Optimizing Amaranth Production Systems : A Review

This systematic review synthesizes findings from more than fifty published studies to evaluate the critical agronomic, ecological, and physiological factors influencing the establishment of sustainable and resilient Amaranth production systems. The evidence affirms Amaranth as a high-value C-4 crop with increasing global demand due to its nutritional profile, stress tolerance, and versatility for grain, leaf, and microgreen production. This review further explores how management decisions, particularly variety selection, nutrient sourcing, and planting architecture determine overall productivity and harvestable biomass. A key focus is the quantification of resource-use efficiency across contrasting planting systems. The synthesis reveals that unstructured broadcast planting intensifies intra-plant competition, leading to higher susceptibility to early stage weed and insect pest infestations and consequently, reduced yields. Conversely, structured row￾planting improves light interception, soil nutrient utilization, and water efficiency, while facilitating easier weed management with minimal reliance on chemical control. These results suggest that row planting offers a sustainable approach, especially for smallholders and resource-limited farmers. However, the current body of literature remains limited in scope and experimental uniformity. More targeted studies focusing on the interaction between planting architecture, genotype performance, and ecosystem dynamics are necessary to validate and refine these conclusions. Given the growing significance of Amaranth as a climate-resilient, nutrient-dense crop, future research should also emphasize its potential in diversifying food systems through expanded work on its grain, leafy vegetable, and microgreen forms