Agricultural and Biological Research

The growth, yield and nutritional value of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as influenced by application of organic phosphorus fertilizer and plant denseness

Omotola A Olunuga*, Zakariyah A Kamaldeen, Eze N Uchenna and Olaniyi JO

A field experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, to determine the effect of Organic Phosphorus fertilizer (Aleshinloye) and plant spacing on the growth, yield and nutritional value of ginger. The treatments consisted of five levels of organic fertilizer 0, 50, 75, 100, and 125 kg P₂O₅/ha applied in form of Organic Phosphorus fertilizer (Aleshinloye) and three plant spacings namely 25 × 20, 25 × 25 and 25 × 30 cm². The 3 × 5 factorial experiments were laid out in a randomoized complete block design, replicated three times. The data collected were plant height, number of leaves, and fresh rhizome weight. The mineral nutrients and quality of ginger were also assessed.

The result showed that application of the organic fertilizer influenced the growth, yield, nutrient contents and the quality of ginger. The growth parameters increased as the applied fertilizer rate increased up to 100 kg P₂O₅/ha, then a declined thereafter. Likewise, the growth, yield, nutrient contents and quality of ginger increased as the organic fertilizer rate increased up to 100 kg P₂O₅/ha. In conclusion, the sole and or combined 100 kg P₂O₅/ha Organic Phosphorus fertilizer rate and spacing of 25 × 30 cm² can be recommended for better performance of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in Ogbomoso, south west Nigeria.