Commercial crop requirements

Growing Amaranth: climate, soil and water requirements

Amaranth has an optimum temperature range of 21–28°C within an absolute 7–45°C envelope.

Its profile calls for 400 mm of seasonal water and an optimum soil pH of 5.5–7.5.

How to read the figures

Profile figures come from the source cited at the foot of this page. Regional figures are representative reference values, not coordinate-level measurements.

Climate envelope

Use the optimum band for screening normal crop development and the absolute range as an outer tolerance boundary. Accumulated heat still depends on the local planting window and daily temperatures.

Amaranth climate requirements
RequirementProfile value
Optimum temperature21–28°C
Absolute temperature range7–45°C
Heat to maturity1,600 growing degree days above a 10°C base
PhotoperiodShort-day response; 12-hour critical daylength
VernalisationNot required

Soil and pH

Amaranth soil requirements
RequirementProfile value
Optimum pH5.5–7.5
Tolerated pH range4.3–8.5
Waterlogging toleranceIntolerant

An intolerant rating means drainage is a screening constraint. Check infiltration, perched-water risk, field outlets and the duration of saturation before committing land.

Water

Amaranth water requirements
RequirementProfile value
Seasonal water requirement400 mm
Optimum rainfall band1,100–1,400 mm
Absolute rainfall range200–4,200 mm

Irrigation becomes necessary when effective in-season rainfall is below the 400 mm seasonal requirement. Convert that gap into a field schedule only after accounting for soil water storage, application efficiency and local rainfall timing.

Nitrogen demand

The profile assigns Amaranth nitrogen-demand category 4, which translates to high demand. It is a relative category, not a fertiliser rate.

Set the field program from soil and tissue evidence, expected removals, prior-crop effects and local nutrient rules.

Crop-level reference profile

Amaranth crop-level reference figures
RequirementProfile value
Average yield4 t/ha reference average
Growing periodAbout 110 days to maturity, derived from 1,600 growing degree days above 10°C at a 24.5°C mean season temperature. Modelled from the crop profile.

Where it grows well

These examples pass a stated temperature or rainfall comparison using representative regional values. Regional screening, not parcel-level.

Alabama

Representative warm-season temperature is 25°C, inside the 21–28°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 1,331 mm, inside the 1,100–1,400 mm optimum rainfall band.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Arkansas

Representative warm-season temperature is 25.4°C, inside the 21–28°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 1,171 mm, inside the 1,100–1,400 mm optimum rainfall band.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Delaware

Representative warm-season temperature is 22.4°C, inside the 21–28°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 1,204 mm, inside the 1,100–1,400 mm optimum rainfall band.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Regional guides

Research basis

These papers support the qualitative interpretation of the crop profile. No paper-derived figure is used on this page; the named crop and region fields remain the only sources of displayed agronomic numbers.

Taking this to a field decision

This profile cannot set planting depth, row spacing, seeding rate, cultivar choice, fertiliser rate, harvest timing, irrigation schedule or drainage design. Those decisions depend on cultivar, local practice and field conditions.

Use a coordinate-level audit, local field evidence and commercial terms before a land or lending decision.

Crop profile source

Wikidata & Literature (Liu et al., 2012, Environmental and Experimental Botany).