Growth and Foliar Yield Responses of Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare Jacq) to Complementary Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers in a Ultisol

Abstract

Aims: Growth and foliar yield responses of waterleaf (Talinum triangulare Jacq) to complementary application of organic and inorganic fertilizers were studied in a Ultisol. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Place and Duration of Study: The University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, located at Use Offot Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and was conducted between March, 06 and June, 06 in both 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons. Methodology: Treatments were various combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers applied to the soil, and these included NPK (15:15:15) at 400 kg ha, poultry manure (PM) at 5 t ha, PM at 2.5 tha + NPK at 200 kgha, PM at 3.75 tha + NPK at 100 kgha , PM at 1.25 tha + NPK at 300 kgha and control (without amendment). Results: There were significant differences (P<0.05) among treatments in height, number Research Article aaaA Article American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 3(2): 324-335, 2013 325 of branches, number of leaves, stem girth, leaf area, and total foliage yield of waterleaf in both years. Generally, application of PM alone and complementary use of PM and NPK, irrespective of the ratio, enhanced waterleaf growth and total foliage yield better compared to application of NPK alone and the control treatment. Total foliage yield from 100 kgha NPK + 3.75 tha of PM treatment (56 .03 tha 30 and 54 36 tha 31 in 2009 and 2010, respectively) superseded other treatments by 38 78% in 2009 and 35 -78% in 2010. Conclusion: With the high cost, scarcity, and environmental problems associated with the use of mineral fertilizer in Nigeria; and based on the foliage yield obtained in this study, it is obvious that the use of organic manure in combination with mineral fertilizer (particularly with 100kgha NPK + 3.75tha PM or 200kgha NPK + 2.5tha PM treatment) can sustain waterleaf production. It is also demonstrated that it would be more rewarding to apply 5tha 1 PM alone compared to sole application of 400kgha mineral fertilizer for waterleaf production in a Ultisol.