Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) is a promising crop because of its maximum nutritional values and ability to adapt to different soil and environmental conditions. Since amaranth has small seeds, it is crucial to sow the seeds at the optimal soil depth to ensure uniform germination and healthy seedlings, which eventually influence crop productivity. In this study, the sowing of amaranth cultivar Krepysh seeds with different sizes and specific gravity occurred in quartz sand at various depths (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 cm). Examining the relationship between sowing depth and initial growth intensity of amaranth seedlings was the goal of this research. The results showed a decline in the number of viable and healthy seedlings as sowing depth increased. Additionally, heavy seeds sown at 1–2 cm depth demonstrated relatively high emergence rates. Conversely, the optimal sowing depth appeared to be 2–3 cm for medium and light seed fractions. Sowing at less than 2 cm depth resulted in insufficient moisture in the upper soil layer, while seeds sown deeper than 4 cm led to a delayed and non-uniform germination and healthy seedling. The study concludes a sowing depth of 2–3 cm emerged as the most suitable for amaranth, as it improves seed germination and helps prevent drought stress.
Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. cultivar Krepysh, friendliness and simultaneity of seedlings, sowing depth, seedling viability
The optimal sowing depth for Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. cultivar Krepysh varied by seed fraction—heavy seeds perform best at 1–2 cm, while medium and light seeds do better at 2–3 cm. Sowing deeper than 4 cm notably delays emergence and diminishes seedling vigor across all seed types.