Effect of foliar fertilizers on growth and yield of red amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different foliar fertilizer formulations on growth and yield of red amaranthus.The experiment was designed using the RCBD format with three treatments (different fertilizer formulations) and one control, each replicated twelve times. The different foliar fertilizer formulations were applied at the same rate of 3lha-1, three times during the vegetation at 7-day intervals one week after sowing. Growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, maximum leaf area and stem girth) and yield (fresh and dry matter weight) were recorded from treated and control plants. Plant height was measured using a tape measure and the leaf area was calculated by tracing out the leaf on a graph paper. Stem girth was determined using avernier caliper while the dry weight was determined after oven drying the sampled plants for 24hours. All of the three foliar treatments applied enhanced plant growth, yield and quality compared to the control. The highest values of the different parameters occurred in the "FORCROP" treatment. The treatments yielded as in the order; FORCROP> FORCROP GOLDEN> KARA> CONTROL. Based on these results, "FORCROP" foliar fertilizer should be recommended in order to improve yield in red amaranth.