Impact of Fish Guano and Abscisic Acid on Physiological Traits of Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.) under Moisture Stress
A.M. Aliyu
Department of Crop Science, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria and Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
S.U. Yahaya
Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
A. Lado
Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
E.A. Shittu
*
Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
H.M. Aliyu
College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kano State, Nigeria.
A.B. Yakubu
Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
U.B. Ahmad
Department of Crop Science, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria.
A. Muhammad
Department of Crop Science, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria.
A.A. Manga
Department of Agronomy, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Field trials were conducted during the 2021 and 2022 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Facultyof Agriculture Bayero University Kano (110 97′ 98.6′′N 80 42′03.7′′'E) and Research Farm of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil (11̊25′N 9̊E) to determine the impact of fish guano (FG) and abscisic acid (ABA) leaf area index (LAI), stomatal conductance(SC), photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and relative water content (RWC) of grain amaranth under moisture stress conditions. Treatments consisted of moisture stress stages (vegetative, flowering and grain filling), FG (0, 0.1 and 0.2kg) and ABA concentrations (0, 20and 50 µmolL-1) and laid out in a split-plot design and replicated three times. Moisture stress was applied in the main plots, while FG and ABA treatments were applied in the subplots. Data was collected on LAI, SC, PAR and RWC and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GENSTAT 17th edition software. Significant treatment means were separated using the Student Newman Keuls Test (SNK) at 5% probability level. In 2021 and 2022, the LAI and RWC of the plants at BUK and Wudil were significantly (p<0.001) boosted by the application of 0.2 kg FG levels and 50 µmolL-1 ABA. In the 2021 season, plants experiencing moisture stress during flowering exhibited significantly (p<0.05) higher RWC at BUK. Additionally, the application of 20 µmolL-1 ABA had a significant (p<0.05) effect on stomatal conductance at BUK and Wudil in both seasons. The results of this study suggested that FG and ABA could be useful strategies for improving the performance and resilience of grain amaranth crops in the face of moisture stress.
Keywords: Fish Guano, grain amaranth, moisture stress, abscisic acid, fish guano