Aztec amaranth, Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. of Amaranthaceae, has not become known among the people in Korea for cultivation up until now, particularly as an useful summer vegetable, since no desperate summer vegetable are properly grown and found in Korea today. The present work was therefore undertaken in order to exploit and introduce this unusual plant as new crop for leafy summer vegetable and cereal-like grain crop to Korean cultural environment. Panel assesment for the leafy amaranth was also performed to see the extent of Korean food liking as well.
Growth of Aztec amaranth is shown to favor a high level of nitrogen (soil fertility), moderately heavy soil (loam) and moisture level in soil. This plant also requires a high light intensity and yet stands well for pH range between 5.5 and 6.5 in the field, resulting in no significant difference in the growth rate. Very rapid and vigorous growth of Aztec amaranth takes place during the period from july to W gust in Korea when the temperature ranges around extreme hot summer weather of perhaps more than 30℃ for many days. Leaves and young shoots of Aztec amaranth are regarded excellent as Korean summer leafy vegetable usable for Korean $quot;Namul$quot; cooking and graded far better than the taste of Korean wild amaranth sold on markets during the summer. It is also usable for Korea soup preparations during summer and also graded to hate better taste than the ordinary spinach. Leaves of Aztec amaranth contains more protein and fibers and yet less fat, moisture, ash, and vitamin content. Although use of this plant as grain crop in Korea awaits future studies, abundant fertile seeds are recognized to be enough for the leafy crops in summer.
It is thus believed and revealed that Aztec amaranth can be nicely grown in Korea and regarded as a very important and yet popular leafy vegetable during the extreme hot summer months in Korea.
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