Growth and Yield Performance of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) as Influenced by Organic Manure under Open Field Conditions

Abstract

Carrot is an exotic vegetable in Liberia, commonly used in combination with other vegetables when making soups, stews, and salads. The study focused on assessing the growth and yield of carrots by combining NPK doses and organic manures in an open field at the Teaching and Research Farm, William V. S. Tubman University Campus, Harper City, Liberia. The randomized complete block design included soil amendments of 10 t/ha, 15 t/ha, and 20 t/ha of chicken manure, along with 300 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer (15:15:15), and a control for evaluation. The findings from the physical and chemical analysis of different macronutrients in the soil, such as soil carbon, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium, were deemed to be moderate and satisfactory. The result of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that all growth and yield parameters were significantly affected (P <0.05). Results indicated that the longest Plant height (19.10 cm) was recorded in the 20 ton ha-1 compost application, while the lowest plant height (6.84 cm) was measure in the control. The highest leaf number (15.15) was recorded in 20 t ha-1 while the lowest leaf number (10.22) was recorded in the control (0 t ha-1). The result revealed that the leaf area (39.76 cm2) was recorded in the 20 ton ha-1, while the minimum (13.18cm2) was recorded from the control. The next best results were seen with 20 t ha-1of chicken manure, which had root lengths of 19.31cm, while the lowest plant root length (6.84cm) was measure in the control. The highest root diameter of (7.87mm) was recorded in 20 t ha-1 while the lowest root diameter (2.16 mm) was recorded in the control (0 t ha-1). The result revealed that the maximum root weight (31.76 g) was recorded in the 20 ton ha-1, while the minimum (10.33 g) was recorded from the control. The study found that the carrot plants showed the best growth and highest yield when treated with 20 tons per hectare of chicken manure.