The effects of planting window and nutrient sources on the growth and chemical composition of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) grown in Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria.

Experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research farm Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Benue State. It lies on the geographical coordinates of 7° 44' 0" N, 8° 32' 0" E, the experiment was carried out in the 2026 cropping season with the maximum and minimum temperature ranging from 370C and 210C and the relatively humidity is about 70 – 80 % and the rain fall in the location is bi-modally distributed with total annual rain of about 2000 – 2500 mm. Organic nutrients that are used for the research are as follows, Chicken litter, Cattle dung and Goat manure. The Chicken litter, Cattle dung and Goat manure were obtained from the Animal Farm Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi where the animals were kept under intensive care except for the cattle that is kept under semi-intensive care, all manure was kept to undergo curing before applying. Red Variety of radish was used for the work and are obtained from Value seed in Jos, Plateau state A 2 x 4 x3 experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. A 4m plot was laid out with 1m within the plots and 1m between blocks. 8 plots were laid out in each replication making the total of 24 Plots at each location. Data collected are Plant height, Numbers of leaves, Chlorophyll content, Leaf area index, Crop growth rate, Net assimilation rate, Crop Growth Rate, Root weight, Yield and chemical composition (Moisture, Crude protein, Ash, Crude fat, Carbohydrate. Significant difference (p<0.05) in both planning window and nutrients sources recorded. On planting window, 4th July 2026 recorded the highest in Plant height (9.65), Numbers of leaves (10.02), Chlorophyll content34.07, Leaf area index (3.32), Crop growth rate (4.25), Net assimilation rate (2.00), Crop Growth Rate (4.25), Root weight (763.72), Yield (3.07) and chemical composition (Moisture (92.15), Crude protein (2.72), Ash (0.93), Crude fat (0.90), Carbohydrate (2.07)) when compared to 20th June 2026. On nutrients source the application of poultry litter outperform other nutrients source in Plant height (9.45), Numbers of leaves (10.13), Chlorophyll content (33.23), Leaf area index (3.03), Crop growth rate (4.12), Net assimilation rate (2.82), Crop Growth Rate (4.12), Root weight (783.03), Yield (3.23) and chemical composition (Moisture (92.33), Crude protein (2.75), Ash (0.95), Crude fat (0.83), Carbohydrate (2.23)). From the result obtained from this work, farmers are advice to plant radish on the 4th July using poultry litter of manure for optimum yield in the study location.