Optimizing Soilless Growing Media for Red Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor) Production
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/ijsc.v53.i2.198Keywords:
Growing media, Integrated nutrient management, Red amaranthus, Salinity, Soilless substratesAbstract
A pot culture experiment was conducted to evaluate seven media formulations using coirpith (CP), vermicompost (VC), and sand (S) in varying ratios to identify optimal combinations for growth, yield, and nutrient use efficiency of Red Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor), a widely consumed leafy vegetable in India. Media analysis revealed that sand inclusion reduced salinity, while vermicompost enriched nutrient availability. The treatment coirpith and vermicompost taken in equal proportion recorded the highest mean plant height (25.8 cm), maximum leaf area (63.79 cm²), and stem girth (2.8 cm). It also outperformed other treatments, producing the highest biomass (61.52 g fresh weight pot⁻¹; 17.42 g dry weight pot⁻¹) along with superior uptake of N (0.190 g pot-1), P (0.085 g pot-1), and K (0.160 g pot-1) followed by the treatment CP:VC (2:1). The fresh weight recorded by CP:VC (1:1) was 203 percent higher than the coirpith alone. The highest apparent nutrient recovery percentage (5.411 for N, 10.587 for P and 30.700 for K) and response ratio (3.046 for N, 13.374 for P and 20.507 for K) was also registered by CP:VC (1:1). In contrast, coirpith alone restricted root growth (9.6 cm), lowest apparent nutrient recovery (3.074 for N, 6.565 for P and 20.067 for K) and response ratio (1.006 for N, 4.417 for P and 6.773 for K). The results validate CP:VC (1:1) as an effective substrate for enhancing growth and nutrient dynamics in urban cultivation of Red Amaranthus.
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