EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANGING METHOD AND WEED CONTROL METHODS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF AMARANTHUS (AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS ) IN LAPAI SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study was conducted during the 2025 rainy season at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching and Research Farm, Lapai, to determine the effect of different planting methods and weed control methods on the growth and yield of amaranthus (amaranthus cruentus) in lapai southern guinea savanna of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with ten treatments, replicated three times. The treatments comprised of two planting methods (broadcasting and transplanting) and five weed control methods: Butachlor at 1.5 kg a.i/ha only, Butachlor at 1.5 kg a.i/ha + one hand weeding, Butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i/ha only, Butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i/ha + one hand weeding, and a weedy check. Data collected included weed density, weed control efficiency, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, stem diameter, and fresh yield. Results revealed that broadcasting enhanced early crop establishment, resulting in taller plants and lower weed dry matter at the initial stages, while transplanting produced wider leaf area, higher leaf area index, and thicker stems at later stages. Among weed control methods, Butachlor at 2.0 kg a.i/ha + one hand weeding consistently recorded the lowest weed density and the highest fresh yield (2.34 t/ha). The weedy check produced the lowest yield (0.59 t/ha), emphasizing the detrimental effect of weed interference. The interaction between planting and weed control methods was generally not significant but showed a complementary influence on growth and yield. The study concludes that integrated weed management involving Butachlor (2.0 kg a.i/ha) combined with one hand weeding and transplanting method enhances weed suppression and yield performance of Amaranthus cruentus under Lapai conditions