| Selection of Crop
Area: Should be on basis of crop rotation,
preferably following oats, wheat or other grass
crops, in order to prevent yield damage from:
• Residual, broadleaf herbicides
• Competitive weed populations
• Chemical crop application (to ensure a
non-chemical application)
Soil Preparation: Soil
surface must be chisel plowed or full-depth plowed
followed by disk and clatimulcher to provide a
fresh, smooth, loose soil surface for uniform
plant penetration and germination of the very
small seeds. Soil should be well-drained, yet
with moisture within ¼” of surface
at planting time to prevent:
• Irregular depth penetration
• Poor seed germination due to dry soil
zones
• Crusting of soil movement due to wind
and rain
• Weed pre-growth
• Poor areation and soil temperature irregularities
Soil Temperature:
Determined by the fact that amaranth is a warm
season plant with best germination rates when
soil temperatures reach 66-70 degrees (optimum
range 69-73 degrees), evidence to date indicates
that continually cold, damp soil conditions will
cause severely reduced, erratic germination and
very poor cotyledon growth, leading to potentially
poor seed head production, weak stalks and greater
competition from weeds.
|
