THE EVALUATION OF TIME OF APPLICATION OF ORGANIC LIQUID- FERTILIZER ON PERFORMANCE OF TUMERIC IN UMUDIKE.

Abstract

A study was conducted at the experimental farm of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), to evaluation of time of application of organic liquid fertilizer on performance of Tumeric in Umudike. Two improved turmeric varieties developed by NRCRI were used in the experiment. The treatments included applications at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after planting (WAP), with a control (no fertilizer) for each variety. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three (3) replications. Data were collected on plant height, plant girth, leaf area, number of leaves, leaf area and rhizome yield. The statistical analysis was conducted using R software version 4.3.1. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using the function within a linear model framework, following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) to assess the effects of fertilizer timing and variety on all measured growth andyield parameters. Pearson's correlation coefficients between plant traits were calculated. The results show strong and statistically significant differences among the varieties for plant height, as indicated by the low CV (1.5%) and a small LSD value of 1.5, confirming high precision in measurement. Variety L4 recorded the tallest plants (52.9 cm), followed closely by L12 (46.9 cm) and X4 (42.4 cm). The results for plant height show that treatments produced statistically meaningful differences at the LSD of 12.7. From the correlation analysis (P<0.05), plant height and a highly significant correlation with leave area (r= 0.78**), plant girth (0.55**) and number of leaves (0.52**). Also the relationship between plant height and mother rhizome was also significant (0.48*) but not as high as leave area, plant girth and number of leaves. A significant relationship was also established between plant girth with mother rhizome (0.54*), secondary rhizome (0.48**) and primary rhizome (0.62*).