Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 7: 202 - 206. Published July 2008.
Effect of nitrogen released from rumen digesta and cow dung on soil and leaf nutrient content of Gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L.)
AWODUN M. A.
Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria
Corresponding author email: m_awodun@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the effect of rumen digesta and cow dung as sources of nutrients for Gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L).
Methodology and results: Experiments were conducted in the screenhouse in which five levels of rumen digesta and cow dung (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 ton ha-1) were applied to Gboma seedlings. The amount of nitrogen released into the soil from cow dung was 13.4% higher than that released from rumen digesta while phosphorous released by rumen digesta was 21% more than that of cowdung. Cowdung increased leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents, with a rate dependent effect. Compared to rumen digesta, cow dung at all levels resulted into higher values of plant height (3.9%), total biomass (8.9%), root weight (20.9%), shoot weight (10.1%), leaf weight (5.8%), leaf width (3.7%) and plant area (1.9%).
Conclusion and application of findings: Cow dung releases more nitrogen into the soil than rumen digesta, but both manures can be used to grow vegetables. Application of 6 ton ha-1 of cow dung would give optimum yield but higher rates iwould be required for rumen digesta.
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