Growth and Yield Response of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) to different Soil Amendments

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is an important vegetable that 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. However, carrot production in Liberia is almost negligible, as farmers are not aware of its requirements, its cultivation, and the unsuitable environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the growth and yield performance of carrot under different soil amendments. The experiment was done at the Cuttington University research and demonstration site in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were: 10 t ha-1, 15 t ha-1, and 20 t ha-1 compost; 300 t ha-1 NPK (15:15:15); and control (0 t ha-1). The distance between plots and between blocks was 0.5 m and 1 m, respectively. Results indicated that The highest recorded plant root length (11.10 cm) occurred in the 20 t ha-1 compost application, while the lowest (6.84 cm) was observed in the control treatment. The highest root diameter (22.89 mm) was recorded in the treatment with 20 t ha-1 while the lowest (17.59 mm) was recorded in the control treatment. Results showed that the maximum root weight (31.73 g) occurred in the 20 t ha-1 compost treatment, while the minimum (12.33 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. That means the lowest values in all the parameters might be due to the low rate of compost applied to the soil. In conclusion, the highest overall growth and yield performance among carrot plants were observed in the 20 t ha-1 compost treatment, followed by 15 t ha-1, 300 t ha-1 NPK (15:15:15), 10 t ha-1, and the control. It is therefore recommended that farmers apply 20 t ha-1 of compost for maximum growth and yield performance in carrot production.