Journal Article

Effect of Different Fertilizer Rates on the Phytochemical and Proximate Composition of Amaranthus Species in Lapai, Niger State

Abstract

In comparison to cereals, Amaranths features high nutritional value. Field study was conducted at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State during the 2017 rainy season to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the phytochemical and proximate composition of Amaranthus species. Two varieties of Amaranths (Amaranthus hybridus L. and Amaranthus cruentus L.) and five rates of fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15 at 0, 20, 40 Kg/ha and poultry manure at 2 t/ha and 4 t/ha) was used. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design replicated three times. The stems and leaves of Amaranths spp were collected and air dried in the laboratory for two weeks and crushed with sterilized mortar and pestle, the fine samples was used for Phytochemical and proximate analysis in the laboratory. Results indicated that Phytochemical composition of Amaranths showed higher tannins and saponins in Amaranthus hybridus and saponins in Amaranthus cruentus with a mean value of 0.55±0.01, 0.95±0.03 and 1.80±0.10 at 40 and 20 Kg/ha NPK respectfully. Alkaloids (4.96±0.01) was greater in Amaranthus hybridus at 2 t/ha of poultry manure. The proximate composition of Amaranths revealed higher Ash content (10.80±0.10) and crude protein (22.70±0.10) in Amaranthus hybridus at 2 t/ha poultry manure, while fat (3.50±0.10) and crude fibre (11.27±0.25) were favoured at 20 kg/ha and moisture content (85.65±0.52) of Amaranthus cruentus at 4 t/ha was greater. Generally, NPK fertilizer influenced more of the phytochemicals, while poultry manure influenced more of the proximate composition of Amaranths in this study.

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