acquiring increasing importance in that is needed for a steady supply of nutrients by Nigeria and other parts of African continent tropical soils [9]. where the available species are grown for their leaves [5]. Oyedeji et al. [10] reported that NPK and poultry manure improved the growth and yield of three Organic and inorganic fertilizers are essential for different species of amaranth (Amaranthus plant growth as it supplies plants with the hybridus, Amaranthus deflexus and Amaranthus nutrients needed for optimum performance. cruentus) but influenced proximate composition Organic fertilizer has been used for many differently. Emede et al. [11] reported that poultry centuries whereas chemically synthesized manure influenced the plant growth and yield of inorganic fertilizers were only widely developed Amaranthus cruentus L. positively. Therefore, the during the industrial revolution. Inorganic objective of this study was to determine the effect fertilizers have significantly supported global of different types of organic fertilizers on the population growth, as it has been estimated that growth performance of Amaranthus caudatus almost half the people on the earth are currently (Samaru local variety) and Amaranthus cruentus fed as a result of artificial nitrogen fertilizer use (NH84/452). [6]. Commercial and subsistence farming has been and is still relying on the use of inorganic 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS fertilizers for growing crops [7]. This is because they are easy to use, quickly absorbed and 2.1 Seeds utilized by crops. The continued dependence of developing countries on inorganic fertilizers has The seeds of Amaranthus caudatus (Samaru made prices of many agricultural commodities to local variety) were obtained from local farmers in skyrocket [7]. Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria while the seeds of 2 Kahu et al.; AJAAR, 9(2): 1-12, 2019; Article no.AJAAR.47838 Amaranthus cruentus (NH84/452) were obtained 2.5 Soil Analysis from National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria. Amaranthus The sampled soil was analyzed at the Soil caudatus samples collected were authenticated Science Department of the Institute of at the herbarium unit of Biological Sciences Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Department, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Zaria, Nigeria. The following parameters were Nigeria and a voucher specimen was deposited. analyzed in the sampled soil; particle size, pH (in water), organic carbon, available phosphorus, 2.2 Study Area total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable bases [14]. The field experiment was carried out in the nursery of a homestead garden at No 20, Isaiah 2.6 Experimental Design and Fertilizer Balat Street, Sabo GRA, Sabo Tasha, Kaduna Treatment State, Nigeria. Kaduna metropolis has a tropical savanna climate with dry winters characterized The experiment included seven fertilizer by maritime air and rainfall is between April and treatments for each of the two varieties of October with annual raining days ranging from 81 Amaranth which are in factorial arrangement to 103 mm. During the reference period, fitted into a randomized complete block design the annual mean rainfall values range from (RCBD) and replicated three times. Hence, the 145.37 mm to 318.67 mm. From the figures experiment had a total of 42 experimental plots. above, ample rains are available for the The treatments were: Control (no fertilizer), 5 t production of many agricultural crops. During ha-1 poultry manure, 10 t ha-1 poultry manure, 5 t harmattan, dry desert wind blows between ha-1 sewage sludge, 10 t ha-1 sewage sludge, 35 December and mid February while night kg ha-1 NPK compound fertilizer, 70 kg ha-1 NPK temperature is very low. The geographical compound fertilizer [13]. location of Kaduna metropolis is Latitude 90 031N 0 1 and 11 32 N north of the equator and 2.7 Planting and Nursery Management Longitudes 60 051 E and 80 381 E East of the Greenwich meridian. Kaduna metropolis has a Prior to planting, the amaranth seeds were sub-humid semi arid tropical climate with soaked in water for about 24 hours in order to maximum annual mean temperature ranging enhance germination. The soaked seeds were from 25.30°C to 36.20°C while the minimum first sown in the nursery of about 1.9 cm deep annual mean temperature range of 28.45°C to and were watered twice daily. Appropriate 34.38°C [12]. nursery management practices were carried out as at when needed to obtain healthy and uniform 2.3 Soil Sampling seedlings. The experimental site was ploughed, harrowed and prepared into slightly raised beds Surface soil sample was taken from the (plots) of 25 cm width × 80 cm length dimension experimental site at a depth of 0 – 15 cm at land preparatory to transplanting the crop seedlings. preparation (after ploughing and harrowing) Poultry manure and sewage sludge were using the zigzag method. The sample was incorporated according to treatment level to collected from twenty points and bulked to form a specific plots during land preparation, thoroughly composite sample.