Abstract: This study investigated effect of poultry manure treatments and NPK fertilizer on growth, leaf nutrient content and yield components of Telfaria (Telfaria occidentalis Hook F) grown on Akure soil in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The treatments applied were 0, 2, 4 6 t ha-1 poultry manure and 250 kg ha-1 NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer. Growth and yield parameters such as number of leaves and branches, stem girth, length of internodes were increased by poultry manure treatments. However, NPK fertilizer increase stem girth and number of leaves more than poultry manure. Relative to control, 2, 4, 6 t ha-1 of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer increased number of branches by 6.01, 7.01, 7.23, 7.72 and 6.89%, respectively. The increases in number of leaves were 16.57, 20.17, 20.12, 20.63 and 22.50%. The 6.0 t ha-1 manure is recommended.
Introduction
Soil productivity and fertility can be maintained by the use of fertilizers. The problem with the use of inorganic fertilizer on Nigeria soils is that, the fertilizers are not obtained at the right time in addition to the huge cost of procurement. Improper chemical fertilizer application has ruined tropical soils through its abuse (IFDC 2005).
Poultry manure contains high percentage of nitrogen and phosphorus for the healthy growth of plants (Ewulo, 2005). Nitrogen is equally said to be the motor of plant growth (IFA, 2000). Organic matter is the ultimate determinant of the soil fertility in most tropical soils and this account for its use to raise seedling in tropical areas, the fertility of the soil could be sustained with the addition of poultry manure (Ikpe and Powel, 2002) Telfaria occidentalis produces leaves for a long periods and it is preferred to short season leavy vegetables such as amaranthus spp. which are rarely harvested than three times in the life of the plant. (Mnzara, 1997).
Productions of telfaria are predominant done by poor resource based farmers (Spore, 2005). Although integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) advocates the combined use of organic and inorganic of sources thereby exploiting the potential of positive interactions between both inputs (Vanlauwe et al., 2002) but efficient use and often low and/or unstable producer prices, limits farmers interest in fertilizer use (IFDC 2005). Recommended fertilizers rates of 250 kg ha-1 of NPK was used to raise Telfaria occidentalis (Grubben et al., 2004).
However, the general poultry dropping recommendation for most leafy vegetables to supply 110 kg N, 90 kg P 205 and 90 kg K20 is 10 tonnes per hectare (Grubben et al.2004). But, 10 tonnes of poultry dropping will be too bulky to be transferred by the cash limited farmers in tropical region. Also the information on the use of poultry dropping for production of Telfaria is inconclusive, therefore this work aimed at determining the effect of poultry dropping on the growth and yield, nutrient uptake and to suggest rate(s) or treatment that will suit its production. Also, it is to study the field comparative effect of poultry dropping applications and NPK fertilizers on the growth, plant nutrient composition and telfaria yield.
Materials and Methods
Two field experiments were conducted between May and August 2005 at two sites in Akure (Latitude 7°30’N and Longitude 3°S52°E), in the rainforest zone of Southwest Nigeria. The sites were both located at the Federal University of Technology campuses (Obanla and Obakekere campus). The surface soils at the sites were sandy loam and the soils which overlies metamorphic rock of the basement complex is classified as oxic Troupudalf (Adepetu et al., 1979). The sites were dominated with chromoleana odorata and Ageratum conyzoides and had not been cropped for three years. The land were cleared using cutlass, stumps and trashes were removed and beds were constructed manually with hoe. The five treatments applied using ring method (Tisdale et al., 1985; FAO and IFA 2000) to Telfaria were 0, 2, 4, 6 t ha-1 of poultry dropping and 250 kg ha-1 of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer. Treatments were replicated three times at each site using a randomised complete block design. Seeds bought from Ministry of Agriculture were pre-germinated for 15 days in order to get equal seedling height transplanted into a plot of 9 m2 with a planting distance of 1 m x 0.6 m. The poultry dropping was obtained from the University poultry farm and it was aimed for two weeks before application.
Soil Analysis
Before commencement of experiments, surface (0, -5, 5-0 and 10-5 cm) soil
samples were collected from the sites and bulked for analysis. Samples were
air-dried and 2 mm sieved. Routine analysis was done as described by Tel (1984).
Soil pH in 1:2 soil Cacl2 suspension, total N by Kjeldahl approach
and available P Bray-P1 extraction followed by molybdenum blue colorimetry,
Exchangeable K, Ca and Mg were extracted using ammonium acetate, K was determined
on flame photometer and Ca and Mg by EDTA titration. Soil organic matter was
determined by wet dichromate method. Poultry manure was analysed as described
for soil.
Leaf Analysis
Telfaria leaf samples collected at 8th week were air-dried and milled. The
N was determined using micro-kjeldahl approach. For P, K, Ca and Mg samples
were digested using nitric-perchloric-sulphuric acid mixture (Tel, 1984) and
elements were determined as for soil.
Crop Data
Number of leaves was done by direct counting, stem girth was estimated by
means of vernier caliper.
Statistical Analysis
Data were subjected to analysis of variance to determine treatment treatment
effect in measured parameters. The least significance difference at 5% level
of significance was used to compare mean data.
Result and Discussion
Data on initial soil mechanical analysis for experimental sites are shown
in Table 1. Surface soil layers (0-5, 5-10, 10-15cm) at the
sites were sandy clay loam with sand between 58-65%, Silt 22-27% and clay 11-15%.
| Table 1: | Textural Analysis of Soil at sites of Experiment |
| Table 2: | Chemical Analysis of Soil at sites of Experiment |
| Table 3: | Chemical composition DW3 of poultry manure used |
| Source: University Laboratory Soil Analysis Laboratory | |
| Table 4: | Effect of poultry dropping in leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight of telfaria at Obanla |
| Table 5: | Effect of poultry manure and NPK on the nutrient uptake of Telfaria |
Table 2 and 3 has data on chemical analysis. Organic matter varies between 1.82-3.07%, total N 0.69 -1.43 available P 2.01-25.50 mg kg-1, exchangeable Ca, 1.00-2.10 cmol -1kg and exchangeable Mg 0.90-1.10 cmol-1kg. The soils are marginal in inorganic matter deficiency in N, P, K and Ca and adequate in Mg (Akinrinde and Obigbesan, 2000).
The effect of poultry droppings in the performances of fluted pumpkin (Telfaria
occidentalis) as recorded in 8 wks for the two sites are shown in Fig
1-5. The result in Fig. 1 had the length
of vine; Telfaria when treated with 4 tons ha-1 gave the highest
length of vine.
| Fig. 1: | Effect ofpoultry manure on vine lenght of Telferia occidentalis |
| Fig. 2: | Effect of poluttry manner on number of branches of Telfaria occidentails |
| Fig. 3: | Effect of poluttery manure on the stem girth of Telfaria occidentails |
Effect of poultry droppings on number of branches is shown in Fig.
2. Application of 6tmg/ha gave the highest number of branches. The number
of branches was found linearly and positively correlated with time interval
after treatment application.
| Fig. 4: | Effect of poluutery manure on the number of leaves of Telfaria occidentails |
| Fig. 5: | Effect of poluttery manure on the number of internodes of Telfaria occidentails |
Figures 3 and 4 shows the effect of poultry droppings on stem girth and number of leaves, respectively. Application of 250 kg ha-1 of NPK gave the highest number of leaves and stem girth at the two sites. Earlier, Odedina et al ., (2003) indicated that NPK increased branching more than agricultural wastes. This might be due to low and slow release of nutrients in the poultry dropping (Elmar and Wolfgang, 1990) as against the use of the mineral fertilizer. This mineral fertilizer contain adequate and balanced nutrients (IFA-UNEP, 2002).
Although the remarkable yield from telfaria is the leaves, application of poultry dropping still promoted its production. There is no significant difference in the stem girth produced by 250 kg ha-1 of NPK and the various levels of poultry dropping used. Also with better vine length and number of branches produced by 6tons ha-1 of poultry dropping used over the NPK fertilizer, what is lost in the area of production is gained in other areas. Thus making poultry droppings a good alternative to NPK fertilization in the production of telfaria occidentalis. The NPK fertilizer responses of vegetables differ across different ecological zones of the country (Olasantan, 1994).
Effect of poultry dropping in the number of nematodes is as shown in Fig. 5. 6 t ha-1 gave the highest root of nematodes.
Table 4 shows the mean leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight of Telfaria per plant.
From Table 4, it was observed that 6 tm ha-1 contributed more to the leaf area of Telfaria than other treatments, and also showed considerable improvement in the fresh and dry weight. The highest fresh weight produces by 250 kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer was as a result of the highest values of stem girth and number of leaves produced by it.
Poultry manure and NPK fertilizer increased leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg content of Telfaria at Obanla (Table 5) Leaf nutrient content tended to increase with level of poultry manure. Comparative analysis of poultry manure in its uptake with NPK fertilizer showed that poultry manure compete favourably. The better leaf of poultry manure could be adduced to lower C:N and C:P ratios recorded for poultry manure in previous standy (Macrere et al., 2001). Manure in general is known to have positive influence on soil. (Joam, et al., 2000 and Aro and Agwu, 2005).
Conclusions
Poultry manure significantly improved nutrient status, growth and yield of Telfaria, However poultry manure was less effective in improving girth and yield of Telfaria. The manure applied at 6 t ha-1 was most effective among the levels investigated. Poultry manure is an effective source of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and organic matter for Telfaria production.