Responses of leaf amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.) Amaranthaceae to composts enriched with organic nitrogen sources

InformationThe reportedly low nitrogen (N) contents of composts, widely used for sustainable soil improvement, management and maintenance, has engendered its fortification with other N-rich sources, especially inorganic fertilizers became a necessity.The adoption of chemical fertilizers is however constrained by scarcity, rising prices and the potential for environmental pollution, such that the potential of alternative N-rich organic materials for compost fortification/enrichment need to be exploited.The composts reportedly increased N concentrations in soils and simultaneously raised the phosphorus and potassium levels such that their impacts should be evaluated on crops.Two composts: cow dung + sawdust (CDS) and poultry dung + sawdust (PDS) were enriched with organic materials: abattoir wastes-bone (BN), hoof (HM), horn (HN) and blood (BM); tithonia (TM) and neem (NM) meals to 60 kg N levels as CDSBN, CDSBM, CDSHM, CDSHN, CDSNM and CDSTM; PDSBN, PDSBM, PDSHM, PDSHN, PDSNM and PDSTM.The growth and yield responses of leaf amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) to the enriched composts at 30 t ha -1 and 400 kg ha -1 NPK 15-15-15 were assessed in a field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.Growth data collection and harvesting of amaranth were done at 6, 7 and 8 weeks after sowing and data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and the means separated using DMRT at p=0.05.Various enriched composts are compared strongly with the inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and can effectively serve as alternatives, to the inorganic fertilizers, putting the cycles or life span of vegetables and crops in consideration.