| ISHS Acta Horticulturae 947: II International Symposium on Soilless Culture and Hydroponics
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| Authors: | M.M. Maboko, C.P. Du Plooy |
| Keywords: | Amaranthus tricolor, inflorescence, plant population, soilless, tipping |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.947.54 |
| Abstract:
In spite of the high nutritional value and popularity of amaranth in South Africa, lack of information on the production of amaranth in soilless conditions is a major concern for hydroponic farmers. A study was thus conducted in a shade-net structure in order to evaluate the effect of plant densities and harvesting methods on amaranth when grown in a closed hydroponic system (gravel-film-hydroponic system). Plants were subjected to three plant densities, i.e., 10, 16 and 25 plants/m2, with two harvesting methods, i.e., tipping and cutting. Tipping was done by plucking off the growing point of the shoots, while cutting was done by first cutting the plants at a height of 15 cm, with sequential cutting of 5 cm above the previous cutting. Experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plants harvested by cutting at a plant population of either 16 or 25 plants/m2, produced significantly higher leaf area, fresh and dry mass, compared to the other treatments. Plants harvested by cutting, had a reduced number of inflorescences, and the yield increased by 37%, compared to the standard method of tipping. Therefore, plant population of either 16 or 25 plants/m2, harvested by cutting, increased production of amaranth, as a result of a reduced number of inflorescences and increased leaf area. | |
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