MSc.

The experiment entitled "Media and nutrient management for orgamc
amaranth (Amaranth us tricolor L.) in terrace gardens" was undertaken on the
open terrace of the main building of the College of Agriculture, Padannakkad
during January to June, 2013. The main objectives of the study were to assess the
suitability of different growing media and standardizing organic nutrient
management schedule for growing amaranth •(var. Arun) in terrace gardens and to
study the residual effect of treatments with and without nutrient management
schedule on a second crop of amaranth.
The first experiment, laid out in completely randomized design, comprised
of 26 treatments replicated thrice viz. TI (soil+sand+cow dung), T2
(soil+sand+vermicompost), T3 (soil+sand+coir pith compost), T4 (soil+rock
dust+cow dung), T5 (soil+rock dust+vermicompost), T6 (soil+rock dust+coir pith
compost), T7 (soil+coir pith+cow dung), Ts (soil+coir pith+vermicompost), T9
(coir pith+cow dung), TlO (coir pith+vermicompost), Tll (cocopeat+cow dung),
T12 (cocopeat+vermicompost), Tn-T24 (same as TI-T12 but with organic nutrition),
T25 (T1+INM as per POP recommendation ofKAU) and T26 (T1+ad hoc organic
POP of KAU). The second experiment, laid in completely randomized design,
comprised of 27 treatments replicated thrice viz. T 1 - T 26 (growing media of
treatments T1-T26 of Experiment I after raising of first crop of amaranth and
without any additional nutrients), T27 (three of the six bags maintained T25 during
experiment I) + INM as per, POP recommendation of KAU. The chemical
characteristics of the components used for preparing the media and the initial
nutrient status of different growing media were analysed. The results of the study
are as follows:
In the first experiment, among media TJ (soil+sand+cow dung), resulted in
greater plant height whereas with respect to manurial schedule T26 (T1+ad hoc
organic POP of KAU) was superior followed by T25 (TJ+INM as per POP
recommendation of KAU). The number of branches was also significantly higher

ID TI (soil+sand+cow dung) whereas with respect to manurial schedule the
treatment T25 (T1+INM as per POP recommendation of KAU) was superior
followed by T26 (T1+ad hoc organic POP of KAU). The treatments TI
(soil+sand+cow dung), T 7 (soil+coir pith+cow dung), T 9 (coir pith+cow dung) and
T 11 (cocopeat+cow dung) had significantly higher moisture content. Considering
the yield of all the harvests, the total yield was significantly higher in T 25
(T1+INM as per POP recommendation ofKAU), followed by TB (soil+sand+cow
dung+organic nutrition), T26 (soil+sand+cow dung+ad hoc organic POP ofKAU,
TI (soil+sand+cow dung) and TI5 (soil+sand+coir pith compost+organic nutrition)
which were on par. The treatment T 9 (coir pith+cow dung) had significantly
lowest yield. Significantly higher root weight was obtained under T 1
(soil+sand+cow dung), which was on par with T IS (soil+sand+coir pith
compost+organic nutrition) and T25 (soil+sand+cow dung+INM as per POP
recommendation ofKAU). The maximum water productivity was recorded in T 25
(soil+sand+cow dung+INM as per POP recommendation of KAU) which was
significantly superior to all other treatments followed by T26 (soil+sand+cow
dung+ad hoc organic POP of KAU) which was on par with T13 (soil+sand+cow
dung+organic nutrition). The nutrient status of the media after the first
experiment andnutrient uptake by the crop were also estimated. With respect to
cooking quality, the treatment T26 (soil+sand+cow dung+ad hoc organic POP of
KAU) secured the maximum grade for appearance, colour, flavour, texture and
taste respectively and was significantly.superior to all other treatments.
In the second experiment, it was observed that growth and yield of amaranth
was significantly better in T27 where INM was adopted additionally as per POP of
KAU. However, in all aspects it was on par with T26 (soil+sand+cow dung+ad
hoc organic POP of KAU). Moreover, in general, the performance was better in
treatments T n- T 24 where organic nutrition was given in the first experiment when
compared to Tl-T12 which comprised the growing media alone. However, when
compared to the summer season crop (first experiment), yield of amaranthus
during rainy season (experiment IT) was less consequent to the higher rainfall


received. The economics of cultivation worked out for the two crops revealed that
T26(soil+sand+cow dung+ad hoc organic POP ofKAU) was most profitable. The
high cost of certain components like vermicompost and cocopeat made the
treatments that had these as components of the growing media non-profitable.
Considering the growth, yield, cooking quality, residual effect of treatments
on growing media and economics, T 26 viz. growing media of soil+sand+cow dung
(1:1:1)+ad hoc organic POP ofKAU which consists of farm yard manure @ 25 t
ha" as basal dose along with Trichoderma+PGPR mix 1 @ 2.5 kg ha" (1:1 ratio)
followed by top dressing with vermicompost @ 1 t ha-! at 10 days interval is the
best for growing amaranth organically on terraces and it is equally effective as the
INM recommendation in the POP ofKAU. Also, the growing media combination
of vermicompost or coir pith compost with soil and sand or rockdust in 1: 1 : 1
proportion can be recommended provided it is supplemented with organic
nutrition (@ 50:50:50 kg ha" N: P20S: KzO as basal and 50 kg ha" N as top
dressing after each harvest) on N equivalent basis using groundnut cake, rock
phosphate and potassium sulphate.