Effect of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers on the Nutritional Composition of

Amaranthus spinosus

ABSTRACT

Organic and chemical fertilizers are considered as a good factor for plant growth but the rate of
improvement of growth and production varies with types of fertilizers used i.e. organic and
inorganic fertilizers. So the present investigation was designed to determine the efficacy of
different fertilizer for the improvement in growth of Amaranthus (Amaranthus spinosus) plant.
The nutritional composition of Amaranthus plant growing in different fertilizers was compared.
The quantity of different fertilizer was used as 500 kg h-1. Different parameters of soil were also
observed. The result revealed soil parameters such as temperature (29.50 C± 0.36), moisture
(3.5±0.18), Water holding capacity (74%±0.48), pH (8.17±0.15), organic carbon (2.68±0.025)
and organic matter (4.62±0.039). ). The phytochemicals of Organic fertilizers treated plant has
great concentration of Alkaloid (1.06±0.03), flavonoid (0.89±0.01) and tannin (1.48±0.012), ash
(7.75± 0.29), moisture (87.6 ±0.52) and protein (8.4±0.32), Fe (54.89±0.), Zn (8.05±0.), Cu
(1.02±0.), Na (13.28±0.), Ca (113±0.6) and Mg (93±0.42) in the comparison of both fertilizers.
Inorganic fertilizer does not show any significant effect on plant growth, while the combination
of former and later was found to have satisfactory effect. Overall the study shows that organic
fertilizers or there combination with chemical fertilizer are much better that for a farmer to use
with his crops instead opting for chemical fertilizer.

Key words: Organic fertilizers, Inorganic fertilizer, Plant growth, Phytochemicals, Minerals

INTRODUCTION
Plants are the valuable sources of food and medicine for the maintenance of human health. Many
plants are used to obtain drugs; as a result it pulls our attention towards the preparation of herbal
remedies.
The thorny Amaranthus belongs to family Amaranthaceae, is a coarse herb with tiny
green flowers (Costea, 2001). This plant is used as a vegetable, fodder and in medicine (Ayethan,
et al., 1995). Amaranthus is a good source of vitamin A, C, folic acid, thiamine, niacin and
riboflavin (Pee et al., 1995). It also contains a significant amount of minerals viz. calcium, iron,
potassium, zinc, copper and manganese and a great source of lysine; essential amino acid, which
is obtained from Amaranthus seeds. Amaranthus seed oil is used to treat hypertension and
cardiovascular diseases and increased cholesterol levels. In many rural areas of western UP
people use it in their day to day diet. It is also a great source of antioxidant and helps rural people
to get a significant amount of vitamins and other nutritional minerals. Vitamin A is the major
constituent of Amaranthus which makes it a potent diet to prevent night blindness.
Amaranthus can easily grow sufficiently in low rainfall conditions. It has highly nutritious value
that can play an important role in action against hunger. The grains of Amaranthus are used in
daily diet in the form of cereals, soup, cookies and snacks (Martha A. Shimelis A., 2012)
Organic fertilizers like cuw dung manure and poultry farmyard have good quality of NPK which
improved soil texture and yielding of crops. Organic and inorganic fertilizers are necessary for
plant growth which provides the nutrients needed for optimum performance of plant. Most of the
countries using the organic fertilizers from ancient time, whereas the use of chemically
synthesized inorganic fertilizers developed to fulfill the demands of increasing populations at
global level. At the present time most of the people are using chemical fertilizer (Erisman, et al.,
2008) because they are easy to use, quickly absorbed and utilized by crops.
The organically grown vegetables and fruits contain good amount of minerals, vitamins
and protein (Citak and Sonmez, 2010). Organic fertilizers also play an important role to improve
the chemical, physical and physico-chemical properties of soil. On the other side chemical
fertilizers are mainly applied for the rapid growth of plant and high yielding of product (Stewart
et al., 2005). But the excessive use of chemical fertilizer affects the chemical and physical
properties of soil, resulted the deficiency of nutrients from plant product (Singh et al., 2001).
The balanced use of both type of fertilizers are essential for the growth of crop with good quality
and high yields. The constituents of fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other
inputs plays an important role to improve quality and quantity of fruits, vegetables and other
crops (Nai-hua et al., 1998).
The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of organic fertilizers and
chemical fertilizer on the nutritional composition of Amaranthus spinosus.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study was carried out on a crop land of village Tisang, District Muzaffarnagar, Uttar
Pradesh. It is the part of national capital region with latitude 29.270 and longitude 77.130. The
total geographical area of Tisang is 1486.24 hectares. The crop land was cleared manually and
soil parameters were recorded before applying the fertilizers. The organic (cow dung manure:
500 kg. ha-1), chemical fertilizer (DAP + Potash: 500 kg. ha-1) and combination of both (organic
and chemical: 500 kg. ha-1) were applied to the soil and mixed thoroughly before sowing the
seed. The unit plot size was 3x3.5 m2 =10.5m2. Seedlings were raised at a spacing of 10cm to
20cm and depth of 3cm, one seedling per hole. When plants were grown up to a height 60 cm, 20
matured plants were randomly uprooted.
The matured plants were used because there is maximum metabolism activity as compared to
young plants. Moisture content, ash, protein, chlorophyll and carotenoids were estimated on
green leaves. Leaves and stem was oven dried at 740 C for 24 hours and grinded using mortar-
pestle.
1) Physico-chemical parameters of soil: Soil temperature was recorded by using soil
thermometer. Moisture content was determined after oven drying the fresh soil sample at 1050 C
and expressed as a percentage of weight of the soil sample. Water holding capacity was
determined by method as described in Trivedy and Goel, (1998).pH was measured by using
digital pH meter. Organic carbon was determined by wet digestion method (Walky and Black,
1934).

2) Determination of Phytochemicals: Alkaloids were determined by Harbone (1973)

method, flavonoid by Boham and Kocipal method (1994), Tannin by van-Burden and Robinson
method (1981).
3) Determination of Proximate composition: In proximate composition of Amaranthus,
Protein was estimated by Lowry et al. (1951) method. Moisture content was determined by oven
drying method. Ash was determined by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (1999)
method.

4) Determination of minerals: Mineral content of Amaranthus spinosus were determined

according to AOAC (1999). Calcium and Magnesium was determined by titrimetric method.
Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.
Sodium (Na) was determined by flame photometer.

5) Determination of phyto-physicological attributes: Chlorophyll from the fresh

plant sample was estimated by Arnon (1949) method. Various concentrations of chlorophyll
were calculated by using the formula given by Machlachan and Zalik (1963). Carotenoid was
estimated by using the method of Duxbury andYentsch (1956).

RESULTS
This study was done to know the nutritional composition of locally available crop plant
Amaranthus spinosus when treated with different ratio of fertilizers. In comparative study of
organic, chemical and combination of both fertilizers on Amaranthus reveals that effect of
organic fertilizer was higher on plant than that of chemical and combination of fertilizers.

Table 1: Physico-chemical estimation of soil

S.no. Parameters Observations
0
1. Soil temperature ( C) 29.5± 0.36
2. Moisture content % 3.5±0.18
3. Water holding capacity % 74± 0.25
4. pH 8.17±0.15
5. Organic carbon % 2.68± 0.02
6. Organic matter % 4.62± 0.03
Values are mean ± SD, n=15, where n is the number of observations
Soil parameters were recorded before sowing the seeds are presented in Table 1. During present
study soil temperature was recorded 29.5± 0.36 and moisture of soil sample was 3.5 ± 0.18.
Water holding capacity was recorded 74± 0.25 .pH of soil was 8.17±0.15, the organic carbon
was recorded 2.68±0.025 and organic matter 4.62±0.039.

Table 2: Quantitative estimation of phytochemicals mg/100g

S.no. Parameters Organic fertilizer Chemical fertilizers Organic + chemical
(cow dung manure) (DAP+potash) fertilizers
(cow dung manure and
DAP+potash)
1. Alkaloid 1.06±0.03 0.35±0.03 0.81±0.03
2. Flavonoid 0.89±0.01 0.36±0.02 0.55±0.01
3. Tannin 1.48±0.012 1.20±0.0234 1.38±0.028
Values are mean ± SD, n=15, where n is the number of observations

Results of quantitative phytochemicals analysis have indicated that alkaloids, flavonoids and
tannin were present in plant sample. Phytochemical estimation of Amaranthus spinosus plant
treated with organic fertilizers has shown that alkaloid, flavonoid and tannin were present at the
amount of 1.06±0.03, 0.89±0.01 and 1.48±0.012 respectively. In case of chemical fertilizer
treated plant alkaloids, flavonoids and tannin were present at the amount of 0.35±0.03, 0.36±0.02
and 1.20±0.0234 respectively. Plant was treated with mixture of organic and chemical fertilizers
have the amount of alkaloid, flavonoid and tannin 0.81±0.03, 0.55±0.01 and 1.38±0.028. The
results of phytochemical screening on the different ratio of fertilizers reveals that organic
fertilizer treated plant have the great value in comparison of chemical fertilizer and combination
of both fertilizer treated plant.

Table 3: Quantitative estimation of proximate composition

S.no. Parameters Organic fertilizer Chemical fertilizers Organic + chemical

(cow dung (DAP+potash) fertilizers
manure) (cow dung manure and
DAP+potash)
1. Moisture 87.6 ±0.52 83.2±0.43 85.4±0.19
content%
2. Ash% 7.75± 0.29 5.08±0.32 6.25±0.55
3. Protein 8.4±0.32 7.9± 0.36 9.1±0.46
(g/100gm)
Values are mean ± SD, n=15, where n is the number of observations

Table 3 showed that proximate analysis of Amaranthus that contained moisture, ash and protein
in organic fertilizer treated plant have amount of 87.6 ±0.52, 7.75± 0.29 and 8.4±0.32. Chemical
fertilizer treated plant have moisture, ash and protein at amount of 83.2±0.43, 83.2±0.43 and
7.9± 0.36 respectively and in combination of both fertilizers moisture, ash and protein have
85.4±0.19, 6.25±0.55 and 9.1±0.46. The result reveals that organic fertilizer treated plant have
great proximate composition in terms of moisture, ash and protein in comparison of chemical
and combination of both fertilizer.

Table 5: Estimation of plant minerals (mg/100gm)

S. Parameters Organic fertilizer Chemical fertilizers Organic + chemical

no (cow dung (DAP+potash) fertilizers(cow dung
manure) manure and DAP+potash)
1. Calcium (Ca) 113±0.6 85.40±0.3 97.57±0.8
2. Magnesium (Mg) 93±0.42 62.10±0.25 97.18±0.8
3. Iron (Fe) 54.89±0.25 44.85±0.08 49.42±0.25
4. Copper (Cu) 1.02±0.52 0.88±0.06 0.90±0.37
5. Zinc (Zn) 8.05±0.48 6.89±0.02 8.36±0.42
6. Sodium (Na) 8.05±0.48 10.27±0.03 8.64±0.30
Values are mean ± SD, n=15, where n is the number of observations

In Table 5 showed that minerals in organic fertilizer treated plant have higher concentration of
Ca (113±0.6), Mg (93±0.42), Fe (54.89±0.25), Cu (1.02±0.52), Zn (8.05±0.48) and Na
(8.05±0.48). Chemical fertilizer treated plant showed Ca (85.40±0.3), Mg (62.10±0.25), Fe
(44.85±0.08), Cu (0.88±0.06), Zn (6.89±0.02) and Na (10.27±0.03). In case of combination of
both fertilizers treated plants, sample have Ca (97.57±0.8), Mg (97.18±0.8), Fe (49.42±0.25), Cu
(0.90±0.37), Zn (8.36±0.42) and Na (8.64±0.30).

Table 6: Estimation of phyto-physicological attributes (mg g-1f.w)

S.n Parameters Organic fertilizer Chemical Organic + chemical

o. (cow dung fertilizers fertilizers
manure) (DAP+potash) (cow dung manure and
DAP+potash)
1. Chlorophyll a 0.087± 0.45 0.043±0.32 0.069±0.25
2. Chlorophyll b 0.08854±0.64 0.04723±0.48 0.07281±0.34
3, Total chlorophyll 0.1755±0.48 0.09023±0.58 0.14181±0.35
4. Carotenoid 0.07328±0.28 0.01367±0.62 0.04841±0.48
Values are mean ± SD, n=15, where n is the number of observations

In table 6 green leaves of organic fertilizers treated plant showed the concentration of
chlorophyll are chlorophyll a (0.087± 0.45), chlorophyll b (0.08854±0.64), total chlorophyll
content (0.1755±0.48) and carotenoid (0.07328±0.28). Chemical fertilizer treated plant have
chlorophyll a (0.043±0.32), chlorophyll b (0.04723±0.48), total chlorophyll (0.09023±0.58) and
carotenoid (0.01367±0.62). In case of combination fertilizer treated plant sample results showed
that chlorophyll a (0.01367±0.62), chlorophyll b (0.07281±0.34), total chlorophyll
(0.14181±0.35) and carotenoid (0.04841±0.48).
 DISCUSSION
This study on the effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on phytochemicals, proximate
composition, minerals and phyto-physicological attributes revealed that organic fertilizers
produced higher effect on the above studied parameters in comparison of chemical fertilizer.

The results revealed that organic fertilizers produced higher amount of nutritions in comparison
of chemical and combination of both fertilizers. The results of the study are in favor of
Abdelrazzag (2004), Shaheen et al. Arisha et al. and Funda et al. They reported in their study
that organic fertilizers increase the amount of proximate composition and minerals. Organic
manure has capability to activate phytohormone releasing living organisms which enhance the
plant growth and nureints (Arisha et al.). Results of this study are in agreement with Katherine
(2007) who reported in their study that organic food have more nutritional value in comparison
of ordinary produced food or chemically synthesized food. She found in her study that
organically produced food have higher value of antioxidants, flavonoids, Iron and Zinc which
helps to prevent from heart diseases and cancer.

Mofunanya et al. studied on Amaranthus spinosus using different type of fertilizers and his
findings are somewhat relevant to present studied observations which were far more similar. The
findings of their study were as follows: The organic fertilizer treated plant has the value of
phytochemicals alkaloids was 0.84±0.02, flavonoid 15.20±0.2, tannin 0.96±0.2, moisture content
86.40±0.2, Ash 3.10±0.2, protein 7.90±0.01, and inorganic fertilizer treated plant has the value
of Alkaloid was 0.68±0.02, flavonoid 14.80±0.02, tannin 0.85±0.01, moisture 85.60±0.0.2, Ash
2.80±0.1 and protein 5.60±0.01. Their results express that organic fertilizer treated plant sample
has higher effect in comparison to inorganic treated plant sample.

Amaranthus plant is considerd as the superior in taste to spinach which has high amount of
calcium, iron and phosphorus (Makus, 1984). In presnt study, mineral content viz; Ca, Mg, Na,
Cu, Fe and Zn were estimated in mg/100g in dry matter in Amaranthus. Gajewska (2002)
reported the levels (mg/100g) of minerals in amaranth as follow: Ca 204-223, Fe 8. 3-9.7, Mg
200-235, Zn 2.9-3, Cu 1.03-1.38, and Na 6.30-8.42. Large quantities of Fe were present in
Amaranthus viridis. The present study express that Amaranthus spinosus have a great value of
minerals.

CONCLUSION
The results of this study on Amaranthus spinosus suggest that the organic fertilizers are much
better than the chemical fertilizers. They provide good nourishment to the plant in comparison of
other fertilizers. This is also a known fact that chemical fertilizers have a side effect on the soil
fertility and in growth of plant when they used in long time while the organic fertilizers do not
have any ill effect. In some cases where chemical fertilizers become a necessity to complete the
demand of any specific element in soil the farmers can opt for a suitable combination of organic
and chemical fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers. As, comparative study of different ratio
of fertilizers treated plant showed that organic fertilizer (cow dung manure) treated plant sample
produced higher concentration of nutrients produced when compared to chemical and
combination of both fertilizers treated plant while chemical fertilizers produced high yield and a
rapid maturation. Hence, the outcome of the study is clearly in the favour of organic fertilizers.

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