EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SHEEP DROPPINGS AND UREA FERTILIZER ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORREL (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.) IN JALINGO

ABSTRACT This study was conducted at the College of Agriculture Science and Technology Teaching and Research Farm, Jalingo, during the 2024 cropping season to evaluate the effects of different levels of sheep droppings and urea fertilizer on the growth and yield of sorrel in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were as follows: T1 = 25 kg/ha urea, T2 = 50 kg/ha urea, T3 = 75 kg/ha urea, T4 = 2.5 tons/ha sheep manure (SM), T5 = 5.0 tons/ha sheep manure (SM), T6 = 7.5 tons/ha sheep manure (SM), T7 = 1.25 kg urea + 12.5 tons/ha sheep manure, T8 = 2.5 kg urea + 25 tons/ha sheep manure, T9 = 3.75 kg urea + 37.5 tons/ha sheep manure, T10 = Control Data were collected on plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem diameter, average number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, fresh root weight, fresh shoot weight, dry root weight, and dry shoot weight. The collected data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with SAS software. The results revealed that the soil texture was sandy clay loam at the surface and sandy loam in the subsurface. The organic carbon and available phosphorus levels were moderate, while total nitrogen content was low. Growth and yield parameters were measured using standard procedures. Generally, all parameters increased with plant age, and significant differences among treatments were observed at 8 weeks after planting (WAP). The tallest plants, measuring 72.6 cm and 72.03 cm, were obtained from the application of 50 kg/ha urea. The lowest stem diameter was recorded in T9 (2.5 kg urea + 25 tons/ha sheep manure). The highest number of leaves per plant (98.33) was recorded in T1 (25 kg/ha urea), while the highest number of branches per plant (20.60) was recorded in T3 (75 kg/ha urea). The study indicated that the application of 50 kg/ha urea produced plant growth comparable to the combined application of urea and sheep manure. It was therefore recommended that further studies should be conducted to determine the most suitable rates and combinations of sheep manure and urea fertilizer for optimum sorrel production in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria.