AMARANTH (Amaranthus cruentus) RAISED ON DUMPSITE SOILS FROM TWO DIFFERENT LAND USES

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted at the Ugbowo Campus of University of Benin, Benin City. Its aim was to determine the nutrient concentration of soils from various refuse dumps in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) using 2 dump sites with 3 replicates. Soil samples were taken at 0-15 cm depth from 2 different dump sites from each of the land uses and filled into poly pots. Amaranthus cruentus seeds were planted at 2 seeds per pot. Plant parameters were measured at maturity of the plants while soil and plant samples were collected after the experiment. Soil and plant samples were analyzed using standard procedures. Parameters determined include pH, TOC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Sand, Silt, Clay and exchangeable acidity, while plant parameters were measured. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) while LSD was used to separate the means. The results are shown below for dump soils from office waste and residential area, the pH were moderately acidic at (5.76 and 5.97) for both dump sites respectively, TOC content (19.60 g/kg and 21.50 g/kg) was high for both dump sites respectively and N (1.09 g/kg and 1.13 g/kg), Calcium (0.90 cmol/kg and 1.01 cmol/kg) and available P (12.80 mg/kg and 13.80 mg/kg) were low. Amaranthus cruentus planted in soils from dump site in residential area had higher plant height (25.0 cm) and number of leaves (21) than the ones planted in the learning area (17.7 cm) and 10 respectively. The analysis shows that there was no significant difference (p<0.05) in all the parameters measured/determined between the two dump sites.