The study compares the growth, yield, and proximate composition of Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus cruentus, and Amaranthus deflexus, grown with poultry manure and NPK in relation to the unfertilized soil of Ilorin, Nigeria. Viable seeds of the Amaranths raised in nursery for two weeks were transplanted (one plant per pot) into unfertilized soil (control) and soils fertilized with either NPK or poultry manure (PM) at 30 Kg ha−1 rate arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Data were collected on plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area, and number of branches from 1 week after transplanting (1 WAT). Fresh weight, dry weight, and proximate composition were determined at 6 WAT. Except for the length, breadth, and number of leaves, the order of growth parameters and yield in the three Amaranthus species was NPK > PM > control. NPK grown Amaranthus species had the highest protein while PM-grown vegetables had the highest ash content. Crude fibre in A. cruentus grown with PM was significantly higher than NPK and the control. The NPK treatment of A. hybridus and A. deflexus had the highest crude fibre content. NPK and PM favoured growth and yield of the Amaranthus species but influenced proximate composition differently.

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The study assessed the effectiveness of biochars derived from Daniellia oliveri and Vitellaria paradoxa in ameliorating waste lubricant oil contaminated soils and improving germination of cowpea seeds. Daniellia oliveri and Vitellaria paradoxa biochars were applied at 0.5 and 1.0 % levels to soils contaminated with 2 % v/w waste lubricant oil (WLO). The unpolluted soil and WLO-contaminated soil without biochar were also used as controls. All treatments in three replicates were arranged in a randomized block design in a screen house. Biochars and soils were analyzed for pH, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH exclusively analyzed for soil). Ten cowpea seeds sown in soils were observed for sprouting from 1 to 10 days after sowing (DAS). Germination percentage and indices were determined from the number of sprouted seeds at 10 DAS. Vitellaria-derived biochar (BV) had higher N, K and Mg than Daniellia-derived biochar (BD). WLO contamination significantly reduced soil P but slightly affected pH, OC and exchangeable cations. Addition of BD and BV reduced TPH and improved soil quality. Oil contamination delayed and reduced cowpea germination by 9.3 % in un-amended WLO-contaminated soil. 1 % BV addition was effective in improving germination velocity and indices of cowpea seeds in oil-contaminated soils.