Abstract
Soils of the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria are inherently infertile due to shortened fallow period and the continuous use of inorganic fertilizer which depletes the soil of micronutrients such as zinc over time. A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of zinc and NPK fertilizer on the growth, yield and zinc concentration of seeds of sesame. The experiment was laid out as a factorial fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated thrice. The treatment consisted of four levels of ZnSO4 (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg ha-1) and four levels of NPK 15:15:15 (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using new Duncan multiple range test at 5 % level of probability. Results obtained showed significant effects of Zn and NPK rates on plant height, number of leaves, yield per plot and yield per hectare. The application of 15 kg ha-1 Zn and 300 kg ha-1 (15:15:15) NPK resulted in high yield and high zinc content of seeds.
Highlights
Soils of the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria are inherently infertile due to shortened fallow period and the continuous use of inorganic fertilizer which depletes the soil of micronutrients such as zinc over time
The continuous use of inorganic fertilizer can deplete the soil of valuable micronutrients and sometimes can cause zinc antagonism (Haas et al, 2016) and these valuable micro nutrients are vital for crop growth and human health
Black et al (2013) had reported severe zinc deficiency in children under five years old in some parts of Africa including Nigeria due to low zinc in their soil. This low zinc concentration in soil solution is due to its limited mobility in the soil (Cakmak, 2014); difficulty in plant roots to absorb it for its growth, development and its availability in plant tissues
Summary
Soils of the southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria are inherently infertile due to shortened fallow period and the continuous use of inorganic fertilizer which depletes the soil of micronutrients such as zinc over time. Cakmak (2008) reported that over thirty percent of the diet of the worlds population is deficient in zinc This is attributed to crop production in areas with low soil mineral availability and consumption of crops with inherently low mineral content, low fish intake and other animal products in their diet due to poverty (Graham et al, 2001). Black et al (2013) had reported severe zinc deficiency in children under five years old in some parts of Africa including Nigeria due to low zinc in their soil This low zinc concentration in soil solution is due to its limited mobility in the soil (Cakmak, 2014); difficulty in plant roots to absorb it for its growth, development and its availability in plant tissues. Rice has been biofortified with zinc in Bangladesh using breeding method (Chowdhury, 2014) whereas Zou et al (2012) reported
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