Comparative effect of pig manure, urea fertilizer and their combinations on the performance of Amaranthus cruentus in a rainforest Ultisol, Nigeria
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: The influence of pig manure, urea and their combinations on the performance of Amaranthus cruentus was investigated for two years in a rainforest Ultisol of Umudike. The experiment was laid down in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Six treatments consisted of pig manure applied at equivalent rates of 90 kg N/ha as full dose of manure, urea at 60 kg N/ha as full dose of urea. Other treatments were ½ dose of manure (45 kg N/ha) + ½ dose of urea (30 kg N/ha), ¼ dose of manure (22.5 kg N/ha) + ¾ dose of urea (45 kg N/ha), ¾ dose of manure (67.5 kg N/ha) + ¼ dose of urea (15 kg N/ha), and the absolute control. Results indicated that Amaranthus plant height was not significantly (P >0.05) affected by the treatments compared to the control. The overall results showed that the combination of ½ manure + ½ urea significantly (P < 0.05) increased stem girth (17.42 cm), number of leaves per plant (44.76), fresh yield (41.51 t/ha) and dry matter yield (3.49 t/ha) of Amaranthus than sole application of either of them, and is therefore recommended as the best for optimum production of Amaranthus in the study area.
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2920916827