ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to explore the impact of incorporating spent mushroom
substrate (SMS), into top soil to make the growing medium to be more effective in
producing Amaranth. This study was conducted in the greenhouse of the Department
of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City between
August- November 2024. The study involved SMS application rates
(0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g per 3 kg of topsoil) in a completely randomized design.
With each treatment replicated three times. Data were collected on the physical and
chemical properties of the SMS-amended topsoil, as well as dry matter parameters
which include, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight, harvest Index, and
dry herbage yield. From the results, all dry matter parameters and yield were
significant(p<0.05) at 9 and 11 weeks after sowing (WAS). SMS application rates of
50 and 200g produce the highest herbage yield with 32.6 and 31.2 tha⁻¹, respectively.
Application rate of 50g SMS per 3kg soil is there by suggested for Amaranth
growers.
