The castor bean is currently a plant with a lot of uses and
also a cash crop with high
commercialization and international demand. When cooked
and fermented, is a staple food condiment in
Nigeria. Its cultivation and domestication in the humid rainforest zone of
Southern Nigeria is still low, with little
information on its production. 2 separate field experiments were conducted in
the Rivers State University Teaching and
Research Farm in Port Harcourt Nigeria, to evaluate the effect of various mulch materials and various nitrogenous soil
amendments on the growth and yield of castor bean
plant (Ricinus communis). Dry oil palm bunch, saw dust and
dry elephant grass and black plastic mulch were used in the mulch study. 120kgNha-1equivalent of
urea, NPK 20-10-10, poultry droppings and piggery dung were used in the nitrogenous soil
amendment study. A Chinese improved variety of
castor bean plant (Zibocastor No 5) was used for both studies. pH values,
organic carbon content and total nitrogen were
all significantly improved by mulching. At 6WAP, plastic mulching increased number of leaves from 16 to 40 leaves per plant and
capsule weight from 63.1 to 161.3 g/plant; when
compared with unmulchedplots. The results of the nitrogenous soil amendments on
the growth and yield of castor bean plant showed
that significant effect on all growth and yield parameters measured, with the exception of percentage germination.
Amending with Piggery dung gave the best values
for all parameters measured and increased yield by 397.0% over the unamended
soil.
Author
(s) Details
Dr. Orji, Obianuju
Adaobi
Department of Crop and Soil
Science, Rivers State University, P. M. B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/252
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