EFFECTS OF RABBIT DROPPINGS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CARROT (DAUCUS CAROTA L.) ON THE JOS PLATEAU STATE

ABSTRACT This study explores the effects of rabbit droppings as a soil amendment on the growth and yield of carrot crops in Jos East LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments, including a control (0g rabbit droppings) and varying amounts of rabbit droppings (500g to 900g) applied to different plots. The performance of the carrot crops was evaluated based on plant height, the number of leaves, and yield. Results indicate that while higher amounts of rabbit droppings (e.g., 800g) showed some positive influence on plant height in later growth stages, the overall statistical analysis revealed no significant differences among the treatments for plant height or leaf number at any growth stage. The control plot without rabbit droppings consistently outperformed the other treatments in terms of yield, suggesting that the existing soil conditions were already conducive to carrot growth and that the addition of rabbit droppings in the tested quantities might have had a negative impact on yield. The study concludes that the application of rabbit droppings did not significantly enhance the growth or yield of carrot crops under the given experimental conditions. It recommends avoiding high application rates of rabbit droppings for carrot cultivation, conducting comprehensive soil testing to tailor amendments, and regularly monitoring crop growth and soil conditions to optimize nutrient management.