Effect of Organic Manures and Biofertilizers on Growth and Yield of Herbage Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the kharif season of 2026 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The experimental site was located at 25.57° N latitude and 81.05° E longitude, at an altitude of 98 m above mean sea level. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different organic manures and biofertilizers on the growth, yield attributes, herbage yield, and economic performance of amaranthus. The soil of the experimental field was medium black, well drained, and suitable for vegetable cultivation. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design (RBD) using different combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers. The treatments consisted of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, poultry manure, biofertilizers (Azotobacter + PSB), and their combinations. Among all treatments, T₈ (FYM @ 10 t ha⁻¹ + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + Azotobacter + PSB) exhibited the best performance and recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters than the other treatments and the control. The application of T₈ (FYM @ 10 t/ha + vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB) resulted in the maximum plant height (42.97 cm), number of leaves per plant (47.27), number of branches per plant (6.03), plant spread (38.41 cm²), and leaf length (13.51 cm), and the minimum number of days to first clipping (39 days). The maximum spike length (11.76 cm) was observed in T₈. The highest herbage yield was also recorded with T₈ (FYM @ 10 t/ha + vermicompost @ 2.5 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB), producing 144.88 g plant⁻¹, 12.75 kg plot⁻¹, and 318.74 q ha⁻¹, whereas the control treatment recorded the lowest herbage yield of 39.58 g plant⁻¹, 3.48 kg plot⁻¹, and 87.08 q ha⁻¹. The maximum benefit-cost ratio (2.92:1) was recorded in treatment T6 (vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB). These findings indicate that the combined application of farmyard manure, vermicompost, and biofertilizers improved vegetative growth and herbage production under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj. The treatment response observed in this study supports the use of integrated organic nutrient management for amaranthus production under comparable field conditions.