Growth and yield of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) as influenced by seed rate and method of planting in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Amaranthus cruentus L. is a leafy vegetable commonly cultivated in Nigeria and other West African countries. In Nigeria farmers considered amaranths as a minor crop, they plant amaranths without any consideration of seed rate and this result to suboptimum plant population, similarly broadcasting (which results to wasted of seeds and overcrowding of plants) was predominantly the major method of planting used while planting, Field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of seed rate and method of planting on growth and yield of Amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) at Sokoto. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of four (4) seed rates (2.0 kgha^-1, 2.5 kgha^-1, 3.0 kg ha^-1 and 3.5 kg ha^-1) and two (2) methods of planting (Broadcasting and Drilling). The results revealed that seed rate at 3.0 kg ha^-1 produced significantly taller plants, followed by seed rate at 2.5 kg ha^-1  and the shortest plants was from seed rate at 2.0 and 3.5 kg ha^-1 at 4, 6 and 8 Weeks After Planting  (WAP). However, method of planting and interaction between seed rate and method of planting had no significant effect on plant height at 2, 4, 6 and 8 WAP, Seed rate and method of planting and their interaction had no significant effect on number of leaves and Leaf area at harvest. Seed rate at 3kg ha^-1 produced significantly highest fresh and dry weight. Seed rate at 3kg ha^-1 and drilling method of planting would be beneficial for the farmers in Sokoto State and areas with similar environmental conditions for optimum yield of amaranths.