The Combination of Compost Derived Poultry Litter and Vivianite Powder: Appropriate Biological Fertilizer to Improve the Growth and Root Yield of Daucus carota L

Abstract

This study aims to improve the growth potential of carrot in the Northern Cameroon while limiting the use of chemical inputs. The experiment was conducted under field conditions at Maroua and Ngaoundere, respectively in the agro-ecological zone I and II, and during the two consecutive cropping seasons of 2019 and 2020. Results indicate that carrot root growth and production varied depending on fertilizer, agroecological zone and the year of experimentation. Globally, treated plant by the combination of 1 Kg of poultry litter with 10 g of vivianite powder (F1+P10) exhibited significantly (p<0.05) the highest growth (plant height, number of leaves per plant) and production parameters (root lenght, root diameter, root dry biomass, root yield). F1+P10 fertilizer increased the foliar production at 60% and 69%, compared to no treated plants in Ngaoundere and Maroua rspectively. This fertilizer increased the root yield at 2% and 41% compared to T+ in Ngaoundere and Maroua respectively in 2019, and at 26% and 68% compared to no treated plants respectively in 2020. The application of the combination of 1 kg of poultry litter and 10 g of vivianite powder per hole at sowing for carrot growth would contribute to improve this root vegetable, to valorize our local material in agriculture while ensuring sustainable agriculture. However, the effect of this natural fertilizer on the nutritional values of carrot needs to be assessed.