EFFECT OF TOP SOIL/POULTRY MANURE POTTING MIXTURE AND SOWING DEPTH ON THE GROWTH OF GINGER (Zingiber officinale)

The experiment was conducted between December 2023 and April 2024 at the Department of Crop Science Screen House, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City to evaluate the effect of sowing depth and potting media on the growth of ginger. The trial involved three potting mixtures of topsoil (TS) and poultry manure (PM). TS+PM 1:1, TS+PM 1:2 and TS+PM 2:1 and three sowing depths (2, 4 and 6 cm) laid out in a 3×3 factorial arrangement fitted into a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications. Data were collected on plant height, stem girth and number of leaves with data taken at 10 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP). The results showed significant variations among growth parameters. TS+ PM 1:2 medium produced plants with highest height (52.0cm), thickest stem (29.14) and highest number of leaves (10.39). Sowing depth had no significant effect on growth of ginger. Based on this study, TS+ PM 1:2 and sowing depth at 2cm are thereby suggested for raising ginger.