Response of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Growth and Bulb Yield to Application of Vermicompost and Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizers in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Yield of garlic is often constrained by low and unbalanced nutrient supply in the soil. This study was conducted to assess the effect of application of vermicompost (VC) and mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer on growth and bulb yield of a garlic variety named ‘Chelenko I’ The experiment was conducted during the 2016 main rainy season. The experiment was laid out as a randomized block designed in a factorial arrangement and replicated three times per treatment. The treatments consisted of four rates of vermicompost (VC) (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1), and five rates of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0, 52.5, 80, 105 and 130 kg N ha-1. Data were collected on days to maturity, plant height, leaf number, yield components, namely, bulb length and clove weight, and marketable and unmarketable bulb yield of garlic. The data were analyzed and computed using SAS software version 9.0 and the means were separated by using Turkey’s Test at 0.05 probably level . The results revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in early maturity (130.48 days) at control treatment (zero fertilizers) while late maturity (135.50 days) was at application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Significantly (P < 0.05) maximum plant height (60.65 cm), clove weight (2.71 g/clove), and marketable bulb yield (12.32 t ha-1) were recorded at the rate of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Due to combined application of VC (7.5 t ha-1) and mineral N fertilizer (130 kg ha-1) unmarketable bulb yield was reduced by 41.03% over the control treatment. The highest net benefit was recorded from the maximum marketable bulb yield of garlic at the application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC and 130 kg N ha-1 . Thus, it is concluded that combined application of vermicompost and mineral nitrogen fertilizer resulted in optimum production of the crop in the study area.
Authors: Tamiru, Fikru, Gedamu, Fikreyohannes
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3005122663