ABSTRACT
The experiments to study the growth, yield and postharvest quality of four genotypes of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in response to varying manure rates under field condition were conducted at Teaching and Research Field and Laboratory of the Department of Crop Science University of Nigeria Nsukka. Five experiments were carried out ; experiment 1 evaluated the growth and yield responses of four genotypes of carrot planted during the early (rainy) season on ridge. Among the genotypes, Touchon France performed significantly higher (89.0%) than other genotypes on percent seedling emergence followed by Carotte Touchon which had 88.5% while Touchon Mega had the lowest performance (57.0%). Carotte Touchon significantly (p<0.05) produced highest whole plant biomass (g), fresh root weight (g) and yield per hectare (t/ha) whereas Touchon Mega had the lowest performance in almost all the traits measured. Experiment 2 was to evaluate the growth and yield responses of three genotypes of carrot planted during the late (dry) season on ridge. The main effect of genotypes showed non- significant effect, but Carotte Touchon produced the highest seedling emergence (88.0%) when compared to Touchon Mega (74.0%) and Touchon France (69.0%). The main effect of genotypes on fresh yield and yield components also showed non- significant effect in all the parameters collected except in harvest index for which Touchon France performed significantly higher than other genotypes. Experiment 3 was to determine the performance of four genotypes of carrot as influenced by different poultry manure rates (0, 10 and 20 t/ha of poultry manure) on the field. Among poultry manure rates, 20 t/ha performed significantly higher in whole plant biomass (427.0 g), fresh leaf weight (188.0 g), fresh root weight (239.0 g) and yield per hectare (5.6 t/ha) while 0 t/ha performed significantly lower in most of the yield traits; 10 t/ha of poultry manure performed significantly higher in harvest index (55.5%) and statistically similar with 20 t/ha in total marketable root yield (96.7%). In this experiment, 10 t/ha of poultry manure was found to be the best manure rate for carrot produced under Nsukka agro- ecology as it produced the highest mean value of harvest index when compared to control and 20 t/ha. Experiment 4 was to determine the effect of storage methods on fresh carrot roots harvested during rainy season. Among the two storage methods, carrots stored in commercial perforated white polyethylene bags stayed significantly longer in storage before 100% shrinkage (18.2 days) and rot (35.2 days) when compared with the ones that were not in poly bag that had its 100% shrinkage and rot at 4 days and 25.2 days, respectively. Proximate quality of carrot was not significantly influenced by genotypes except for the fat, which Touchon France performed significantly higher than other genotypes. Carotte Touchon significantly contained higher mean value of vitamin A (48.2 mg/100g) while Touchon France had the lowest mean value of vitamin A (30.4 mg/100g). Touchon Mega significantly contains highest mean value of vitamin C (20.6 mg/100g) and vitamin E (6.8 mg/100g) when compared to other genotypes. Kurado had the lowest content of vitamin C (2.5 mg/100g) whereas Carotte Touchon recorded the lowest mean value content of vitamin E (2.2 mg/100g). The effects of genotypes on phytochemicals were significantly influenced by the genotypes. Touchon Mega contain the highest mean value of phytate (0.2 mg/100g),Tannin (11.2 mg/100g) and oxalate (9.9 mg/100g) while Kurado contain the lowest mean value of phytate (0.02 mg/100g), Tannin (7.4 mg/100g) and oxalate (1.0 mg/100g). Iron, magnesium, sodium and potassium were also significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the genotypes while zinc and calcium were not. Carotte Touchon was the best cultivar to be planted in Nsukka agro-ecological zone with commercial perforated white polyethylene bag being a better storage method when compared with the ones stored bare on laboratory shelf. Application of 10 t/ha of poultry manure was the most appropriate for carrot production under this study area and so recommended.
INTRODUCTION
The carrot (Daucus carota L.) belongs to the family Apiaceae. It is related to celery, parsnip, parsely, dill and fennel, (Jett, 2001), which are all members of this family. Carrot originated from Asia. Initially the root were long and thin, and either purple or yellow in colour. These colours as well as white and orange, still exist, with orange or orange-red being by far the most popular today. Many shapes of root also exist, from rather long and thin root to short and thick. Root may be cylindrical, conical, pointed, ball and blunt shaped.
Carrots are particularly rich in carotene (pro- vitamin A) (Kanall, 2014). They are consumed either fresh, as a salad crop, or cooked. Large quantities are also processed, either alone or in mixture with other vegetables, by canning or freezing.
Carrot is a very important vegetable crop in Nigeria. The plant is a biennial; it grows vegetative in the first season and produces seed in the second season. For root production, carrot is grown as an annual crop. (Benjamine, et al, 1999).
Carrot is cool season crop and it also does well in warm climates. It can be grown throughout the year in any part of the world except in very cold areas. They do best under an optimum temperature between 15oC to 20oC. Carrots require high soil moisture and light throughout growth. The ideal soils for carrot production are deep, loose, well drained sandy to loamy soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 (Uguru,1996).
It is propagated by seeds and can be sown directly on the field or in containers. (Stevens, 2010)
The first cultivated carrots were yellow and purple fleshed cultivars. The orange carrot, which is more popular today, were developed in the 15th and 16th centuries in Central Europe. A rapid rise in the popularity of orange carrots was observed with the recognition of its high provitamin A content (Simon, 2000). Carotenoids and anthocyanins are the major antioxidant pigments found in carrots. Cultivar differences in carrots rely in the type of pigments present. Carotenoids are the yellow, orange, or red colored phytochemicals found in most yellow and orange fleshed cultivars. The widely used orange carrot is high in α– and β– carotene and is a rich source of provitamin A. The red water-soluble anthocyanin pigment and the red water insoluble lycopene pigment present in the roots of some cultivars do not contribute to the provitamin A content. Red carrot color is due to its high lycopene content (Dias 2012). Meanwhile anthocyanin-rich carrots are purple (Sun,T. et al., 2009) White flesh
cultivars contain very little pigments. The carotene content of the orange and yellow fleshed cultivars increases with growth.
Carrot is an important crop especially in the areas where it thrives well, mostly in Asia and neighbouring countries. In Nigeria, cool season vegetables are mainly grown in high altitude regions of Northern districts where mild subtropical climate prevails. Production of carrot in a diverse variety of soils and environmental conditions is needed to increase carrot production in the country (Dahiya et al., 2007).
Popularization of carrot cultivation in South-eastern Nigeria will help to minimize truckloads of carrot coming from the northern states. This will also help to increase the overall vegetable production of the state. This can only be achieved when the necessary factors of production and storage are provided sufficiently; and different studies carried out to ascertain the best and enhanced way of carrot production and storage.
Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study therefore was to evaluate the performance of carrot (Daucus carota L.) in Nsukka, South eastern Nigeria. However, the specific objectives of this study were:
1. Evaluation of the growth and yield of four genotypes of carrot;
2. Evaluation of the growth and yield of four genotypes of carrot under three manure rates (0, 10 and 20 t/ha);
3. Determination of the effects of storage methods on fresh carrot roots; and 4. Determination of the nutritional tra
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
GROWTH YIELD AND POSTHARVEST EVALUATION OF FOUR GENOTYPES OF CARROT (DAUCUS CAROTA L.) UNDER THREE RATES OF POULTRY MANURE
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