Abstract:
Niger (Guizotia abyssinica) is an annual dicotyledonous oil crop and the only species
cultivated in different countries throughout tropical and temperate zones. This study
presents growth performance, seed yield and yield related traits of Guizotia abyssinica
variety Kuyyu in different Nitrogen:Phosphorus fertilization rates of 0:0, 10.25:23,
20.5:23, 41:23 kg/ha and seeding rates of 7.5, 10 and 12.5 kg/ha in Gudane sirba Kebele
of Guduru district, Horo Guduru Zone, Oromia regional state from June to November
2016 under rain-fed cultivation. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three
replications. Parameters such as plant height, number of branches/plant, number of
capitula/plant, 1000 seeds weight (1000 SW), seed yield/ha, total biomass and oil content
were measured at harvest. Except oil content which did not go in par with the rest of
parameters measured, results showed that plant height, number of branches/plant,
number of capitula/plant, 1000 SW, seed yeild/ha and total biomass increased with
increasing level of N fertilization and decreased with increasing seeding rate. In all
cases, the best performance was observed when plants were fertilized with 41 kg of N/ha
with seeding rate of 7.5 kg/ha and this values recommended for farmers to adopt.
