Effects of aqueous plant extracts and inorganic fertilizer on the germination, growth and development of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Screen house experiments were carried out to examine the effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia (Ti) and Vernonia amygdalina (Ve), as well as NPK fertilizer (15-15-15) on the germination, growth and development of maize. Fresh leaves were collected, washed with tap water, chopped and pounded, soaked in distilled water and filtered. The two filtrates were used to prepare extracts at 50 and 100% w/v. Four maize seeds were placed in Petri dishes laid out in a completely randomized design with five replicates. In every Petri dish 10 ml of extract per treatment was added. A control experiment with distilled water was also set up. Also, in a completely randomized design with four replicates, 4-week-old potted maize plants were treated with 500 ml of each extract as well as with 1.52 g of NPK fertilizer. The results showed that the germination percentage of the seeds followed the order Ti 50 -Control -Ve 50 . The seeds treated with aqueous extracts of T. diversifolia and V. amygdalina at 100% w/v produced lower but equal germination percentage. The seedling radicle growth was significantly inhibited by the aqueous extracts of Ti 100 , Ve 50 and Ve 100 (p≤0.05). The inhibition was dose-dependent and more pronounced in seeds treated with extracts of V. amygdalina. The aqueous extract of T. diversifolia (50% w/v) and control influenced radicle growth substantially. All the extracts inhibited the plumule development compared to the control. On the other hand, growth, development and yield were not significantly affected by the plant extracts.

Effect of Water Sources on the Radicle Elongation of some Cash Crops from Nigeria

“…Both monocotyledon (maize) and dicotyledon (groundnut, cowpea and melon) response to initiation by imbibition for germination to progress to phase II. The radicle length of the cash crops were high when compared with the report of Chukwuka et al (2014), that reported a reduction in the radicle length of maize treated with aqueous extract of T. diversifolia and V. amygdalina respectively. The osmotic potentials of the different water sources affected the seeds in different ways.…”

Bioprospecting neglected botanicals as phyto-fertilizers for underutilized food crops

“…PN, NL and FA might have altered well-defined sequence of complex processes underlying a set of biochemical, physiological and morphological changes in millet and sesame (Bewley and Black, 1994;Bewley et al, 2013). The botanical extracts responded differently to seed germination (Chukwuka et al, 2014). Specifically, NL exhibited a laudable effect on sorghum and millet in comparison to sesame that was completely inhibited.…”

Effect of Legume Extracts on Germination, Seedling Health of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Soil Microorganisms

“…The seeds were rinsed in four changes of sterile distilled water after which fifty uniform bean seeds were soaked overnight in 200 ml of each of the legume extracts then sown in moist chamber lined with sterile absorbent paper towel. In each moist chamber, 20 ml of each aqueous extract was used to wet the seeds while sterile distilled water was used for the control [12]. The treatments were replicated four times in a completely randomized design and repeated thrice.…”

“…Production of phytotoxic substances depends on residue maturity, water content, pH and length of decomposition [10]. Aqueous extracts of crop residues contain toxic substances that can greatly delay germination and reduce shoot and root length of crops [11][12][13]. However, the chemical contents of the residues differ based on the nature of the solvents used in the extraction process as higher quantities of phenolics have been consistently isolated in alcohol extracts [14].…”