Effect of organic fertilizer (poultry manure) and inorganic fertilizer NPK (17:17:17) on the perfomance of leafy vegetable of red doodo (Amaranthus blitum) in Wakiso district

Abstract

This was a screen house experiments carried out Namulonge research station. The effect of inorganic fertilizer NPK 17 :17:17 and organic fertilizer poultry manure on the performance of leafy vegetable Amaranthus blitum (Red Doodo) was determined. Viable seeds of Amaranthus were sown directly into pots containing the different rates of fertilizers verse the control in the screen house. The experiment was arranged in randomised complete block design with 3replicates. Data was collected on plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area, and number of branches, fresh weight, dry weight of the vegetable and weight of the seed were also determined. Data collection was done every after week for two months. The results from the experiment showed that among the fertilizers NPK mixed with poultry manure increased plant height, stem girth with the highest fresh and dry weight. NPK mixed with poultry manure also had the highest number of seed production followed by poultry manure alone, NPK alone and the control respectively. This could be attributed to the rate of mineralisation of the fertilizers