Effects of Planting Methods and Nutrient Sources on the Performance of Celosia argentea in Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the main factors limiting crop performance in the tropics is agronomic practices, which include planting techniques and nutrition. Celosia argentea is a significant leafy vegetable that needs to be grown, produced, and graded using appropriate agronomic techniques. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how C. argentea growth, production, and quality were impacted by planting practices and fertiliser sources. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai (Latitude 9o06" and Longitude 6o57) was the study's site. The experiment was carried out in 2024 from April to August. The experiment was set up using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) and was carried out three times. Four levels of nutrient sources (poultry manure, cowdung, goat manure, and control) and two levels of planting techniques (transplanting and direct sowing) were used. Plant height (cm), leaf count (cm), branch count, stem girth (cm), leaf area (cm2), harvest index, yield per plot (kg), and cumulative yield (tonnes/ha) were all measured. With the exception of branch count, transplanting had the greatest values in both growth and yield metrics, indicating that planting methods had a substantial (P<0.05) impact on C. argentea growth and yield, according to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). In comparison to other nutrient sources, the study also demonstrated that goat and poultry manures at Lapai supported noticeably larger plants, more leaves, more branches, wider shoot girths, and higher yields per plot and cumulative output at P<0.05. Goat manure showed supported significantly the growth parameters while poultry manure significantly supported yield parameter followed by goat manure, cow dung and control which had the lowest yield.