RESPONSE OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) TO MULCHING MATERIAL AND COW DUNG RATE AT ZARIA, KADUNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2024/2025 dry season in the pomology garden of the Agricultural Education Department, Federal University of Education Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, to determine the response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to different mulching materials and cow dung manure rates. Garlic is a crucial crop for both nutrition and the economy, which often faces challenges related to soil fertility and moisture management. Mulching helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds, whereas cow dung manure enriches the soil with essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen. The treatment consisted of four levels of cow dung manure (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 t/ha) and two mulching materials (polythene bag and rice straw) factorially combined in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The findings reveal that 7.5 t/ha of cow dung manure significantly affects growth and yield parameters, whereas rice straw mulching materials have significantly different growth and yield parameters. The study concludes that incorporating 7.5 t/ha of cow dung manure and rice straw can improve garlic production and contribute to sustainable agricultural practices in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Garlic farmers could use cow dung manure at 7.5 t/ha, and organic mulch (rice straw) decay to add nutrients to the soil and are not expensive to adopt.