GROWTH AND YIELD OF BEETROOT (BETA VULGARIS) AS AFFECTED BY THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND VARYING RATES OF NUTRIENTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN IN GIDAN KWANU, MINNA, NIGER STATE OF NIGERIA

Two experiments were conducted concurrently at the Horticultural Nursery of the Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology. Gidan Kwanu, Minna (latitude 6o 30’ N and Longitude 90 40’ E) during the dry season of 2016. The objective of the two trials was to determine the nutrient source and rates required in the production of beetroot (Beta vulgaris). The experimental treatment consists of three organic nutrient sources namely; cow dung, poultry manure and goat droppings at ratio by weight of 1:1:2 and 1:1:4 of sand: topsoil and organic nutrient. The experiments were laid arranged in completely randomized design.(CRD) and replicated thrice. Improved seeds of beetroot were soaked for 24 hours and sown at 3cm depth. Data were collected on growth parameters such as crop germination, crop vigor, plant height, number of offshoot, leaf area index, shoot girth, and fresh leafy yield. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated using Duncan multiple range test(DMRT). Result obtained indicated that 10t ha-1 poultry manure exhibited better growth performance of beetroot and resulted in higher fresh leafy yield than all other organic sources and rates. The study therefore recommends the application of poultry manure at the rate of 10 t ha-1 for beetroot farmers in the study area