Diagonal Offset Arrangement and Spacing Architecture Effect on Growth and Yield Components of Grain Amaranth in Kenya

Abstract

The grain Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is often referred to as the crop of the future because of its advantages both for production and consumption. However, the grain amaranth has an under-exploited potential that can contribute to food security, nutrition, health, income generation and environmental services. However, productivity of the crop in Kenya where it is grown in small plots has not been fully utilized. The current study was conducted to find out how conventional intra row spacing and diagonal offset spacing influence growth and yield of grain amaranth. A field experiment was carried out at Kenyatta University field station. It was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two arrangements (Conventional and Diagonal Offset) and two row spacings (30 cm × 15 cm and 15 cm × 15 cm) that was replicated three times. The longest roots (23.0 cm) were observed in the diagonal offset with 15×15 cm during season one and the widest stem diameter were elicited under the 15×15 cm in the diagonal offset arrangement with 0.62 cm and 1.05 cm recorded during the first and second season, respectively. The root mass under the diagonal offset arrangement at 15×15 cm  spacing had the highest with 26.3 g and 25.0 g per plant during the first and second season, respectively. The least leaf area per plant was recorded under the narrow spacing (15×15 cm) of the conventional arrangement for both seasons while the greatest was under the narrow spacing of the diagonal offset arrangement recording a mean of 1200 cm2 and 1230 cm2 for the first and second seasons, respectively. The diagonal offset arrangement under the narrow spacing showed the highest grain yield per plant with a mean of 48.2 g during the first season and 47.22 g during the second season. There were no significant differences between the treatments on the number of leaves, plant height, number of branches per plant and the 1000-seed mass. The Diagonal offset arrangement led to improved performance of grain amaranth in both seasons and is therefore highly recommended especially in the narrow spacing of 15×15 cm. In conclusion, results of this study revealed that the narrow spacing of 15×15 cm under the diagonal offset arrangement led to the best performance of grain amaranth and is highly recommended.