Poultry Manure Addition Affects Production, Plant Nutritional Status and Heavy Metals Accumulation in Green Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus)

Poultry manure (PM) application may be critical as source of contaminants and may affect crop quality. Experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to determine effects of PM on performance and quality of green amaranth including some minerals and heavy metals in soil and plant tissues. In both years, PM were applied at 0,10,20,30 and 40 t ha(-1). Application of PM increased soil chemical properties, leaf mineral content, growth and marketable yield of green amaranth compared with the control. Soil pH, organic matter, N and P and leaf mineral N and P were increased up to 40 t ha(-1)PM, but soil and leaf K, Ca, Mg, ash, protein, fiber contents were increased up to 20 t ha(-1) PM. The lowest fat was observed at 20 t ha(-1) PM. Dry matter declined as PM level increased. The PM influenced soil and leaf As, Cu and Zn, the abundance of heavy metals in soil and green amaranth leaf increased as level of PM increased. In soil and green amaranth leaves, levels of As, Cu and Zn as affected by PM did not exceed maximum permissible limits. The best green amaranth quality was obtained at 20 t ha(-1)PM and may likely provides a good balance between yield and economic outlay. (C) 2019 Friends Science Publishers