JOURNAL OF CURRENT DISCOURSE AND RESEARCH (JCDR)

Impact Of Certain Plant Leaf Extracts on The Growth and Yield of Amaranthus hybridus (L.)

Abstract

The effects of leaf extracts from Moringa oleifera, Chromolaena odorata, Gliricidia sepium, Panicum maximum, and Tithonia diversifolia on the growth and yield of Amaranthus hybridus were assessed in a pot study at the screen house at the Teaching and Research Farm of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, using a completely randomized design. ANOVA was used to statistically examine data on plant height, stem girth, leaf area, number of leaves, and yield components. Results from the experiment indicate that: Amaranthus hybridus and Chromolaena odorata performed noticeably better than all other plant leaf extracts, resulting in increased plant height (30.26 cm), stem girth (0.68 cm), and leaf count (31.20). Moringa oleifera treated plants, exhibited larger leaf area (7.52 cm²), while the effects of Tithonia diversifolia and Gliricidia sepium were generally moderate, and Panicum maximum exhibited the lowest growth response, compared to the control which recorded the least performance. Chromolaena odorata applied singly also produced the highest whole yield (106.00 g) and edible yield (83.40 g), followed by Moringa oleifera. The study concludes that Chromolaena odorata and Moringa oleifera are effective bio-stimulants that enhance Amaranthus hybridus productivity, and can so be recommended for use.