Effect of Fertilizer Types and Rates on The Production of Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) In Ogbomoso

Abstract

Purpose: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of fertilizer types and rates on the production of moringa in Ogbomoso on the Teaching and Research Farm of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in 2012 and 2013 planting seasons.Methodology: The experimental design was randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Nine treatments were used. The treatments were no fertilizer, 400 kg/ha NPK, 600 kg /ha NPK, 800 kg/ha NPK, 1000 kg/ha NPK, 2.5 t/ha tithonia compost, 5.0 t/ha tithonia compost, 7.5 t/ha tithonia compost and 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The land was prepared by ploughing and harrowing after the pre cropping soil sampling to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Data collected were plant height, number of leave/plants, dry matter yield, fruit and seed yield components, biomass proximate and elemental compositions. The analyses of variance done were on the data collected and means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P <0.05).Results: Vegetative growth of moringa was better enhanced by the application of 1000 kg/ha NPK, as it produced the tallest plant height and the greatest number of leaves/plants which is followed by the 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The fertilizer application had significant effect on the seed and fruit yield of moringa. 1000kg/ha of NPK gave the highest seed and fruit yield components such as fruit set, number of fruits per plant and 100 seed weight. The application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost had highest proximate and nutrient composition in moringa leaves production.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: In conclusion, the application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost produce a comparable result as 1000 kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer and may be used as alternate to NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer in the production of moringa. Hence 1000kg of NPK/ha or 10.0 tons tithonia compost/ha were recommended for moringa biomass and seed production in Ogbomoso