RESPONSE OF GINGER (Zingiber officinale ROSC.) AS INFLUENCED BY PLANTING DATE, INTRA – ROW SPACING AND NPK FERTILIZER

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during the 2015, 2016 and 2017 wet seasons at the National Root Crop Research Institute Vom, Plateau State to study the response of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) The treatments consisted of two separate planting dates (April and May), three intra-rows spacing (10, 20 and a constant 30cm) as well as NPK fertilizer application rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha) were factorially combined and laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results obtained revealed that planting date, intra-row spacing and NPK fertilizer application significantly increased plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, number of rhizomes and weight of rhizomes. It could be concluded that planting date during the month of May, intra-row spacing of 30 x 20 cm and fertilizer application rate of 100kg/ha seem more promising and produced higher yields of ginger in Vom, Plateau State environs.