Response of Ginger (<i>Zingiber Officinale</i> L.) to Propagation Methods and Mulching in Ogbomoso, Southwest, Nigeria

Field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of propagation methods and mulching on the growth and yield of ginger. Two propagation methods (25 – 30 g rhizome seed sett and equivalent weight of rhizome seedling sett raised from the rhizome seed sett for one month) in combination with 2 levels of mulching (mulching and no mulching). The 2 x 2 factorial experiment was fitted into a randomized complete block design in three replicates. Data collected were plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves, rhizome length, rhizome width, rhizome thickness, number of rhizome fingers and fresh rhizome yield. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance, while the treatment means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% probability level. Rhizome seed was significantly higher compared to rhizome seedling in plant height (63.70 cm, 35.84 cm), number of leaves (24.89, 16.47), number of tillers (14.52, 6.86), rhizome width (51.58 mm, 40.77 mm), rhizome thickness (23.35 mm, 18.48 mm), number of rhizome fingers (6.20, 4.90) and fresh yield (9.92 tons/ha, 7.77 tons/ha). Also, the application of mulching produced significant growth and yield performance. The interaction between propagation method and mulching was significant for all growth and yield parameters. The use of 25-30 g of rhizome seed in combination with use of 15 tons/ha of dry plant materials as mulch are therefore recommended as best cultural practice for ginger production in the study area.