Evaluation of sources of organic manure on the growth and yield of garden egg (Solanum spp.) in the Subhumid guinea Savanna and rainforest belts of Nigeria

Abstract

campus during the 2009 cropping season to study the effect of sources of organic manures on the growth and yield of two cultivars of Garden egg in the subhumid Guinea Savanna and rainforest belts of Nigeria. A factorial combination of Garden egg varieties (Solanum aethiopicum-Gilo and Solanum aethiopicum kumba) and manure sources (0,5,10,20 t ha-1 moringa leaf biomas, 5, 10,15, t ha-1 poultry droppings, 1,2,3 t ha-1 fertiplus) were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. All organic manure resources significantly (P < 0.05) increased the growth and yield of the garden egg cultivars over control. Poultry droppings at 15 t ha-1 produce tallest plants, highest number of fruits per plant and highest yield of 9.18 t ha-1 and 8.65 t ha-1 respectively for Makurdi and Obubra, this was followed by Moringa 20 t ha-1 (7.22 and 6.68 t ha-1) respectively for Makurdi and Obubra and Fertiplus 3 t ha-1 with yield of 6.78 and 5.77 t ha-1 respectively for Makurdi and Obubra. Moringa 20 t ha 1 produce the highest dry matter of the plants. The least fruit number of fruits per plant than Kumba and fruit yield in t ha-1 was higher in Gilo. There was no significant interaction between varieties and manure. Yield of both varieties was higher in Makurdi than Obubra Moringa Oleifera leaf biomas and poultry droppings are promising soil conditioners for optimum production of garden egg.

Available Phosphorus in Soils Amended with Organic N-Enriched Composts during Periods of Incubation

“…Thus, the resultant faecal matter is rich in minerals (Rodale, 2004) and has been used alone (Kekong, Ayuba & Ali, 2010) or in combination with other materials in the form of composts (Adeoye, Ojobor & AdeOluwa, 2004) for soil maintenance. Poultry manure consists of the droppings from birds kept under battery cage and deep litter systems.…”

“…Often, the droppings alone or mixed with the bedding materials are collected for use as manure. It contains of all the basic nutrients necessary for crops, especially N, P, potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), in amounts higher than all livestock classes and can be applied directly from the farm to the fields (Prabu, 2009), to be used alone (Kekong, Ayuba & Ali, 2010) or combined with other materials to produce composts (Eneje & Ezeakolam, 2009). Sawdust is the solid organic waste, composed of fine particles of wood, generated during the production of sawn wood from timber logs in sawmills and splitting of planks in carpentry workshops.…”

Influence of Empty Oil Palm Bunch Ash on Vegetative Growth and Control of Leaf Blight Disease of Cocoyam [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.] Caused by Phytophthora colocasiae

“…The disposal of these forms of agricultural waste is becoming problematic for communities and villages in which such productions occur. On the other hand, organic wastes of this nature have recently been used directly or in processed forms, as cheap and abundant biological resources for the bioremediation of degraded soils for crop production [9,10]. Palm bunch ash (PBA) and poultry manure (PM) have been used extensively to improve soil fertility for crop production [11,12].…”