Effect of Solid and Liquid Tea Compost on the Growth , Yield of Amaranthus Cruentus and Soil Properties in Ekpoma, Delta State.

Improvement of soil nutrient and organic matter contents is essential to enhance the growth and yield of crops. Two seasons experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of solid and liquid compost on the growth, yield of Amaranthus and soil properties in Ambrose Alli University Teaching and Research Farm, Ekpoma. The treatments (control, compost tea, solid compost) were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated thrice. Data on soil nutrient content, growth and yield parameters were analyzed statistically. The application of compost significantly (p≤0.05) improved the soil nutrient content, organic carbon and increased the pH to near neutral. The total isolate of fungi species (Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium) was higher in solid compost than other treatments. The fresh and dry yield of Amaranthus leaves obtained were significantly (p≤0.05) higher with the application of compost compared to the control. The fresh leaf weight of Amaranthus obtained were 3.56, 16.11 and 18.12 t ha-1from the control, compost tea and solid compost treated soil respectively. In the second season, the fresh leaf weight was; 2.70, 10.17 and 10.69 t ha-1from the application no compost, compost tea and solid compost respectively. The application of compost tea initially increased the growth of Amaranthus. However, the highest leaf yield of Amaranthus was obtained from the application of solid compost.