ISHS Acta Horticulturae 318: II International Symposium on Specialty and Exotic Vegetable Crops
RESPONSE OF VEGETABLE AMARANTH TO DIFFERING SOIL PH AND MOISTURE REGIMES |
| Authors: | B.P. Singh, W.F. Whitehead |
| Keywords: | Amaranthus tricolor, soil acidity, wilting coefficient, field capacity, vegetative growth |
| Abstract:
The effect of soil pH and moisture on the vegetative growth of amaranth was studied in the greenhouse during 1990–91. Soil pH levels of 4.5, 5.3 and 6.4 and soil water levels of 3, 6, 12 and 18% comprised the treatments for the two studies. The plants grown in pH 6.4 soil were significantly taller with more branches, leaves and greater leaf area than plants grown in pH 5.3 or 4.7 soil. Soil acidity impeded both top and root growth of the plant. Plant height, branch and leaf number, leaf area and top and root weights at 3% soil moisture were significantly lower than at the other soil moisture treatments. Plants receiving watering at 6, 12 or 18% soil moisture did not differ in any of the vegetative parameters. The study indicated that a soil with pH of 6.4 could produce high yielding vegetable amaranth. Irrigation at 6% soil water in Dothan sandy loam soil produced optimal vegetative growth in amaranth. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
