Effect of Different Organic Fertilizers on the Growth Performance of Corchorus olitorius L.

Abstract

The effects of three kinds of organic fertilizers were examined on the growth performance of Corchorusolitorius L. The experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments. The varied concentrations of the treatments used were 1. 6 t ha-1 , 3. 2 t ha-1 , 4.8 t ha-1 and 7.2 t ha1 . The study revealed that 7.2 t ha-1 of poultry manure produced the highest growth at 8 weeks after transplanting (8WAT). Goat manure at 7.2 t ha1 had the highest number of leaves while poultry manure has the least number of leaves. Poultry manure at 7.2 t ha-1 produced the highest number of branches. This was similar to those of goat and cowdung manure treated pots. Goat manure at 7.2 t ha-1 treated pots produced the highest leaf area and stem girth. C. olitorius flowered earlier at higher concentration of poultry manure (7.2 t ha-1 ) in 26 days which was similar to goat manure treated seedlings at 3.2 t ha-1 that flowered in 29 days. The highest biomass of C. olitorius occurred mostly in goat manure treated seedlings. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, P < 0.05) showed that significant differences were observed in the leaf area of cowdung treated seeds, stem girth of goat manure, days to flowering of poultry manure and cowdung, dry root biomass of poultry and cowdung with dry shoot of cowdung. Also, significant differences were observed on the height of C. olitorius at 4WAT to 8WAT in treated pots when compared to the control experiment. It was observed that the three types of fertilizers increased the growth parameters of C. olitorius in all the parameters studied but best growth occurred in goat manure treated plants. It is suggested that all the organic fertilizers under study should be a good option in the cultivation of this vegetable as they are cheaper to procure.