1. Introduction
Amaranth is one of the main African leafy vegetables in Africa and has been rediscovered as a promising food crop due to its resistance to heat, drought, diseases and pests, and the high nutritional value of both seeds and leaves (Onyango, 2003).
Leaves and succulent stems are good sources of iron (38.5mg/100g), calcium (350-400mg/100g), vitamin-A and C. High oxalate content (1-2%) and nitrate (1.8-8.8g/kg dry matter) levels are reported from leaves of various species (Gopalakrishnan, 2007).
Amaranth is widely distributed in both tropical and subtropical regions. Leaf amaranth is a warm season crop adapted to hot humid climatic conditions.
It is grown throughout the year in tropics. Red amaranth requires bright sunlight for color development. Grain types, A. caudatus, A. cruentus, A. edulis are short day species while A. hypochondriacus is day neutral.
Amaranth comes up well in well drained loamy soil rich in organic matter. The ideal pH is 5.5-7.5, but there are types which come up in soils with pH as high as 10.0.
2. Verieties
If you want to grow amaranth as a grain, some amaranth varieties to consider include: Amaranthus caudatus Amaranthus cruentus Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus retroflexus. If you want to grow amaranth plants as a leafy greens, some amaranth varieties best suited to this include: Amaranthus cruentus Amaranthus blitum Amaranthus dubius.
Amaranthus cruentus
Amarantus hypocondriacus Amaranthus retroflexus
Amarantus blitum Amaranthus Dubius
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