Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

H.-E. Kaul, W. Aufhammer, B. Laible, E. Nalborczyk, S. Pirog and K. Wasiak:

The suitability of amaranth genotypes for grain and fodder use in Central Europe

Summary

A set of 15 amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) genotypes from different species and regions of the world was evaluated in field experiments with reference to their suitability as grain or fodder crops. The genotypes' phenology, morphology and dry matter production at beginning of flowering and at grain maturity were examined under three different environments, twice in South Germany (1994 and 1995) and once in Poland (1994). On average, they needed four months from sowing to grain maturity. Their yields ranged from 1 to 270 g m-2 of grain dry matter and from 290 to 1440 g m-2 of total above ground dry matter. Within the tested set of genotypes, the origin rather than the botanical species was decisive for their suitability for grain or fodder use in Central Europe. There were large interaction effects between genotypes and environments. However, preliminary genotype recommendations can cautiously be drawn from the results. Key words: amaranth, genotypes, morphology, grain production, fodder production.