YIELD OF CELOSIA (Celosia argentea L.) AS INFLUENCED BY NITROGEN FERTILISATION AND SOWING METHODS IN KANO SUDAN SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

The research was conducted at Bayero University Research Farm, Kano, Kano State. The site is located in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. The experiment was to study the response of celosia (Celosia argentea L.) to sowing methods and nitrogen fertilization. The treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha-1) and three sowing methods (Broadcasting, Drilling and Dibbling). The treatment was laid out using Split Plot Design and replicated three times. The results showed that application of nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 150 kg N ha-1 significantly increased one thousand seeds, panicle weight and grain yield. Dibbling sowing method proved to be superior to other sowing methods. The significant interaction between nitrogen and sowing methods were observed on 1000 seeds weight, panicle and seed yield. Thus farmers in Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria could be advised to use the dibbling method at 150 kg N ha-1 for high grain yield of Celosia.