Evaluation of Agronomic and Physiological Characteristics of Ten Castor Bean Plant Accessions in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Abstract

In spite of numerous industrial benefit of castor plant (Ricinus communis L.), its production is hindered due to lack of adequate agronomic practices. Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons to evaluate the performance of ten accessions of castor plant. The treatments consisted of nine improved accessions of castor plant and a local variety. In each year, the 10 treatments were laid out in completely randomize block design and replicated three times. Data were collected on growth, seed yield and yield attributes parameters. Data collected in 2014 and 2015 were pooled and subjected to analysis of variance while means were separated using Least Significant Difference at 5% probability level. Growth, yield and yield attributes parameters of castor plant accessions were significantly influenced (p≤0.05). NCRICAS041 produced the tallest plant (190.0 cm) at harvest which was significantly taller than others. The highest mean number of capsules per raceme (150.33) produced by NCRICAS056 was significantly higher than others. NCRICAS056 produced the highest seed yield (1,919 kg/ha) while NCRICAS057 gave the least (1,047 kg/ha). The results of accessions seed yield attributes did not followed any specific other. In conclusion, variability among the accessions in growth and seed yield were apparent. Accessions NCRICAS041 and NCRICAS056 performed better than the locally sourced CASGPMAN. They are therefore recommended for the study area.

Keywords: Castor, Accessions, Growth parameter, Seed, Seed attributes,

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-18-03

Publication date:September 30^th 2019