Growth and Yield Performance to Plant Density of Celosia argentea in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Celosia argentea is a tasteful vegetable with high nutritional and medicinal values. But the increasing rate of urbanization and population has resulted to low productivity coupled with high demand which outweighs supply. Adequate production is yet to be achieved due to decline in available land space for large scale production. Due to the importance of this vegetable to Nigerian diet, the utilization of the available land area wisely for sustainable production is adequate. The effects of different planting spaces (15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm, 25 x 25 cm and 30 x 30 cm) on the growth and yield of Celosia argentea L were investigated in 2014 cropping seasons (rainy and dry seasons) at the Department of Agricultural Education Teaching and Research Farm, Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, Anambra State. A randomized complete block design, replicated four times was used.  The results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA. Results showed that growth and yield parameters of Celosia argentea were influenced by plant density. The planting space of 15 x 15 cm had the highest plant height of 55.50 cm and 54.15 cm in both rainy and dry cropping seasons respectively. On yield per hectare, also, recorded the highest shoot yield of 13.05 kg/ha, 16.45 kg/ha, 17.22 kg/ha in rainy season and 8.85 kg/ha, 12.01 kg/ha and 14.03 kg/ha in dry season at harvesting intervals of 4, 7 and 10 weeks. This data showed that the planting space of 15 x 15 cm had a better performance when compared to others. It is therefore recommended for sustainable production of Celosia argentea in the study area.