Effect of Cow Dung and Poultry Manure on Soil Properties and Performance of Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) in Imo State

Amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) is a rapidly growing indigenous leafy vegetable cultivated widely in South East Nigeria for its high protein and mineral content. Soil fertility management using organic amendments such as cow dung and poultry manure represents a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers for smallholder vegetable farmers in Imo State. This study evaluates the effect of cow dung and poultry manure, each applied at 5 and 10 tonnes per hectare, on selected soil chemical properties and the growth and yield of amaranth in Owerri, Imo State. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with six treatments and three replications. Soil samples were analyzed before and after the experiment for organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and pH. Plant parameters measured include plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, fresh shoot weight, and total yield. Results indicate that poultry manure at 10 tonnes per hectare produced the highest improvement in soil nitrogen and amaranth fresh shoot yield, outperforming cow dung at all rates. Soil pH improved across all organic amendment treatments compared to the control. The study recommends poultry manure at 10 tonnes per hectare for sustainable amaranth production in Imo State, with implications for recycling poultry farm waste into smallholder vegetable systems. Keywords: amaranth, Amaranthus hybridus, poultry manure, cow dung, Imo State