Assessment of Organic Amendments on Growth and Flower Yield of Sunflower (Helianthus annus)

Experiments were carried out between November 2008 and August 2009 to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on growth and flower yield of Sunflower. The treatments consisted of cured poultry manure (Pm), cured cow dung (Cd) and composted organic waste of different combination on dry weight basis: cassava/poultry manure 3:1 (Cp3Pm), cassava/poultry manure 2:1(Cp2Pm), elephant grass/poultry manure 3:1 (Eg3Pm) and elephant grass /poultry manure 2:1(Eg2Pm) and top soil as control. Organic amendments at 5ton ha (15.8g) were added to pots containing 6 kg top soil except the control. The experiments were arranged 1 in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data on number of leaves, stem girth and plant height were collected at two (2) weeks interval from four (4) weeks after planting (WAP). Yield data were also collected at flowering and at maturity. Results indicated that Cp3pm significantly recorded higher plant height at 4WAP, but significantly had low stem and root dry matter weight. However, cow dung (CD) significantly produced higher flower diameter (12.13cm) and head weight (39.3g) at harvest.