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Impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of cabbage in Ghana
46-49.Views:1065A field experiment was conducted at Dormaa Ahenkro, Ghana, to determine the impact of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the growth and yield of cabbage. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment treatment comprises of sole application of poultry manure (PM), NPK 15:15:5, the combined application of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer (PM+NPK) and the control (no fertilizer). Data was collected on the number of leaves, stem girth, plant height, head diameter, head weight and edible head weight. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) among all the treatments. The combined application of PM+NPK recorded the highest values for all the parameters measured. From the results obtained farmers should consider the combined application of PM and NPK to maximize yield on their farm.
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Enhancing African leafy vegetable productivity and nutrient levels through manure and fertilizer in Kitui County, Kenya
52-60.Views:13African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) are crucial components of diet globally due to their significant nutritional value. We conducted a field experiment in October 2022 to assess the effect of fertilizer application rates on the growth and nutritive value of four ALVs (Solanum nigrum, Cleome gynandra, Amaranthus hybridus, and Vigna unguiculata) at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) Teaching and Research Farm. We collected data through a randomized complete block experimental design that comprised four treatments: manure alone (M), fertilizer alone (F), manure + fertilizer (M+F), and a control (C). Once the planted vegetable seeds had been established, we counted their leaves on a weekly basis and averaged after a month. At the end of the experiment, the ALVs leaves were harvested. They were analyzed for retinol, a precursor of vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc. It was found that manure and fertilizer treatments significantly increased the number of ALVs leaves. Results also showed that the Solanum nigrum had the highest number of leaves at 118.5% in M+F treatment as compared to the control. Across all vegetables, a combined treatment (M+F) significantly affected the retinol mean (P=0.0063) while crop type and the interaction between crop type and the treatment had no statistically meaningful impact on any nutrient. This suggests that fertilization effects on retinol are independent of crop type. These results highlight the importance of soil fertilization in influencing vitamin A levels in ALVs.
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Effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and blended NPSB fertilizer rate on growth and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Gewata, Kaffa, southwest Ethiopia
14-22.Views:321Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an essential crop for nutrition and food security and generating income to small-holder farmers in Ethiopia. Productivity of the crop is, however, limited by poor nutrient management practices and low soil fertility. In most parts of potato growing areas of Ethiopia, soil are deficient in macro (nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur) and micro nutrients (boron) which are known to affect production and productivity of potato. A field trail was accompanied to determine the growing response of potatoes ’Belete varieties’ to combine the treatment of farmyard manure and blended NPSB (nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and boron) fertilizer at Gewata, southwest Ethiopia during 2019/2020 main cropping season. The variables are laid out four level of farmyard manure (0, 5, 10 and 15 t/ha) and four level of blended NPSB fertilizer (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/ha). The treatments were organized in a completely randomized block design with three replications using a 4x4 factorial layout. SAS (version 9.4) was used for data were analyzed. The finding indicate that, combined application of FYM (farmyard manure) with NPSB significantly (p<0.01) affects plant height, average mass of tuber, number of marketable and unmarketable tuber per hill, and tuber yields per plot. It also significantly (p<0.05) influenced days to flowering, maturity, and tuber number per hill. The highest tuber weight (99.33 g), tuber number per hill (9.67), and yield (34.10 kg) per plot were recorded from the mixed fertilization of 15 t FYM with 150 kg/ha NPSB mineral nutrients. As a current finding, it can be stated that the combined use of FYM (15 t/ha) and NPSB blended fertilizer could improve potato growth and yield in the study area (150 kg/ha).
