Thermal variation and planting methods effects on the growth and yield of Amaranth in Maize-Amaranth intercrop

Paper Details

Author(s)

A.A.Makinde
O.M.O Odeleye
L.O Olajide-Taiwo

Year of Publications

October 21, 2020

Place of Publications

Kano, Nigeria

Related Crops

Maize
Amaranth

Type of Publication

Taxonomy

Source Pagination

Language

Amaranth

Abstract

A field study was carried out to investigate the thermal variation and planting methods effects on the growth and yield of amaranth in Maize-amaranth intercrop. Maize and amaranth were intercropped in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates in early rainy season of 2009. The result showed that all parameters measured increased with plant age and significant differences (p>0.05) were observed among the treatment levels. The result also showed that the mean soil temperatures of 27.13 and 26.31c at 5 and 10cm respectively under maize-amaranth broadcast seeded enhanced the productivity of amaranth by about 25% compared to maize-amaranth drill seeded with mean soil temperature of 27.29 and 26.37c at 5 and 10cm respectively below soil surface. However, mean soil temperatures of 27.43 and 26.59c at 5 and 10cm respectively under sole amaranth drill seeded enhance amaranth yield by about 50% compared to sole amaranth broadcast seeded with mean soil temperatures of 27.61 and 26.63c at 5 and 10cm respectively. Mean fresh amaranth yield in sole cropping; amaranth drill seeded (40t/ha) and amaranth broadcast seeded (33.33t/ha) and were significantly higher than their counterpart in mix cropping of maize-amaranth broadcast seeded (33.33t/ha)and maize-amaranth drill seeded (22.53t/ha) while sole maize yield (M)(0.11t/ha) having a statistically higher yield than maize-amaranth drill (MAdr) (0.09t/ha) and maize-amaranth broadcast (MAbr) (0.14t/ha). It was thus concluded that amaranth broadcast seeded is recommended for intercropping while amaranth drill seeded is a preferred option for sole amaranth.

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