Effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the growth and development of rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri Lush) seedlings used as rootstock
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Date
2004-11-17
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Abstract
An experiment to investigate the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on the growth and development of container grown rough lumen (Citrus jamdhiri Lush) seedlings used as rootstock was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, KNUST, Kumasi from January, 2001 to November 2001. It was a 5 by 4 factorial experiment in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD).
Three organic fertilizers, namely poultry manure (F I), sheep and goat manure (F2),
and pig manure (F3) at four levels each, i.e. l00g (L1), 200g(L2), 300 and 400g(L4) per seedling were used. These were compared with inorganic ti1izr at the rate of 5.9g (N.P.K 15-15-15) (F4) per seedling and topsoil only (15) as control.
Black polythene bags measuring 20cm in height and I 5cm in diameter, which could hold 1.3kg topsoil were used as containers.
Two months old rough lemon seedlings, at three-leaf stage and 5cm in height were potted into the containers with soil mixtures of the inorganic Fertilizer, the iOU1 levels each of the organic fertilizers and control (topsoil only). Observation and measurement of growth parameters were terminated seven months after potting.
The result of the experiment showed that the inorganic and the organic fertilizer and their levels significantly affected all the parameters studied.
The best seedlings in terms of leaf number were found in seedlings potted in soil mixtures with 300g and 400g poultry manure and 400g sheep and goal manure. The tallest seedlings were produced in soil mixtures with 200g and 400g poultry manure as well as 200g and 400g sheep and goat manure. The best stem girth, which is the most important determinant of the buddable size of the seedlings were produced in soil mixtures with 200g. 300g and 400g poultry manure mid 400g sheep and goat manure. Seedlings potted in soil mixtures with 400g poultry manure and 400g sheep and goat manure had optimum Content o nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in their leaves. Root development was also best in seedlings potted in soil mixtures’ with 400g poultry and 400g sheep and goat manure. The poorest seedlings in terms of all the parameters studied were found in seedlings potted in soil mixtures with pig manure. Seedlings potted in sod mixed with inorganic fertilizer were slow in growth and comparable to the growth and development of Pose potted n soil mixed with 100g poultry manure and 100g sheep and goat manure Seedlings potted in topsoil only were also slow in growth but were better than seedlings potted in soil mixed with higher levels (200g. 300g and 400g) of pig manure
The best treatments (soil mixtures with 200g, 300g and 4U(g poultry manure and 400g sheep and goat manure) were able to reduce he buddable age of rough lemon seedlings from 12 to 9 months after sowing.
Description
A thesis presented to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Science in Pomology degree, 2004