Effect of levels of nitrogen and iron on yield of grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochodriacus L.) under different planting techniques

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2007–08 and 2008–09 at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, C. P. College of Agriculture, SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar. Among the planting techniques, line sowing recoded significantly higher plant height, length of main spikelets, number and length of lateral spikelets, grain and stover yield of amaranth. Line sowing resulted into 17.1%; 5.8% and 9.7%; 3.1% higher grain and stover yields, respectively over broadcasting and paired row methods of sowing. The yield and yield components of grain amaranths increased significantly under application of 60 kg N ha⁻¹ and then decreased gradually as crop received higher proportion of N than RON (60+40 kg NP ha⁻¹). Iron application did not exert any significant response, though higher yield and yield attributed were recoded under 10 kg FeSO₄ ha⁻¹ application. Highest net income (Rs. 34130 ha⁻¹) and benefit cost ratio (3.83) was associated with, 60 kg N ha⁻¹ with 10 kg FeSO₄ under line sowing