Amaranthus cruentus L. is an important leafy vegetable in Nigeria that has high dietary value. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of drought on growth of Amaranthus cruentus in Ekpoma, Edo State of Nigeria. Although the vegetable crop tolerates drought to somecertain degree and adapted to drought, the most significant point is that drought had remarkable effects on growth of Amaranthus cruentus. The general effects were low dry weight yields, wilting and yellowing of leaves leading to senescence and eventual death of some of the plants. In drought, the water content in A. cruentus increased with the period of treatment. The results are discussed in relation to the morphological and physiologicaladaptations of the plants to water stress.
Publication year
2003
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
vegetable crops, drought, indigenous varieties, agricultural products, crops, water
Geographic
Nigeria
