Comparison of chemical composition and growth of amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) between greenhouse and open field systems

Abstract

Amaranth can be cultivated in greenhouses or open fields. The aim of this study was to compare the basic chemical composition and growth parameters of Amaranthus hypochondriacus grown in a greenhouse in comparison to the open field. Each cropping system was assigned an experimental area of 100 m2. Cultivation was performed directly in irrigated furrows without fertilizers. The same soil type was used for both cropping systems. Number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, length of seeds, panicle length, biomass and grain yield, grain area, percentage of popped and sprouted grain, and chemical composition were compared. The variables under greenhouse cultivation yielded superior results were grain yield (26.5%), biomass (61.2%), plant height (87.4%), stem diameter (24.3%), number of leaves (2.4%), panicle length (18.4%), percentage of popped grain (2%) and sprouted grain (7%) than field cultivation. Open field cultivation improved protein, fat and ash (9.0%, 17.6% and 43.1%, respectively), and grain size (22.5%) than greenhouse production. Thus, it may be concluded that greenhouse cultivation of A. hypochondriacus crop provides for higher yields, but inferior chemical composition values compared to the open field cultivation system.