COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CARROT (Daucus carota L.) GROWN IN RICE HUSK AND POULTRY MANURE COMPOST AS BIO-STIMULANTS FOR SUSTAINABLE CULTIVATION

As sustainable agricultural practices gain importance, the use of composted organic amendments like rice husk offers a promising solution to enhance soil fertility and crop yield. This study investigates the effects of soil-based potting mixes amended with bio-stimulants, specifically co-composted rice husk and poultry manure, on the performance of carrot varieties. Pot experiment was conducted in 2023 and 2024 cropping seasons in Nsukka, Nigeria. Factorial combination of two carrot varieties (Thema and Touchon) and potting media (RH0:PM30:TS70, RH10: PM30:TS60, RH20: PM30:TS50, RH30: PM30:TS40, RH40: PM30:TS30, RH50: PM30:TS20) were arranged and laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with fifteen (15) replications. Data were collected on days to 100% seedling emergence, root girth, root length, and root yield. Results of the study showed that co-composted rice husk with poultry manure improved texture, pH and nutrient content of the potted soil. RH50:PM30:TS20 significantly (p < 0.05) influenced days to 100% seedling emergence. Touchon produced the heaviest roots compared to Thema in both seasons. The findings underscore the importance of integrating composted rice husk and poultry manure into the potting soil as a viable strategy for optimizing crop performance while fostering ecological balance in agro-ecosystems. It could be concluded that RH50: PM30:TS20 medium enabled Touchon to out-performed Thema in both seasons.