Effect of urea fertilizer on the growth and yield of African spinach (Amaranthus hybridus L.) in derived- savanna zone of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

A field study was carried during the 2020 cropping season to determine the effect of urea on the growth and yield of Amarathus hybridus at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Delta, Agbor Delta State. The urea fertilizer was applied at 0, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha^-1. The amounts of urea fertilizer used were 0, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha^-1. The five levels of urea fertilizer were duplicated three times in the experimental design, which was a randomized complete block. Plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, leaf area plant^-1, stem girth, and fresh yield of the plant were all measured. The data was examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a probability level of 5%. Amaranthus growth and yield characteristics were dramatically improved by increasing the rate of urea fertilizer treatment. However, urea administered at a rate of 250 kg ha-¹ improved growth characteristics more than the lower rate and control. The application of 250 kg ha-¹ urea resulted in the highest fresh plant production (2.30 t ha^-1) and differed substantially from the control (0.90 t ha^-1), but not from the other urea levels used.