EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE AND DENSITY ON AMARANTH (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) GROWTH INDICES AND FORAGE YIELD

To study the effects of planting date and plant density on Amaranth, two field experiments were conducted in 2013 at Marv-Dasht, Fars, Iran. The field experiments were conducted as split plot in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Plant density (6.6, 8.3 and 11.0 Plant.m(-2)) and planting date (June 22ed, July 6th and July 21st) were used as treatments. Results of this study revealed that the planting date and plant density had significant effect on number of leaf per plant, stem diameter, leaf dry weigh, stem dry weight, forage yield, relative growth rate (RGR), crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI). Highest amaranth forage yield (11.7t.ha(-1)) was obtained from 6.6 plant.m(-2) density and July 6th planting date. Moreover, in the experiment condition the amaranth yield was also reduced with delay in planting date from 6th to 21st July and increases the plant density from 6.6 to 11 plant.m(-2) significantly.