Response of dry season garden egg (Solanium melongena) to watering regime and organic mulching levels in Okigwe, Southeastern Nigeria
Journal Title: Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Rain fed garden egg cultivation is dominant in the farming systems of Okigwe southeastern Nigeria. Farmers seldom cultivate garden egg during dry season in the study area due to low soil moisture. This study was therefore designed to determine the level of water requirement and mulching level that could guarantee off season cultivation of garden egg in Okigwe. The dry season field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, replicated three times in 7 × 4 factorial combinations. The factor A treatments was watering regimes (0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000 L/ha) while the factor B was four organic (sawdust) mulching levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all the weed infestation, growth and yield parameters. The result also showed increase in mulching levels with significant reduction in weed density and biomass. The application of 1500 L/ha produced 19.13 and 18.93 t/ha fruits respectively. The least fruit yield 9.56 and 9.11 t/ha respectively, was from the control (no irrigation) treatment. The application of 3000 L/ha of irrigation water produced 1-53% and 2-56% more fruit yield than other irrigation water levels in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons, respectively. The result also indicated significant fruit yield of 22.05 and 22.62 t/ha from application of 15 t/ha sawdust while the least fruit yield; 9.80 and 9.29 t/ha, respectively was from control (no mulching) treatment. The interaction effect between irrigation water and mulching levels on fruit yield varied significantly different in both cropping seasons. The highest fruit yield, 25.86 and 26.80 t/ha, in both cropping seasons were observed between 3000 L/ha and 15t/ha sawdust while the least, 5.16 and 3.75 t/ha, was obtained from the interaction of no irrigation water and no mulching. The 1500 L/ha irrigation water and 10t/ha organic mulching (sawdust) were recommended for off season cultivation of garden egg in Okigwe southeastern Nigeria.
Authors and Affiliations
Ikeh A. O, Akpan E. A
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP542883
- DOI 10.33495/jacr_v6i2.17.142
- Views 188
- Downloads 0
The role of microcredit in women empowerment and poverty alleviation in Edo State, Nigeria
Women constitute the majority of the society that are greatly deprived, they experienced adverse situations in term of socio-economic inequality and gender disparity. Women have limited access to economic and income gene...
Identification of the best management options for the rice quality processing centers: Case of Cameroon
A study was conducted in 2011 immediately after the installment of quality processing centers in Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic where the CFC implemented a pilot project on rice productivity and quality enha...
Effects of sprinkler irrigation on physical properties of soil and on the yields of green gram
Field trials were conducted in the arid and semi-arid of the North West Kenya to assess the impact of sprinkler nozzle size on physical soil properties and subsequently on crop yield. Three different sprinkler sizes were...
Quality and acceptability of inert-atmosphere-metal-silo stored paddy rice as food and planting material
Moisture content, mould growth, insect infestation, damage, seed and food utilizability of NERICA variety of Paddy rice from Baddegi were investigated during storage in inert-atmosphere-metal-silo at Nigerian Stored Prod...
Perceived agricultural land use decisions in a peri-urban district, Ghana
The paper analyses farmer households’ decisions on agricultural land uses in peri-urban Asante-Akim South District of the Ashante region, Ghana. Rapid peri-urbanization has resulted in increasing demand for, and pressure...