Effects of Fertilizer Microdosing on Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Green Amaranth (Amaranthusviridis)


Authors : Kuye O. B; Oyedele D. J; Idowu M. K.

Volume/Issue : Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 1 - January

Google Scholar : http://bitly.ws/gu88

Scribd : https://bit.ly/3rUHMTJ

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5910657

Abstract : This study evaluated the effects of fertilizer rates on yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of green amaranth. This was with the view to establishing the best fertilizer rate for green amaranth production in Southwestern Nigeria.The experiment was carried out in two agroecological zones (rainforest and derived savanna). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. The treatments were: (i) 80 kg N/ha (farmers’ practice) (ii) 40 kg N/ha (microdose) (iii) 0 kg N/ha (control). Soil samples were collected from each plot at 0-15 cm depth before and after the experiment for routine laboratory analyses. The above-ground biomass of green amaranth was harvested three times and tissue samples were taken for the determination of dry matter yield and total tissue nitrogen. Nitrogen use efficiency of green amaranth was estimated. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and differences in treatment means were separated using Tukey test at 5% level of probability.The results showed that soil in the derived savanna zone had higher organic carbon and available phosphorus than that of the rainforest zone. The farmers’ practice of 80 kg N/ha and 40 kg N/ha (microdose) had dry matter yields and nitrogen uptake significantly higher than the Control in the two zones. The nitrogen use efficiency from farmers’ practice and microdose were not significantly different from each other in rainforest but microdose had nitrogen use efficiency higher than farmers’ practice in the derived savanna.It was concluded that fertilizer microdosing was best for optimum yield and Nitrogen use efficiency of green amaranth.

Keywords : Microdose, Farmers’ practice, Nitrogen Use Efficiency.

This study evaluated the effects of fertilizer rates on yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of green amaranth. This was with the view to establishing the best fertilizer rate for green amaranth production in Southwestern Nigeria.The experiment was carried out in two agroecological zones (rainforest and derived savanna). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. The treatments were: (i) 80 kg N/ha (farmers’ practice) (ii) 40 kg N/ha (microdose) (iii) 0 kg N/ha (control). Soil samples were collected from each plot at 0-15 cm depth before and after the experiment for routine laboratory analyses. The above-ground biomass of green amaranth was harvested three times and tissue samples were taken for the determination of dry matter yield and total tissue nitrogen. Nitrogen use efficiency of green amaranth was estimated. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and differences in treatment means were separated using Tukey test at 5% level of probability.The results showed that soil in the derived savanna zone had higher organic carbon and available phosphorus than that of the rainforest zone. The farmers’ practice of 80 kg N/ha and 40 kg N/ha (microdose) had dry matter yields and nitrogen uptake significantly higher than the Control in the two zones. The nitrogen use efficiency from farmers’ practice and microdose were not significantly different from each other in rainforest but microdose had nitrogen use efficiency higher than farmers’ practice in the derived savanna.It was concluded that fertilizer microdosing was best for optimum yield and Nitrogen use efficiency of green amaranth.

Keywords : Microdose, Farmers’ practice, Nitrogen Use Efficiency.

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