EFFECT OF SPLIT APPLICATION OF NPK FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENT USE EFFICIENCY RESPONSES

In a two-year (2012/2013) field study conducted at the National Root Crops Research Institute's research farm in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, the effect of split application of NPK fertiliser on the growth, yield, and nutrient use efficiency responses, as well as the economic profitability of ginger production using split NPK fertilisation practise on the low fertility rainforest ecology soils of South Eastern Nigeria, the effect of split application of NPK fertiliser on the growth, yield, and nutrient use Three ginger cultivars (Maran, Wynad Local, and Himachel Pradesh) were factorially combined with eight inorganic fertilisation methods, designated M1 to M8, as follows: full dose of optimum NPK fertiliser rate applied once after planting (M1); 12 dose of optimum rate applied after planting and 12 dose applied 4 WAP (M2); full dose of optimum rate applied once during land preparation + 10 kg N/ha of urea applied 12 WAP (M3); full dose The first control in the study was a full dose of optimum NPK fertiliser rate broadcast once after planting, while the second control was a plot with no NPK fertiliser treatment (Absolute control). Split fertiliser application and/or delayed basal treatment, compared to standard single basal pre-plant fertilisation, resulted in taller ginger plants, higher fresh rhizome output, and higher N, P, and K nutrient usage efficiency, as well as a higher return per Naira invested. Maran outperformed Wynad Local and Himachel Pradesh in terms of height, rhizome yield, and nutrient N, P, and K utilisation efficiency. Split fertiliser application is a crucial method for a successful nitrogen management programme in ginger production in the fragile soils of south eastern Nigeria, according to this finding.

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