Integrated effect of nitrogen and vermicompost levels on yield and yield components of carrot (Daucus carota L.) at Woreta, Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

The N fertilizer or organic resources alone may not provide sufficient amounts or may be unsuitable for improving specific constraints to crop production. In view of this, a field trial was conducted at Woreta ATVET College horticultural farm, Ethiopia to determine integrated effect of nitrogen and vermicompost levels on yield and yield components of carrot, nantes type, during 2017 main rainy season. Nine treatments comprising a factorial combination of three levels of nitrogen (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1) and vermicompost (0, 3 and 6 ton vermicompost ha−1) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on growth factors, root yield and yield components. The results revealed that the main and interaction effects of treatments did not have any significant (P >0.05) effect on plant height and root length. However, main effects of nitrogen affected leaf number and total fresh biomass. Combined application of 50 kg N ha-1 and 6 ton vermcompost ha-1 significantly (P 0.05) increased total root yield (t/ha), dry root weight (g/plant), harvest index and fresh root weight (g/plant). At this combination, highest total root yield (60 t/ha), harvest index (51%) and fresh root yield (79.8 g/plant) were recorded. It can, thus, be concluded that maximum yield of  carrot can be obtained from the combined application of 50 kg N ha-1 and 6 t vermicompost ha-1. Key words: Carrot, nantes, nitrogen, vermicompot, root yield, interaction effect.