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Published:
Jun 1, 2019Keywords:
Chelenko I Marginal return Marketable bulb yield Net benefit Vermicompost
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Response of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Growth and Bulb Yield to Application of Vermicompost and Mineral Nitrogen Fertilizers in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia
Abstract
Yield of garlic is often constrained by low and unbalanced nutrient supply in the soil. This
study was conducted to assess the effect of application of vermicompost (VC) and mineral nitrogen (N)
fertilizer on growth and bulb yield of a garlic variety named ‘Chelenko I’ The experiment was conducted
during the 2016 main rainy season. The experiment was laid out as a randomized block designed in a
factorial arrangement and replicated three times per treatment. The treatments consisted of four rates of
vermicompost (VC) (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1), and five rates of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0, 52.5, 80,
105 and 130 kg N ha-1. Data were collected on days to maturity, plant height, leaf number, yield
components, namely, bulb length and clove weight, and marketable and unmarketable bulb yield of garlic.
The data were analyzed and computed using SAS software version 9.0 and the means were separated by
using Turkey’s Test at 0.05 probably level . The results revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in early
maturity (130.48 days) at control treatment (zero fertilizers) while late maturity (135.50 days) was at
application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Significantly (P < 0.05) maximum plant height (60.65 cm), clove weight
(2.71 g/clove), and marketable bulb yield (12.32 t ha-1) were recorded at the rate of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Due
to combined application of VC (7.5 t ha-1) and mineral N fertilizer (130 kg ha-1) unmarketable bulb yield
was reduced by 41.03% over the control treatment. The highest net benefit was recorded from the
maximum marketable bulb yield of garlic at the application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC and 130 kg N ha-1 . Thus, it
is concluded that combined application of vermicompost and mineral nitrogen fertilizer resulted in
optimum production of the crop in the study area.
study was conducted to assess the effect of application of vermicompost (VC) and mineral nitrogen (N)
fertilizer on growth and bulb yield of a garlic variety named ‘Chelenko I’ The experiment was conducted
during the 2016 main rainy season. The experiment was laid out as a randomized block designed in a
factorial arrangement and replicated three times per treatment. The treatments consisted of four rates of
vermicompost (VC) (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1), and five rates of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0, 52.5, 80,
105 and 130 kg N ha-1. Data were collected on days to maturity, plant height, leaf number, yield
components, namely, bulb length and clove weight, and marketable and unmarketable bulb yield of garlic.
The data were analyzed and computed using SAS software version 9.0 and the means were separated by
using Turkey’s Test at 0.05 probably level . The results revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in early
maturity (130.48 days) at control treatment (zero fertilizers) while late maturity (135.50 days) was at
application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Significantly (P < 0.05) maximum plant height (60.65 cm), clove weight
(2.71 g/clove), and marketable bulb yield (12.32 t ha-1) were recorded at the rate of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC. Due
to combined application of VC (7.5 t ha-1) and mineral N fertilizer (130 kg ha-1) unmarketable bulb yield
was reduced by 41.03% over the control treatment. The highest net benefit was recorded from the
maximum marketable bulb yield of garlic at the application of 7.5 t ha-1 of VC and 130 kg N ha-1 . Thus, it
is concluded that combined application of vermicompost and mineral nitrogen fertilizer resulted in
optimum production of the crop in the study area.
