EFFECT OF SOWING DEPTH AND POTTING MEDIA ON DRY MATTER PRODUCTION OF GINGER (Zingiber officinale)

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 at Department of Crop Science Screen House, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Ugbowo campus, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The trial involved three potting mixtures( Topsoil (TS) and poultry manure (PM); (TS+PM 1:1, TS+PM 1:2 and TS+PM 2:1) and three sowing depth (2, 4,and 6cm).These treatments were laid out in a 3×3 factorial arrangement fitted into completely randomized design with three replications. Data were collected on total dry weight and its partitions (shoot dry weight, root dry weight and corm dry weight) at 10 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP). Results showed that potting medium TS/PM 1:2 had highest dry weight and crop growth rate while plants in TS+PM 1:1 had the least dry weight and crop growth rate. Plants sown at 4cm depth had the lowest dry weight. The highest dry weight was (1.33g) at crop growth rate (0.06g plant/day) The highest dry weight (2.83) was raised from sett sowed in TS/PM 1:2 at 4cm depth.Based on these findings, a combination of potting media TS/PM 1:2 sowing depth of 2cm and 4cm is suggested for raising ginger.