Evaluation of five lines of amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) in three locations within the Imbabura province

• Main Author: Dávila Pullas, Lorena Marivel
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2008
• Subjects: Amaranths; amaranthus caudatus; Ecuador; Life Sciences; Plant Sciences
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5355; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6354&context=etd

The following lines of white-seeded amaranth were tested in three locations within the Imbabura province of Ecuador: Ecu-0113, Ecu-0014, Ecu-2210, Ecu-4737, and Ecu-4744. The three locations used were Caranqui, Urcuquí, and Pucará which are 2228, 2423, and 2513 meters above sea level respectively. The objectives of this study were: 1) to identify which of the five experimental amaranth lines respond best at each altitude, 2) to establish which of the three locations is most appropriate for cultivation, 3) to understand the vegetative period of the five lines in each location, 4) to analyze which of the five experimental lines possesses the best characteristics in regard to yield, and 5) to determine the cost of producing one hectare of amaranth. The hypothesis was that at least one of the five amaranth lines has a different response in each of the three locations. A randomized block design with five treatments (varieties) and three repetitions in each location was used. Tests of significance were conducted via the Tukey method at 0.05 examining stem length, panicle length, yield, and days to harvest for all varieties and locations. Combined analysis was used to evaluate variety interaction by location. Significant differences in stem length were observed among the different locations and varieties. The Ecu-0113 variety reached lengths of 1020.00 mm. In regard to panicle length, significant differences were also observed among different locations and varieties. The most promising locations were Urcuquí and Caranqui while the most promising varieties were Ecu-0113 and Ecu-4737. Significant differences in grain yield were also observed among the different locations and varieties. In the Urcuquí area, the Ecu-0113 variety had the highest yield with a yield of 2404.24 kg/ha. In the Caranqui and Pucará areas, the Ecu-2210 variety had the highest yields with values of 1605.88 and 833.99 kg/ha respectively. The Ecu-4744 variety was the first ready to harvest in all three locations while the variety Ecu-2210 was the last. The production of one hectare of amaranth resulted in a cost-benefit ratio of 2.48 which means that for every dollar invested, $1.48 USD was recovered. In the Imbabura province, Urcuquí and Caranqui can be considered favorable environments for cultivation and Ecu-0113 and Ecu-2210 were the varieties that exhibited the greatest production potential. We recommend planting the Ecu-0113 variety in Urcuquí and the Ecu-2210 variety in Caranqui and Pucará to obtain maximum grain yield.