AMARANTH ALTERNATIVE CROP FOR DESERTIFICATION PROCESS AREAS. SOME CUBAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Amaranth highly nutritious food (16-19% protein) with similar amino acid composition of cow's milk. Cuba has grown in the Valley Golin, Guantanamo on alluvial clay loam soil under desertification process (less than 440 mm rainfall and temperatures above 30 º C), amaranth cultivated in summer and winter, according Borroto et al (1995), . The best yields occurred when the plant received moderate rainfall well distributed through vegetative growth stages, soil is suitable for desertification process capable of maintaining production of 1,300-l500 kg / ha of grain and 30 t / ha green matter in drought conditions with moderate water in the first 15 days. Amaranth cultivation is an alternative to production in soils under desertification process to be a productive option for high nutritional value and a significant population in animal nutrition.