Effects of sheep kraal manure on growth, dry matter yield and leaf nutrient composition of a local Amaranthus accession in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Indigenous vegetables that supply abundant amounts of protein, vitamins, calories and minerals could alleviate problems of malnutrition, in developing countries. Amaranthus i s one such vegetable that could be domesticated and cultivated but information on its fertility requirements is scanty. A dry-land field experiment was therefore conducted to study the effects of sheep kraal manure application rates on growth, fresh and dry matter yields, nutrient uptake and grain yield of one of the Amaranthus a ccessions that grow in the wild in the Eastern Cape. The treatments were sheep kraal manure rates ranging from 0 to 10 t/ha and an NPK {2:3:4(30) + 0.5% Zn} fertiliser as a positive control at 150 kg/ha. Low manure rates (≤2.5 t/ha) r esulted in plant heights and fresh matter yields which were comparable to those in the unfertilised control, whereas higher rates (5 and 10 t/ha) and NPK fertiliser gave greater plant heights and higher yields at both 30 and 60 days after transplant (DAT) (p<0.05).

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