Effect of Varied NPK Fertilization on Catalase Activity of Amaranth (Amaranthus Cruentus L.)

A study was carried out on the effect of varied NPK fertilization on catalase activity per gram fresh weight of the leaves of two varieties of amaranth, Rawa and Aztek, at different developmental stages (seedling, five-leaf, flowering and mature seed), as well as in the seeds. Amaranth was grown in a field experiment in southeast Poland, at wide-row spacing on good wheat complex soil. The following combinations of macronutrient levels were applied: I - 50 kg N ・ ha^-1, 40 kg P ・ ha^-1, 40 kg K ・ ha^-1, II - 70 kg N ・ ha^-1, 50 kg P ・ ha^-1, 50 kg K ・ ha^-1, III - 90 kg N ・ ha^-1, 60 kg P ・ ha^-1, 60 kg K ・ ha^-1 and IV - 130 kg N ・ ha^-1, 70 kg P ・ ha^-1, 70 kg K ・ ha^-1. The study showed that catalase activity exhibited a downward trend during the vegetation period of amaranth. The highest catalase activity was noted in the leaves during the first stage, ie the seedling stage. Increasing levels of NPK led to an increase in catalase activity. Leaves of the Rawa variety had higher catalase activity than those of the Aztek variety at every stage of development. The level of catalase activity in the amaranth seeds was also significantly affected by fertilization and the variety of amaranth. Higher levels of the fertilizers caused an increase in catalase activity in the seeds.