Effect of rate of irrigation and little brown bat manure on the growth and yield of castor (Ricinus communis L.) in Mokwa Mohammed J.M1, Abdullahi A. S2, Musa S.M2, Hawau A. O3,* 1Department of Crop Production Technology, Niger State College of Agriculture, Mokwa, Nigeria 2Department of Agricultural and Bio-resource Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria 3Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resource Engineering, University of Abuja, Nigeria *Corresponding Author : ikwan1565@gmail.com
Online published on 2 February, 2024. Abstract Water is the environmental factor with the highest impact on the plant growth and the most frequent factor limiting seed yield. For castor, water is particularly important because the most important regions cultivating the oil seed are semi-arid. This study determines the effect of rates of irrigation and brown bat manure on the growth and yield of castor. The experiment was conducted in Mokwa, Niger state. A completely randomized design (CRD) was set up potted with improvised drip irrigation system with five treatments replicated three times. The pots were spaced at 2m x 2m distance. The treatments were; T1 - 2/lit /per day/w, T2- 2L daily for 2 days/w, T3 - 2L daily for 3days/w, T4 - 2L daily for 4days/w and T5 – one litre a week. The soil preparation was done by treating the soil with bat manure; 50kg bags were half filled with soil from the college orchard, each bag was mixed with 2kg of bat manure. The soil was moistened for three days and allow for partial decomposition. Soil physical and chemical analysis was done before treatment by taking sample from a pot at depth of 0 - 20 cm with soil augers. The plant parameters determined include; Seedling Emergence, Plant Height (cm), Number leaves, Number of branches, Days to Fifty Percent Flowering, total Pod Number and seed oil yield. From the trial conducted the following conclusions were drawn: that although castor can tolerate moisture stress, it performs well with irrigation. The appropriate rate of irrigation that gives a better growth and yield of castor plant were determined to be literes per every 4 days. No irrigation should be given during maturity stage because it delayed maturity and also influences new vegetative growth. Farmers can work with the recommended rate of 8L/4day for castor for better yield. Top Keywords Castor, Drip irrigation, Water requirement, Soil bulk density, Oil extraction. Top |