Influence of Seedbed type and Crop Density on the yield Performance of Celosia Argentea (l)

Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ibadan during 1999 and 2000 second cropping seasons (August - October) to assess the effects of two seedbed types (raised seedbed and no tillage) and four crop densities (4,000,000; 1,000,000; 444,444 and 250,000 plants ha-1 obtained by 5 x 5; 10 x 10; 15 x 15 and 20 x 20 cm spacings, respectively) on the performance of Celosia argentea (L.). The 2 x 4 factorial experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. Tillage method had significant (P < 0.05) effects on the performance of C. argentea. The crops on raised seedbed produced better seedling vigour than those on no tillage. Higher yield of up to 15 t ha-1 (fresh weight) was obtained from raised seedbed compared to 1.1 t ha-1 (fresh weight) obtained from no tillage. Crops raised on bed at a density of 4,000,000 plants ha-1 produced the highest yield, while the least yield was obtained from those sown on no tillage at a density of 250,000 plants ha-1. Generally, there was no significant interaction between seedbed type and crop density. Crops on raised seedbed outyielded those on no tillage. Also the higher the density, the more the cumulative biomass yields. Seedling vigour and edible yield however improved with decreasing density with 444,444 plant ha-1 producing the optimum value. Keywords: No tillage, seedbed, crop density, Celosia argentea, leaf area index, marketable yield, edible yield