OPTIMIZING GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF MUSTARD (BRASSICA NIGRA L.) USING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POULTRY MANURE AND ASH MIXTURE IN UNWANA,EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Low soil fertility is one of the major constraints in crop production and productivity, including mustard in southeastern Nigeria. The study investigated the growth, yield and yield components of mustard as influenced by different levels of poultry manure and ash of 0, 5 and 10tha^-1 of poultry manure and 0, 3 and 6tha^-1 of Ash. The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial fitted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height (cm), number of leaves, leaf area (cm²), total seed weight (kgha^-1), straw yield (kgha^-1), oil yield (kgha^-1) and oil content (%). Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA and significant means were separated with the least significant difference at 5% probability level. The results obtained revealed that the soil of the experimental site was acidic (pH 4.20) and the site was low in fertility (organic carbon - 1.43%, organic matter-1.47%, nitrogen – 0.14%, phosphorus – 18.27mg/kg and potassium – 0.12cmol. the mixtures of the poultry manure and yield improved the soil pH as well as enhanced growth, yield and yield components of mustard. The mixture of 10tha^-1 poultry manure and 6tha^-1 Ash significantly (p=0.05) enhanced yield and yield components of mustard in Unwana, Ebonyi State, southeastern Nigeria. The application of poultry manure and ash at 10tha^-1 and 6tha^-1 produced the best result and thus has the potential of increasing mustard production in Unwana.