ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effect of different plant populations on the vegetable yield of Celosia argentea.The study was conducted in the early cropping season of January 2024 at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Nigeria; located within the Rainforest of Nigeria. The experimental design consisted of a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five plant population treatments (111111, 160000, 250000, 444444, and 1000000 plants ha^-1). Each treatment plot measured 3m x 1.5m, with a separation of 0.5m between plots and replications. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The PROC ANOVA procedure of SAS was utilized for ANOVA, while means were separated using the LSD test at a significance level of p = 0.05%.
The results revealed significant variations in vegetable yield parameters, including plant height, number of leaves, and fresh plant, leaf, and stem weights, across different plant population densities. Lower densities generally resulted in taller plants and higher yields, while higher densities led to reduced plant vigor and biomass. The optimal plant population density for maximizing vegetable yield was identified as approximately 111,111 plants per hectare. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing Celosia argentea cultivation practices and enhancing agricultural productivity in similar agroecological settings.
