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ABSTRACT
Amaranthus cruentus L. is a leafy vegetable that is cultivated majority for its leaves and grains. Due to high demand for vegetable in Nigeria, research into factors that could increase the productivity of Amaranth becomes necessary. In line with this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cutting height and fertilizer application on the growth and yield of Amarathus cruentus L. A field experiment was laid out in a 4x4 Factorial arrangement, fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using sixteen (16) treatments in three (3) replications. The treatments consisted of four cutting heights (no cutting, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm above soil level) and four levels of fertilizer application (Control), (F1) 10t/ha poultry manure, (F2) 150 kg/ha NPK 15:15:15 and (F3) 75 t/ha NPK 15:15:15 + 5 t/ha poultry manure. The parameters measured were plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), stem diameter (cm) and number of branches. While the herbage fresh and dry yields were taken at harvest. The result of the experiment showed that cutting height had a significant effect on all the vegetative characters measured. The plant height (57.20 cm) and leaf area (32.29 cm2 ) were highest with C0 (no cutting) while the number of branches increased in plants that were cut compare to the control. The highest herbage fresh yield (49.10 t/ha) and dry yield (18.20 t/ha) were harvested at C3 (20 cm above soil level) and Nutrient uptake was also higher at C3 (20 cm above soil level). F2 and F3 application produced the highest dry herbage yield, for good yield Amaranthus cruentus should be harvested at 20 cm above soil level with the application of combine use of 75 kg/ha NPK 15:15:15 and 5 t/ha poultry manure for yield, soil optimal health and good economic returns.
