Performance of carrots under various fertilization and water application regimes
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Sokoine university of agriculture
Abstract
Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a crop cultivated in Tanzania, but its productivity is still low,
mainly due to poor agronomic practices and limited information on optimal levels of water
along with type and level of fertilizer application that enhance crop production. Thus, the
main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbonate foliar application
(lithovit), soil-based NPK fertilizer application and various levels of water application on
the growth, yield and quality of carrots under the semi-arid conditions of Morogoro in
Tanzania. Various water application levels in the first season (96.6 m 3 for 100% (I 100 ),
77.28 m 3 for 80% (I 80 ) and 57.96 m 3 for 60% (I 60 )) equivalent to 475.83 mm, 380.67 mm,
and 285.498 mm and in the second season (47.34 m 3 for 100% (I 100 ), 37.872 m 3 for 80%
(I 80 ) and 28.404 m 3 for 60% (I 60 )) equivalent to 233.64 mm, 186.92 mm, and 140.19 mm,
respectively, with different rates of lithovit (1, 1.5 and 2 g/L/plant) and 150 kg NPK ha -1
were applied. The experiment was set as a 3×6 factorial in a split plot design. ANOVA on
the growth, yield, and quality parameters was done with the aid of Genstat statistical
software. NPK soil-based fertilizer application level of 2 g/plant under full irrigation,
represented by the replenishment of 100% of ET c , appears to be optimal for carrot
production. Full irrigation was found to be superior to other levels for carrot production.
The interaction between full irrigation and the 2 g/plant fertilizer rate of soil-based NPK
fertilizer enhanced carrot production compared to other interactions. Foliar fertilizer may
not satisfy the complete nutrient requirement of the crop; further study on carrot
productivity should be conducted using soil-based NPK fertilizer and foliar fertilizer in
combination with organic fertilizers under various water application levels for
comparative purposes.
Description
Dessertation
Keywords
Performance, Carrots, Fertilization, Water, Application regimes