Influence of propagule size and poultry manure rate on growth and yield of turmeric (<I>Curcuma longa L.</I>)

Abstract

Size and quality has been attributed to the medicinal usage of ginger in addressing health maladies. An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of propagule sizes and poultry manure rates on the growth and yield of turmeric during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015 at the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria. The study was laid out in split plot design replicated three times. Main plot was propagule sizes of 5 and 10 g while poultry manure rates of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 t/ha were in the sub-plots. Propagule size had significant effects on plant height and rhizome yield for both seasons. Propagule size of 10 g had taller plants of 24.2 cm and 63.4 cm respectively and significantly higher yields of 16.1 and 14.9 t/ha for both seasons respectively. Poultry manure rates also had a significant effect on plant height, number of tillers and the rhizome yield. Rhizome yields of 13.9 t/ha and 16.7 t/ha respectively was highest at 15 t/ha poultry manure for both years. The interaction between propagule size and poultry manure was significant for plant height and
the rhizome yields for both seasons. Propagule size of 10 g gave a higher yield than 5g propagules while 15 t/ha of poultry manure produced an optimum performance.

Keywords: Propagule size, vegetative propagation, organic manure, yield.