Response of Sickle Senna (Cassia tora) to Nitrogen Fertilizer and Sowing Methods in Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during the 2024 rainy season at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, to evaluate the effect of Nitrogen fertilizer and sowing methods on the growth and yield of Sickle Senna (Cassia tora). The treatments consisted of five Nitrogen rates (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha^-l) and three sowing methods (broadcasting, dibbling and drilling) which was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Data were collected on growth characters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, and leaf area index) and yield characters (pod length, fresh leaves yield per hectare, pod yield per hectare and total yield per hectare) which were measured and recorded. The results showed that N fertilizer significantly influenced all measured parameters, with growth and yield increasing as fertilizer rates increased. The highest fertilizer rate of N fertilizer (120 kg ha^-l) resulted in taller plants, higher number of leaves, higher leaf area index and higher yield. However, there were no significant differences between 90 and 120 kg ha^-l for some characters (plant height, leaf area index, pod yield ha^-l and total yield ha^-l). The control treatment consistently recorded the lowest values across all characters. Similarly, drilling sowing method which was comparable to dibbling for some characters observed had significant edge over the sowing methods used in the experiment. Therefore, based on the results of these trials it could be concluded that application of N fertilizer at 90 kg ha^-l and drilling sowing method which gave higher growth and yield characters and is being recommended for optimum Sickle senna production in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria.