Effects of Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of Senecio biafrae Accessions
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- January 17, 2024
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| JAFE Vol. 9(3): 11-21, 2022 | |
Effects of Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of Senecio biafrae Accessions | |
| Baiyeri, S.O., Oluwole, T.I. and Osakwe, U.C. | |
| Senecio biafrae is an indigenous green leafy vegetable of the southwestern Nigeria of huge nutritional and economic importance. It is mostly collected from the wild with its biodiversity facing a huge risk of extinction. Documented information on its crop management, and especially on the influence of fertilizers on its growth, is still scanty. Five Senecio biafrae accessions (Ona-ara, Igbo-iroko, Odo-oro, Orin-odo and Orin-Odo 2) and four fertilizer treatments: 100% NPK (100 kg/ha), 100% poultry manure (PM) (5 tonnes/ha), 50% NPK (50 kg/ha) + 50% PM (2.5 tonnes/ha) and control (no fertilizer) were evaluated for their effects on the growth performance of Senecio biafrae. The pot experiment was a 4 x 5 factorial experiment laid out in a completely a randomized design (CRD) with four (4) replicates. Results showed that the growth parameters were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by accession and fertilizer. The application of 50% N.P.K + 50% poultry manure produced significantly (P<0.05) tallest plants at 8WAP, the highest number of leaves at 8WAP and the highest number of the secondary branches at 10WAP. Interestingly, the control treatment produced significantly (P<0.05) lower plant height and number of secondary branches at 8WAP as well as the fewest number of leaves, number of secondary branches and the lowest plant height at 10WAP compared with all the other treatment. The control also had the lowest values, numerically (P>0.05) for number of primary branches at 8WAP and number of leaves at 8WAP. Orin-odo demonstrated superior growth performance. The response of Senecio biafrae accessions to fertilizer suggests its importance for the production of this invaluable but slow-growing vegetable crop and its application should be encouraged. | |
| Keywords: | Senecio biafrae, poultry manure, NPK fertilizer, growth performance, accessions |
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