Assessing the Yield Parameters of Daucas Carrota Grown Under the Soils Treated with Egg Shells Compared to Chicken Manure

Carrot (Daucus carota) is one of the important crops cultivated throughout the world for its edible roots and it is ranked tenth among the succulent vegetables in the world. It is easy to cultivate and requires a moderate amount of nutrients in comparison to other vegetables. The objective of this study was to assess the growth and yield performance of carrot grown under the soils amended with eggshell powder and soils amended with chicken manure. This experiment was conducted in kafue district in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replications. The treatments were designated to T0 (Control treatment), T1(Chicken manure) and T2(Egg shell manure) respectively. And at the same time, the egg shells and the chicken manure used different doses of 1.2kg of egg shell, 5kg of chicken manure and 0 treatment for control. The distance between plots and between blocks was 0.5 m and 1 m, respectively. Results indicated that the highest recorded plant root length (13.3 cm) occurred in the chicken manure treatment, (13.2) 1.2kg treatment of eggshell application and the lowest (6.86 cm) was observed in the control treatment. The highest root diameter (2.7 cm) was recorded in the treatment with chicken manure while the lowest (2.1 cm) was recorded in the control treatment. Results showed that the maximum root weight (56.1 g) occurred in the chicken manure treatment, while the minimum (30.0 g) was observed in the control. These variations are likely attributed to nutrient levels, which play a vital role in promoting root length, diameter, and overall yield in the plant. In conclusion, while both eggshell powder and chicken manure positively impacted carrot yield parameters, eggshell fertilizer proved more effective in increasing yield and root diameter. Chicken manure, however, was superior in enhancing nutrient content and soil health. This study highlights the potential of eggshell fertilizer as an effective, sustainable alternative to chicken manure fertilizers, contributing to improved agricultural practices and environmental sustainability.