Abstract

Egbuchua, C. N and Enujeke, E. C.

A field study was carried out in the 2011/2012 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research, Farms of the Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba, a typical rainforest zone in Nigeria. The aim was to evaluate the responses of ginger to three sources of organic manures namely; cow-dung manure, poultry manure and pig manure at the rate of 20 t/ha. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Growth and yield parameters of ginger were taken at the 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks after planting (WAP), while fresh weight was taken at 16th week after planting (WAP). The growth parameters observed were plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and number of tillers. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significantly different means in the F-test were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability. Results showed significant increase in plant height, number of leaves and leaf area at the 6th to 12th WAP compared to the control. Growth parameters were not significantly different (P > 0.05) at the 4th WAP. Plots treated with poultry manure produced the highest plant height of 12.67 cm, highest number of leaves of 14.87 and leaf area of 231.8. This was followed by pig manure with values of 12.12, 14.25 and 222.5 cm. The least mean values of 7.14, 12.58 and 210.5 cm were obtained from the control. The general results indicated that organic manures in the forms of cow dung, poultry and pig manures have great tendency to increase growth characters and yield of ginger in a rainforest zone, Nigeria.