Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 14(2): 1952 -1960. Published June 30, 2012.
Effects of rates and frequency of application of organic manure on growth, yield and biochemical composition of Solanum melongena L. (cv. ‘Ngwa local’) fruits
Agbo, C. U., Chukwudi, P. U. and Ogbu, A. N.
Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Email: c_agbogenetics@yahoo.com, christain.agbo@unn.edu.ng
SUMMARY
Objective: Solanum melongena is a biennial plant. The growth and yield of the crop is in most cases hampered by inadequate and untimely supply of nutrients to replenish the lost ones due to continuous picking of fruits. Hence, studies were carried out to ascertain the optimal rate of organic manure and the frequency of its application on the growth, yield, and some vitamins and mineral composition of the fruits of S. melongena L.
Methodology and results: Four rates of organic manure (0, 10, 20, and 30 t ha-1) were applied at three varying frequencies namely: single, split, and split-split. The study was a 3 X 4 factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on the growth, yield, some vitamins and minerals attributes of the crop. Days to flowering, plant height, number of trusses per plant, and number of leaves per plant increased with increase in rate of organic manure. At maturity, 30 t ha-1 of organic manure gave the highest mean value on number of leaves per plant, and plant height which was statistically similar to the values obtained in plants that received 20 t ha-1. Increase in rates of organic manure increased the individual fruit weight of the harvested fruits, which declined as the harvest progressed. Split-split method of organic manure application increased the individual fruit weight over the split, and single dose applications, respectively. The application of 30 t ha-1 of organic manure gave a significantly higher number and weight of fruits from the second month of harvest (July) to the last month (October). Single and split-split application of organic manure gave a significantly higher number and weight of fruits in the months of June, July and September, October, respectively. The application of 30 t ha-1 as single dose and split doses gave a significantly (p=0.05) higher levels of vitamins B1 (6.57mg) and B2 (7.89mg), respectively, than other rates.
Conclusion and application of finding: Split-split application of 20 t ha-1 of organic manure is recommended to reduce cost of production since there was no significant (p=0.05) difference between the rate and frequency from higher rate of 30 t ha-1 at all the frequencies.
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