Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Amaranth
D.H. Putnam1 , E.S. Oplinger2 , J.D. Doll 2 , and E.M. Schulte2
1Center for Alternative Plant & Animal Products, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108.
2 Departments of Agronomy and Soil Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI 53706. Nov. 1989.
I. History:
Amaranth, an ancient crop originating in the Americas, can be used as a high-protein grain or as a leafy vegetable, and has
potential as a forage crop. Grain amaranth species have been important in different parts of the world and at different times for
several thousand years. The largest acreage grown was during the height of the Aztec civilization in Mexico in the 1400's. The
past two centuries grain amaranth has been grown in scattered locations, including Mexico, Central America, India, Nepal, China,
and Eastern Africa. Research on amaranth by U.S. agronomists began in the 1970's, so optimum production guidelines and
uniform, adapted varieties have not yet been fully developed.
A few thousand acres of amaranth are commercially grown in the United States, and markets for that small acreage are fragile but
developing each year. Acreage has increased during the 1980s. Growers are advised to begin with a few acres, and to have a
contract or identify buyers before planting the crop.
II. Uses:
A. Food Uses:
Grain amaranth has been used for food by humans in a number of ways. The most common usage is to grind the grain into a flour
for use in breads, noodles, pancakes, cereals, granola, cookies, or other flour-based products. The grain can be popped like
popcorn or flaked like oatmeal. More than 40 products containing amaranth are currently on the market in the U.S.A.
B. Nutritional Value:
One of the reasons there has been recent interest in amaranth is because of its useful nutritional qualities. The grain has 12 to 17%
protein, and is high in lysine, an essential amino acid in which cereal crops are low. Amaranth grown at Arlington, WI in 1978
had protein levels of 16.6 to 17.5%. The grain is high in fiber and low in saturated fats, factors which contribute to its use by the
health food market. Recent studies have linked amaanth to reduction in cholesterol in laboratory animals.
C. Forage Uses:
Little is known about the production and utilization of amaranth as a forage. The leaves, stem and head are high in protein (15-
24% on a dry matter basis). A Minnesota study (1 year) on amaranth forage indicated a yield potential of 4-5 tons/acre dry matter,
with crude protein of the whole plant at 19% (late vegetative stage) to 11-12% (maturity) on a dry basis. A relative of grain
amaranth, redroot pigweed, (Amaranthus retroflexus), has been shown to have 24% crude protein and 79% in vitro digestible dry
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matter. Pigweeds are known nitrate accumulators, and amaranth responds similarly. Vegetable amaranths, which are closely
related, produced 30 to 60 tons/a of silage (80% moisture) on plots in Iowa. In areas where corn silage yields are low due to
moisture limitations, grain amaranth may become a suitable silage alternative after further research.
Grain amaranth plants are about five to seven feet tall when mature, and are dicots (broadleaf) plants with thick, tough stems
similar to sunflower. The tiny, lens-shaped seeds are one millimeter in diameter and usually white to cream-colored, while the
seeds of the pigweed are dark-colored and lighter in weight.
V. Cultural Practices:
A. Seedbed Preparation:
Seeds are very small, so it is important to have a fine, firm seedbed. Seedbed preparation can be done with a field cultivator or
disk; followed by cultipacking or spiketooth harrow and planting, preferably using a planter with press wheels. Seeds should be
planted no more than 1/2 inch deep, depending on soil texture and surface moisture at planting time. Heavy textured soils should
be avoided. If crusting is a problem, rotary hoeing at a slow speed may be helpful. Poor emergence, as low as 50%, is not
uncommon, Since seeds are shallow planted, there is potential for them to wash out on sloping ground.
B. Seeding Date:
The crop is usually sown in late May or early June when the soil temperature is at least 65F, and after early weed flushes have
been controlled.1
Little data are currently available on the pH and fertility requirements of amaranth. Amaranth is adapted
to soils that are slightly acidic to slightly basic (pH 6.5 to 7.5). Consideration of the pH requirement of
rotational crops should also influence the lime recommendation for amaranth.
The fertility requirements of amaranth appear to be intermediate between small grains and corn and
probably are similar to sunflower. Soil P and K should test in the medium to high range (30 to 75 lbs. P
and 160 to 240 lbs. K per acre, depending on subsoil fertility group). Test the soil and apply any
corrective P2 O5 or K2 O recommended on the soil test report. 2
Maintenance fertilizer equivalent- to crop removal should be applied to maintain soil test P and K levels.
A crop yielding 1200 lbs/a grain will remove about 36 lbs of N, 7 lbs of P, and 6 lbs of K per acre and
various amounts of calcium and magnesium and micronutricnts. However, amounts greater than those
are needed to sustain high yield levels. Requirements are higher when amaranth is harvested for silage
because virtually the entire above-ground portion is removed. For example, the total N uptake of the
amaranth plant is about 90 lbs/a. Suggested maintenance recommendations are 75 lbs N, 25 lbs P2 O5 and
40 lbs K2 O per acre. If soil organic matter exceeds 5%, apply 50 lbs N/A, if less than 1.5% organic
matter, use 100 lbs N/A. Credits for a preceding legume crop and use of manure should be subtracted
from these recommendations.
E. Variety Selection:
Uniform varieties of grain amaranth have not yet been fully developed. Available material consists of
selected lines which vary in their uniformity and degree of adaption to temperate latitudes. Researchers
at the Rodale Research Center in Pennsylvania and the USDA Plant Introduction Station at Ames, Iowa,
have done significant work in developing amaranth varieties and cataloging germplasm. Rodale
Research Center has distributed a number of lines including some that have been grown successfully in
Minnesota (e.g. K343, K266, and K432). University of Minnesota trials'at Rosemount from 1977 to 1989
showed yields from 300 to 3800 lbs/a for the 20 lines tested. Amaranth seed is also available
commercially (see Table 1).
American Amaranth, Inc., P.O. Box 196, Bricelyn, MN, 56014 (507-653-4377)
Terrance Cunningham, R.R. 1, Box 255 Twin Lakes, MN, 56089 (507-852-3465)
Nu-World Amaranth, Inc., P.O. Box 2202 Naperville, IL, 60540 (312-369-6819)
Plants of the Southwest 1812 Second St., Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505-983-1548)
Soaring Eagle Seeds, P.O. Box 94, Shawmut, MT. 59078 (406-632-4528)
1This is a partial listing and does not imply endorsement of the seed quality.
F. Weed Control:
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1. Mechanical: Since amaranth is not planted until late May or early June, many weeds will already have emerged. These early
weeds must be controlled by tilling the field prior to planting. Grain amaranths grow slowly during the first several weeks after
planting, so three or four cultivations may be needed during this period to control weeds. Once the amaranth plant is about a foot
tall, it begins to grow rapidly and is very competitive with weeds. Two species of weeds which are especially competitive with
amaranth are lambsquarter and pigweed. Fields with high populations of these weeds should not be used for amaranth production.
Since grain amaranth seeds do not undergo dormancy, and because plant growth is not vigorous early in the season, it is unlikely
that grain amaranth will be a weed problem in succeeding crops.
I. Harvesting:
Harvest is the most critical stage in grain amaranth production. Without careful harvest techniques, it is possible to lose or
damage the majority of the seed. A killing frost must occur before harvest followed by a week of good drying weather (there are
no approved desiccants for amaranth). If the stems and leaves are too wet, the seeds become sticky and adhere to the inside of the
combine as well as the straw discharge. Shattering during the cutting process can also cause losses, so adjustments should be
made to minimize shattering of the heads. When reel heads are used it may be helpful to remove several reel bats or raise the
height of the reel. Row headers perform better than reel heads for combining amaranth. High cylinder speed can damage grain and
reduce germination and popping volume. Conventional combines can be used if fitted with appropriately-sized separator screens.
Farmers have marketed their crop in a number of ways. Some sell small bags of the whole grain or flour mail-order to consumers.
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Many of these purchasers are allergic to wheat products. Other growers sell to local or regional health food stores or restaurants.
There are also a few who buy grain from the farmers and market it to the larger health food companies. Companies that have
developed grain amaranth products include Health Valley Natural Foods, Arrow Mills, Walnut Acres, Nu-World Amaranth, and
American Amaranth, Inc.
Amaranth - Modern Prospects for Ancient Crop". 1984. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
Amaranth, Quinoa, Ragi Tef, and Niger: Tiny Seeds of Ancient History and Modern Interest" (1986) Minnesota
Experiment Station Bulletin AD-SB-2949, St. Paul, MN.
Growing Grain Amaranth As A Specialty Crop" by Robert L. Meyers and Daniel H. Putnam, Center for Alternative Crops
& Products, Minnesota Extension Service, AG-FS-3458, 1988. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Footnotes:
lAmaranth seedlings are very sensitive to frost; the crop should be sown after all danger of frost is past.
2Until further studies on amaranth fertility needs are completed, nitrogen recommendations for sunflower are reasonable approximations. Amaranth is very responsive to nitrogen
application, but can lodge severely under high nitrogen soil conditions.
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