Introduction
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp),popularly known as chaulai,is very nutritive and highly suitable crop for kitchen gardening and commercial cultivation.Rapid growth,quick rejuvenation after each harvesting and high yield of edible matter/unit area in limited time as well as high nutritive value are its important features.It is one of the cheapest vegetables in tropical and sub tropical parts of the country.It could be a very valuable source for combating under nutrition and malnutrition in india.It is a warm season leafy vegetable grown in Kharif and summer season. It is short duration crop. Leafy types are grown in kitchen and market garden, recently grain types have grained some importance in protein, minerals and vitamin A and C.
Local Names
Math- Marathi, Chhoti Chulai- Hindi, Cheera- Malayalam.
1. Amarnthus candotus: rajgira.
2. Amarnthus tricoloulour: Math.
3. Amarnthus blitum: tamda math.
4. Amaranthus oleracea: tandulja.
Climate And Soil
Amaranth can be grown on a wide variety of soils.However,sandy loam soil is best suited for its successful cultivation.Soil should be prepared well by 2-3 repeated ploughings.Amaranth is a C-4 plant which can make efficient use of CO2 and suppresses its photorespiratory loss. The plants also grow better under adverse environmental conditions.They can photosynthesize at high rates even under high temperature.Hence,it is grown successfully in hot summer season and humid conditions of kharif season.
Soil and its Preparations:
It can be grown on all types of soil, but loam soil is most suitable for its cultivation. Fine seed bed necessary for this crop and this can be done by repeated ploughing.
Sowing of Seed:
Amaranth should be sown during mid march for summer crop and mid july for kharif crop.About 1.5-2.0 kg seed is enough for a hectare.Since seeds are very small,they should be mixed well with sand and sown in rows at 1cm depth at a spacing of 30 cm.After sowing,a light irrigation is essential for ensuring good germination.Seedlingd 2-3cm long are thinned out to a spacing of 3-4cm.
The crop is suitable for growing in summer as well as rainy season. The seed is sown in December- January for summer crop and April – May for rainy season crop. Seeds of this crop are very small. The seed is sown broadcast in sown or in flat beds after mixing those with fine soil fro well distribution. The seedlings of badi Chauli are transplanted after raising them in the nursery during rainy season at a spacing of 45 cm from row to row 30 cm. from plant to plant. About one kilogram seed is required for sowing one acre.
Manuring:
A dose of well rotten farmyard manure@10-25 tonnes/ha should be incorporated at the time of field preparation.Application of 150 kg single superphosphate/ha is also recommended at the time of land preparation.A dose of 75-90kg/ha of urea should be topdressed in 3 split doses.The first dose should be applied 15-20 days after sowing,whereas second and third after first and second cuttings.
Irrigation
Since amaranth is first grown as a short duration crop,it requires plenty of water for growth and high yield.In summer,frequent irrigation is required at 4-6 days interval.Similarly in kharif,irrigation is scheduled as per the moisture content of the soil.
After Care:
The crop become ready fro harvesting about three to four weeks after sowing and subsequent cuttings may be done after 7 to 10 days. The plants are harvested by cutting them periodically. This crop revenate quickly after each cutting.
One or two weedings or hoeing are sufficient for controlling weeds.Hoeings between the rows not only check weeds but also reduce the number of irrigations
Harvesting
The young amaranth seedlings grown for commercial purpose are often uprooted when they are 8-10cm tall (3-4 weeks after sowing).The first cutting can be made 3 weeks after sowing. Amaranth grown for seed is not usually harvested for greens.Seed plants are cut when mature and seeds can be rubbed from the inflorescens and then removed by drying and threshing.These seeds may be separated from the chaff with fine screens and if necessary, by winnowing.Yieldd of gross products(total biomass) varies from 100-500q/ha depending on varieties.
Yield:
The yield of green leaves is 90 to 100 q/ha and seed is 200 kg/ ha.