ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effectiveness of incorporating spent mushroom substrate (SMS) into topsoil on dry weight, herbage yield, nutrient and nutrient uptake of Amaranthus hybridus. The experiment was conducted at the Screen House of the Department of Crop Science, University of Benin, Nigeria. The trial involved five application rates of SMS (0, 50, 100, 150, and 250 g) per 3 kg of topsoil laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Data were collected on the physical and chemical properties of topsoil admixed with SMS. Data were also collected on dry weight, herbage yield, nutrient content and uptake after harvesting the crop. Results showed that SMS application significantly (p<0.05) improved the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Dry weight was highest in topsoil media treated with SMS at 150 g (2.07 g) but comparable with other media treated with SMS at 100 g (1.80 g) and 200 g (1.66 g). All the SMS treated topsoil media produced similar herbage yield only significantly higher than non-SMS treatment (3.10 tha^-1). Nutrient content and uptake were positively influenced by SMS application. Based on these findings and in terms of profit maximization, Topsoil media treated with SMS at 100 g is thereby suggested for urban Amaranth growers.