Cow dung is an abundant and eco-friendly resource for improving soil structure, enhancing nutrient availability and increasing water retention. The present study investigated the effects of varying concentrations of cow dung on plumule emergence and seedling growth of Capsicum chinense. Cow dung was collected and air dried for two weeks, ground into powder according to [2]. The powder obtained was sieved and chemically analysed at the soil laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments viz: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% concentration of cow dung and the control which is topsoil only. One hundred and twenty viable seeds of Apium chinense were divided into six groups, sown separately into plastic germination pots containing the treatments and watered daily. The experiment was replicated four times. Emergence was observed and recorded daily for fourteen days. The data obtained were expressed as a percentage.
Uniformly growing seedlings (15 days old) were transplanted into polythene bags containing the mixtures. Parameters taken include plumule emergence, stem girth, plant height, number of leaves and leaf area. Taking of parameters was done weekly for six weeks. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were separated at P ≤ 0.05 using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results obtained revealed that the highest Plumule emergence (100%) was recorded in seed sown in 30%, 40%, and 50% cow dung respectively, while10% cow dung treatment and control group recorded 80% each and the 20% treatment recorded 90%. Seedlings treated with 10% cow dung produced the tallest plants (12.35cm) at week 6, followed by the 30% (5.85 cm) and 40% (5.75 cm) and the least plant height (4.60 cm) was recorded in seedlings treated with 20% cow dung. Similarly, 10% cow dung treatment recorded the highest number of leaves (14.00), stem girth (1.85 cm), and leaf area (10. 71 cm²). Statistical analysis revealed that 10% concentration of cow dung produced higher results that were significantly different from other treatments. Conclusively, findings of this study revealed that a 10% concentration of cow dung enhances seedling growth of Capsicum chinense while a 30%-50% concentration enhances plumule emergence of Capsicum chinense. The study recommends further investigation into the long-term effects of cow dung application and its performance across different soil types.