Comparative Effect of Variable Rates of Pig and Poultry Manure on the Agronomic Performances of Amaranthus Hybridus in Humid Rainforest South Western Nigeria

The health implication of deficiencies of vital nutrients could be supplemented by taking vegetable which are highly nutritious and easily affordable. An experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Nigeria, to evaluate the comparative effects of different levels of animal manure on the growth and yield of Amaranthus hybridus. Pig dung (PD) and poultry manure (PM) were applied at 0 t ha-1, 20 t ha-1 and 25 t ha-1 respectively in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. A. hybridus growth and yield parameters (number of leaves, plant height at 3 and 4 weeks after planting (WAP) and marketable yield at harvest in Kg/5m2) were collected. Physical and chemical analysis of the initial soil samples were carried out. The application rate significantly (P>0.05) influenced the plant growth. Number of leaves, plant height and yield of A. hybridus increased with rate of manure application. Plot amended with 25 t ha-1 of PD had the highest performance in respect of number of leaves (16.4, 19.43 ), plant height (18.30 cm/plant, 20.63 cm/plant) at 3 and 4 WAP and marketable yield (0.73 kg/ha) at harvest respectively. Based on the findings from this study, it was recommended that soil amended with 25 t ha-1 PD is good for sustainable production of A. hybridus in Ikorodu agro-ecological zone of the humid rainforest, Southwestern Nigeria.