http://medcraveonline.com/HIJ/volume_issues?issueId=3676&volumeId=881

Abstract

Direct seeding of carrot by broadcasting usually leads to overcrowding of seedlings after emergence. To reduce the undesirable effects of high crop density, uniform seedling distribution is ensured by thinning and discarding of a large number of seedlings. Given the expensive nature of carrot seeds, transplanting of thinned seedlings could be a more useful option than discarding them. It was within this context that this study was carried out at the teaching and research farm of the college of technology of the University of Bamenda, Cameroon to determine the effect of transplanting on root yield of imperator carrot variety. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments being T0=direct seeding which served as the absolute Control, and three transplanting days after emergence (DAE) notably T1=Transplanting at 5 DAE, T2=Transplanting 10DAE, T3=Transplanting 15DAE. Variables evaluated were growth in tap root length over time, length of root, fresh weight roots, rate of root forking /plant and root yield (t/ha). Results show that trial under T0 presented significantly higher number of straight roots carrot while all transplanted carrots regardless of the day of transplanting developed 1 to 3 forks at harvest (p<0.05). Highly significant differences at P<0.05 were noticed at the level of root yield, with direct seeding trial (T0) recording a significantly higher yield of4.25t/ha against1.81, 2.4, and 1.73 t/ha for transplanting at 5 DAE, 10DAE and 15DAE.