EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMEMNTS ON SELECTED SOIL PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND GROWTH OF ROSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study was conducted at Dry land teaching and research farm of UsmanuDanfodiyo University, Sokoto. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of some soil amendments on selected physical and chemical properties of the soil and growth of Roselle. The experiment consisted of four treatments plus control replicated three times making a total of fifteen (15) treatment plots. The selected soil physical and chemical properties were analyzed before and after application of the soil amendments. Number of branches, plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and stem girth were the growth parameters of interest. The data obtained from the soil and test crop were subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) was used to separate means with significant difference at 5% level of significance. The result showed that poultry droppings and Cow dung were the most effective in improving the selected soil physical and chemical properties and growth of Roselle.