RESPONSE OF GINGER RHIZOME SEED WEIGHT AND LEAF MULCH OF DIFFERENT MULTIPURPOSE TREES AND SHRUBS (MPTS) ON GINGER FLOWERING, GROWTH AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES, IN UMUDIKE, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

A two-year field study was initiated in 2018 and 2019 to determine the effect of different multipurpose trees and shrubs (MPTS) and rhizome seed size on ginger flowering, growth, and yield in Umudike, South-eastern Nigeria. Treatment consisted of 3 levels of mulch species at 0 t/ha (control), 5 t/ha Dactyladenia barteri, and 5 t/ha Dialum guineense mulch and 3 different seed rhizome sizes of 10, 20, and 30 g. The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The plot size was 2.5 m x 2.5 m at a planting distance of 0.2m x 0.2m. Data on plant height, flowering, tiller number, plant survival, and rhizome yield were collected, processed, and subjected to analysis of variance. Results show that the mulch effect of different MPTS was statistically similar (P>0.05) on plant height, tiller number, and ginger rhizome yield, but significantly higher than the no mulch control. Similarly, the different seed rhizome sizes followed the same trend as observed for mulch species above However, significant differences were observed for mulch species on ginger plant survival and flowering. Dialum guineense leaf mulch gave a higher percentage of survival (95%) and flowering (77%), compared to Dactyladenia barteri, 80% and 42.3% respectively for survival and flowering. The no mulch control gave the least result- 56% and 15.6% respectively for survival and flower initiation. The 20 and 30g seed rhizome sizes were similar in terms of ginger survival and flower initiation, buds were higher than the 10g seed ginger sett size. It is concluded that Dialum guineense mulch and 30g ginger set size increased ginger plant survival and flower production and rhizome yield and may open a new vista in ginger breeding.