The potential of Azolla Pinata green manure treatment for enhancement of yield and mineral nutrient biofortification of Amaranthus

Abstract

A study to evaluate the potential of Azolla Pinnata green manure treatment for enhancement of yield and mineral nutrient bio fortification of Amaranthus. People suffer from a kind of hunger that they do not feel. It is known as hidden hunger and is due to an inadequate intake of vital micronutrients. One of the World’s greatest challenges is to secure sufficient and healthy food for all, and to do so in an environmentally sustainable manner. In addition, a report by FAO (2015) emphasizes that the agricultural sector needs to adapt climate smart strategies which highly recommend the use of organic fertilizers to maintain soil fertility. This study was carried out at Makerere University in the Botanical Gardens to test if Azolla green manure can be replaced with the inorganic fertilizers which are expensive and harmful to the environment. Infertile soils were collected from Makerere University with weeds of low vigor and clear symptoms of nutrient deficiency. The growth performance and yield was determined by measuring the fresh weight, the height of the plants, the length and width of the leaves and the number of leaves of the Amaranthus. The data collection was carried out on a weekly basis for a period of 4 weeks. The results were analyzed using R statistical package version and Graph Pad Prism. The soil mineral content progressively increased across the various treatments of Azolla green manure, the growth performance of the Amaranthus increased basing on the given investigated parameters. The mineral nutrient content of Amaranthus also increased. Farmers should adapt the use of Azolla green manure since it is cheap to acquire and environmental friendly and also increases the yield and mineral nutrient content.