Abstract
A Field experiment was carried out at the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching and Research farm in April 2019 to evaluate the influence of tillage on the growth and yield of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The experimental design used was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with 4 treatments replicated three times. The treatments were 4 tillage practices (mounds, ridges, flat and surface hoeing). Data were collected and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Significant means were compared using least significant difference (LSD) at a 5% probability level. Results indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in the leaf area, plant height and rhizome yield. At 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the plant height with the different tillage practices (mounds, ridge, flat and surface hoeing) adopted. Leaf area, stem girth and the number of leaves showed significant differences (P<0.05) at 9 and 12 weeks after planting with the various tillage methods adopted. Mounds produced the highest rhizome yield of 11.35 t/ha whereas ridges recorded 11.13 t/ha, surface hoeing treatment had 10.70 t/ha relative to flat with the least yield of 5.84 t/ha. The number of tillers per plant and number of rhizomes per plant were significantly high with mounds (18.00, 4.83) and was followed closely with ridges (17.6, 4.77) respectively. The least number of tillers per plant and number of rhizomes per plant were recorded with flat (6.13, 2.68). The tillage practices involving mounds and ridges were recommended to ginger farmers in Obio Akpa, Akwa Ibom state.