PERFORMANCE OF GREEN AMARANTH (Amaranthus hybridus) AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE AND INORGANIC NITROGEN RATE.

ABSTRACT 

A field trial was conducted during the 2016/2017 dry season at Research and teaching farm of Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria to evaluate the influence of different levels of nitrogen and poultry manure on the performance of Amaranthus hybridus. The treatment consist of three levels of nitrogen (0, 40, and 80kg N ha-1) and four levels of poultry manure (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1) arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Application of 40 and 80 kg N ha-1 was not significant on growth and yield of amaranthus. The growth and yield parameters measured increased with increasing rate of nitrogen applied but not significant. Application of poultry manure significantly increased number of leaves, number of branches, plant height, stem girth, total dry matter and fresh shoot yield of green amaranth. The growth and yield parameters measured increased with increasing rate of the poultry manure applied. The plant treated with 10t ha-1 rate of poultry manure was at par with 15t ha-1. Thus, application of 10 t ha-1 of poultry manure seems to be appropriate for growth and yield of amaranthus in Dutsinma.  Positive and highly significant correlation was observed between the fresh shoot yield and number of leaves, number of branches, plant height, stem girth and total dry matter of amaranthus.