Productivity of carrot (Daucus carotaL.) as influenced by irrigation interval, poultry manure and npk fertilizer

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the dry seasons of 2010 and 2011 at the Irrigation Research Farm, Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa, Nigeria to evaluate the effect of organic manure, inorganic fertilizer and irrigation interval on the productivity of carrot (Daucus carota) The trial involved three levels of NPK fertilizer (0, 80 and 100kg ha^-1), three irrigation intervals (5, 8 and 12 days) and three manure rates (0, 5 and 10 tons ha^-1). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Irrigation interval and inorganic fertilizer as main plots and manure rates as sub plots. Furrow method of irrigation was used to irrigate the crop. Results indicate that inorganic fertilizer at 100 kg NPK ha^-1 significantly influenced carrot growth and yield characters, while application of poultry manure at of 10t ha^-1 significantly increased carrot growth and yield. Interaction effects of poultry manure at the rate of 5 tons ha^-1 and inorganic fertilizer at the rate of 80 kg ha^-1NPK produced the highest carrot yield. Irrigation treatments had no significant effect on carrot growth and yield.