Abstract
Amaranthus caudatus is a highly nutritious leafy vegetable widely cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the effects of organic (poultry droppings) and inorganic (urea and NPK) fertilizers on the growth and yield of Amaranthus caudatus. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatment includes control (no fertilizer), urea (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 g), NPK 15-15-15 (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 g), and poultry droppings (15, 30, 45 g). Data on plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight, and dry weight were collected at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after transplanting (WAT). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and means separated by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (p<0.05).All fertilizer treatments significantly improved growth and yield compared to the control. Poultry droppings at 45 g produced the highest fresh weight (30.43 g) and dry weight (8.40 g) at 4 WAT, outperforming urea 0.8 g (21.7 g fresh, 6.50 g dry) and NPK 0.8 g (24.13 g fresh, 6.80 g dry). NPK gave superior results to urea alone, with the highest NPK rate producing 35.21 leaves compared to 32.23 for urea. Poultry droppings are the most effective fertilizer for Amaranthus caudatus production in the Sudan Savannah zone of Nigeria, followed by NPK and then urea. Farmers are encouraged to use poultry manure at adequate rates to achieve optimal yields while maintaining soil health.
Keywords: Amaranthus caudatus, growth parameters, inorganic fertilizer, NPK, organic fertilizer, poultry droppings, urea, yield