Effect of levels of nitrogen and iron on yield, harvest index and quality of grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochodriacus L.) under different planting techniques

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09 at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, C. P. College of Agriculture, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar in split plot design having three replications. The treatments comprising of three planting techniques (P₁: broadcasting, P₂: line sowing at 45 cm × 15 cm and P₃: paired row at 60 cm × 30 cm) in main plot, three levels of N (N₁: 40 kg ha^-1, N₂: 60 kg ha^-1 (i.e., RDN) and N₃: 80 kg ha^-1) as sub-plot and two levels of Fe (Fe₀: no FeSO₄ and Fe₁: 10 kg FeSO₄ ha^-1) as sub-sub plots. Among the planting techniques, line sowing recoded significantly higher plant height, length of main spikelets, number and length of lateral spikelets, grain and stover yields of amaranth. The harvest index and protein content was not altered significantly due to planting techniques. The highest harvest index was noted with line sowing during both the years and in pooled results. The yield and yield components of grain amaranth increased significantly under application of 60 kg N ha^-1 and then decreased gradually as crop received higher proportion of N than RDN. Nitrogen treatment had significant influence on harvest index and protein content during both the years, but in pooled results it did not turn out significant. Iron application did not exert any significant response in harvest index and protein content, though the yield and yield attributes recoded higher under application of 10 kg FeSO₄ ha^-1 .The highest net income (Rs. 34,130 ha^-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.83) was associated with application of 60 kg N ha^-1with 10 kg FeSO₄ under line sowing.