Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the most widely consumed, economically important, nutritious and delicious root vegetables and belongs to the Umbelliferea family (Hossain, 2012). The domestic carrot originated from wild plants growing in Afghanistan (Iorizzo et al., 2013). It has been reported that carrots with purple roots were domesticated in Afghanistan and spread to the Eastern Mediterranean area under Arab influence in the 10th to 12th centuries and to Western Europe in the 14th century (Banga, 1984). Carrots were first introduced to China by the 13th century, and their cultivation spread from the Middle East to Italy, Spain and throughout Europe in the fourteenth century (Kasiri et al., 2013). The exact timing of the introduction of carrots to Ethiopia is unknown, and the crop has been known since the early 1960s in the research system (Haile-Mickael, 1969).
Worldwide, production approached 44,762,859 tons of carrot and turnips on 1,137,738 hectares on a yearly basis, with an average yield of 37 t ha− 1 (FAO-Stat, 2021). The development of cultivars adapted for cultivation in both the summer and winter seasons on all continents has allowed for the year-round availability of carrot products with relatively stable prices to consumers (Semagn et al., 2008). The main top three carrot-producing countries in terms of production are China, Uzbekistan and the United States of America, with total productions of 21,482,971, 2,769,613 and 2,259,000 tons, respectively (Eagri, 2022). The main top three carrot-producing countries in Africa are Algeria, Morocco, and Kenya, with total productions of 419,534, 412,219 and 329,025 tons, respectively (FAO-Stat, 2021). In Ethiopia, the total area under carrot production was approximately 4,135 ha, 16590.56 tons of which were produced in 2021, for an average yield of 6.5 t ha− 1 (CSA, 2021). This showed that the production of carrots in Ethiopia is significantly under the global average (37 t ha− 1) (Eagri and FAO-Stat, 2022).
Ethiopia, which has diverse agro-climatic conditions, provides a favorable environment for carrot cultivation (Abdirshikur and Zekiya, 2020). However, traditional agricultural practices in the country have heavily relied on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, leading to soil degradation, water pollution, and negative impacts on human health (Getachewu et al., 2012). Consequently, there is a pressing need to transition toward more sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods (Shashi et al., 2018). In recent years, several studies have explored the potential of organic farming as an alternative approach to improve agricultural sustainability (Hailu et al., 2008). Organic fertilizers, such as compost, manure and green manures, are considered essential components of organic agriculture because they enhance soil fertility, increase nutrient availability, promote beneficial soil microorganisms and enhance yield (Basel and Sami, 2014). Getachew et al. (2012) demonstrated the positive effects of organic fertilizers on crop growth and yield in different regions of Ethiopia.
However, specific research on organic carrot production in Diguna Fango Woreda is limited, and there is a knowledge gap regarding the comparative performance of different organic manures on carrot crops in this region (Tadele and Selomon, 2014). Understanding the effectiveness of various organic manure types with mulching on carrot growth in the specific agro climatic conditions of Diguna Fango Woreda is crucial for farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and improve their livelihoods (Kifle and Birhanu, 2019).
The primary research problem addressed in this study was the lack of comprehensive data on the performance of carrot cultivation using organic manure with mulching in Diguna Fango Woreda. Consequently, farmers may be hesitant to shift from using inorganic fertilizer to organic fertilizer due to uncertainty about its efficacy and economic viability. This study focused on data on carrot yield under organic manure with mulching; however, further studies that include information on the soil before and after the application of mulching, nutrient status before use, and weather conditions during the experiment are important, and a lack of such information is considered a limitation of the study.
Several reports have been conducted to determine the effects of organic manures on the growth and yield of carrots, but studies on the effect of organic mulching practices with organic nutrient supplementation on the growth and yield of carrots are rare. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of organic manures on the mulched and no mulched conditions of carrots.
Objective of the study: