[01] Olasan Olalekan Joseph, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. [02] Celestine Uzoma Aguoru, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. [03] John Ihotu Tracy, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. [04] Boniface Abogonye, Plant Science and Biotechnology Unit, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria.

This research was aimed at accessing the comparative effects of Organic manure (Saw dust, Cow dung, and compost of selected weeds) and Inorganic fertilizers (NPK Fertilizer) on the growth performance and flowering of some selected Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) varieties: [Arachis hypogaea var hirsuta (AHH), Arachis hypogaea var vulgaris (AHV), Arachis hypogaea var fastigiata (AHF)]. The pot experiment was carried out in the Department of Plant Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. Randomized Complete Block Design was adopted for the experiment with 8 treatment combinations including a control replicated twice. Observations were made on 15 growth parameters 3 weeks before treatment (WBT) and 2 and 5 weeks after treatment (WAT) application. The results showed varietal effect of groundnut on the growth parameters showed significant response in plant spread 3WBT (13.69 cm), height/plant length 3WBT (10.12 cm), and number of plant stems 5WAT (1.41 stems). The effect of fertilizer showed significant response on plant height 2WAT on application of sawdust at the application rate of 300 g Produced tall groundnut plants (16.38 cm) and number of flowers reveals that large number of flowers (20.00 flowers) were produced at application of sawdust at the rate of 150 g. The interaction effect of varietyxfertilizer type significantly influenced Height/plant; Arachis hypogaea var fastigiata (AHF) with compost+cow dung at the rate of 300 g (18.44 cm), Arachis hypogaea var fastigiata (AHF) with sawdust at the rate of 150 g (18.59 cm), Arachis hypogaea var fastigiata (AHF) with compost at the rate of 300 g (17.59 cm), days to flowering; Arachis hypogaea var hirsuta (AHH) with all treatments at their different rates (38.02 days/37.97 days), number of flowers; all the varieties with sawdust at the rate of 150 g (25.00 flowers). Among all treatments used, Sawdust at the rate of 150 g / 300 g to obtain significant vegetative growth in groundnut and produced better response. The results of this work points therefore to the fact that the use of organic manure (especially saw dust) presents a very robust prospect for boosting the production of groundnut in Nigeria while at the same time help in effective waste utilization and control of environmental pollution.

Vegetative Growth Performance, Groundnut, Manure

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