Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potherbs un... more Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potherbs under varied manure rates and watering intervals were investigated at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The treatments included three accessions of Moringa (Awo-Anaekpa, Idere and Kano), three pig manure rates (0, 10 and 20 t/ha) and three watering intervals (3, 4 and 5 days). These were laid out as 3 x 3 x 3 factorial in a completely randomized design, replicated three times. Results showed that seeds of Awo-anekpa accessions had the highest cumulative emergence percentage (97%) and number of emerged seedlings. Plant height and stem girth at 3 months, and number of leaves at 2 and 3 months, after treatment application were higher in Awo-anekpa and Idere accessions than in Kano accession. The leaf proximate composition showed that Idere accession accumulated the highest ash (7.6%) and crude fibre (11.9%). Awo-anekpa contained the highest carbohydrate (41.1%) an...
Banana/plantain fruit waste (PFW), sawdust (SD ), poultry manure (PM) and topsoil (TS) were utili... more Banana/plantain fruit waste (PFW), sawdust (SD ), poultry manure (PM) and topsoil (TS) were utilized in the formulation of nursery media. Five nursery media including PFW:SD:PM (2:2:2), PFW:SD (3:3), SD:PM (3:3), TS:PM (3:3) and PFW:SD:TS:PM (1 %:1%:1%:1 %) were composted and compared alongside unamended topsoil (as control) on the growth and dry matter yield (DMY) of banana plantlets. The experiment was laid-out in a completely randomized design of ten replications. Physicochemical characterization of the media revealed variations in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, organic matter content and some micronutrients. Also, there were differences in porosity and bulk density of the media. Growth and DMY of banana plantlets tested in these media varied significantly (p < 0.05). Plantlets raised in PFW:SD:PM had the best growth. Whole-plant DMY was highest in TS:PM (26.4 g) and PFW:SD:PM (25.5 g), followed by SD:PM (18.6 g) and PFW:SD:TS:PM (18.1 g), whereas the poorest growth and DMY were recorded in plantlets raised in PFW"SD (9.4 g) and unamended topsoil (9.5 g). Dry matter partitioning pattern was similar in most media except the control plants that partitioned greater proportion of dry matter to underground plant components. Positive and significant relationships (R2 = 0. 71) existed between plant growth parameters, organic matter and Mg contents of the media. Observed variability in growth and DMY was probably due to the variable physicochemical attributes of the nursery media. Results from the study support the use of soilless organic materials in nursery media formulations to conserve agricultural soils. Key words: Plantain waste; nursery media; sucker plantlets.
Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potherbs un... more Growth performance and nutrient quality of three Moringa oleifera accessions grown as potherbs under varied manure rates and watering intervals were investigated at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The treatments included three accessions of Moringa (Awo-Anaekpa, Idere and Kano), three pig manure rates (0, 10 and 20 t/ha) and three watering intervals (3, 4 and 5 days). These were laid out as 3 x 3 x 3 factorial in a completely randomized design, replicated three times. Results showed that seeds of Awo-anekpa accessions had the highest cumulative emergence percentage (97%) and number of emerged seedlings. Plant height and stem girth at 3 months, and number of leaves at 2 and 3 months, after treatment application were higher in Awo-anekpa and Idere accessions than in Kano accession. The leaf proximate composition showed that Idere accession accumulated the highest ash (7.6%) and crude fibre (11.9%). Awo-anekpa contained the highest carbohydrate (41.1%) an...
Banana/plantain fruit waste (PFW), sawdust (SD ), poultry manure (PM) and topsoil (TS) were utili... more Banana/plantain fruit waste (PFW), sawdust (SD ), poultry manure (PM) and topsoil (TS) were utilized in the formulation of nursery media. Five nursery media including PFW:SD:PM (2:2:2), PFW:SD (3:3), SD:PM (3:3), TS:PM (3:3) and PFW:SD:TS:PM (1 %:1%:1%:1 %) were composted and compared alongside unamended topsoil (as control) on the growth and dry matter yield (DMY) of banana plantlets. The experiment was laid-out in a completely randomized design of ten replications. Physicochemical characterization of the media revealed variations in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, organic matter content and some micronutrients. Also, there were differences in porosity and bulk density of the media. Growth and DMY of banana plantlets tested in these media varied significantly (p < 0.05). Plantlets raised in PFW:SD:PM had the best growth. Whole-plant DMY was highest in TS:PM (26.4 g) and PFW:SD:PM (25.5 g), followed by SD:PM (18.6 g) and PFW:SD:TS:PM (18.1 g), whereas the poorest growth and DMY were recorded in plantlets raised in PFW"SD (9.4 g) and unamended topsoil (9.5 g). Dry matter partitioning pattern was similar in most media except the control plants that partitioned greater proportion of dry matter to underground plant components. Positive and significant relationships (R2 = 0. 71) existed between plant growth parameters, organic matter and Mg contents of the media. Observed variability in growth and DMY was probably due to the variable physicochemical attributes of the nursery media. Results from the study support the use of soilless organic materials in nursery media formulations to conserve agricultural soils. Key words: Plantain waste; nursery media; sucker plantlets.
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Key words: Plantain waste; nursery media; sucker plantlets.
Key words: Plantain waste; nursery media; sucker plantlets.