Effects of Different Irrigation Rates on Growth and Yield Parameters of Amaranth

Abstract

Soil water deficit is a principal and biotic factor that limits plant growth and development. Amaranth is very sensitive to water stress. Foregoing research highlighted a reduced amaranth leaf area and dry matter, while others affirmed that water deficit impaired amaranth growth and yield. Although amaranth is recorded as the most important annual crops with higher nutritional value worldwide, higher reduction of amaranth production has been recorded in Burundi, while published information is limited concerning affective irrigation rate for improving amaranth growth and yield in this country. An experiment was carried out in Bujumbura peri-urban zone to evaluate the effective irrigation rate for amaranth cultivation. It was laid out as completely randomized blocs design, consisting of three treatments with different irrigation rates as treatment T1 (10%), treatment T2 (30%) and treatment T3 (60%) with six repetitions for each. During the experiment, growth parameters (number of leaves, stem diameter, plant height, leaf area and root growth) and production attributes (fresh and dry weight of leaves and roots) were measured. The results highlighted treatment T2 of 30% irrigation rate as the most significant and effective treatment. It has significantly improved the number of leaves, stem diameter, plant height, leaf area and root growth. Moreover, this treatment T2 has effectively enhanced the water use efficiency, fresh and dry weight of leaves and roots. It can be used to improve the growth and production of amaranth in Bujumbura peri-urban zone.