Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Vol. 2(1), pp. 001-005, January 2013 ISSN 2327-3151 ©2013 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Growth, yield and economic performance of garlic (Allium sativum L.) as influenced by farm yard manure and spacing in Zaria, Nigeria

Hamma I. L.¹, Ibrahim U.¹* and Mohammed A. B.²

¹College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural colleges Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

²Kabba College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ibrusman2007@yahoo.com.

Accepted 14 January, 2013

Abstract

Two trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria located on latitude 11°11N’, longitude 7°38’E and 686 m above sea level in Northern Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design replicated three times keeping farm yard manure (0, 10, 20 and 30 tonnes per hectare) as main plot treatments and spacing (10, 15, 20 and 25 cm) as sub plot treatments replicated three times. Results showed that spacing at 25 cm resulted in the highest mean yield, gross margin and cost benefit ratio. The application of manure at 10, 20 and 30 tonnes per hectare resulted in similar mean yield and gross margin. The cost-benefit ratio was highest when 10 or 20 tonnes of farm yard manure were applied. It can therefore be concluded that for sustainable production of garlic in the study area, application of 10 tonnes per hectare of farm yard manure with 25 cm spacing will enhance yield and profitability of garlic.

Key words: Garlic, farm yard manure, spacing, gross margin, cost- benefit ratio.