EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COW DUNG MANURE AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ON THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF SOME SELECTIVE COWPEA VARIETIES


EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COW DUNG MANURE AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ON THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF SOME SELECTIVE COWPEA VARIETIES  

ABSTRACT

The low productivity of thecowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) leafy vegetables in smallholder farms in Nigeria is partly attributed to moisture stress, declining soil fertility and poor leaf harvesting practices. To increase the productivity and utilization of these crops requires development of  suitable agronomic practices such as appropriate watering regimes, effective nutrient management, and best harvesting practices. Pot and field experiments were conducted at the University of Nairobi's Kabete field station, to determine the effects of water stress, nutrient management and leaf harvesting method on growth, yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade and cowpea. In the first objective, individual plants were grown in10 liter polythene pots containing 10 kg of soil (a mixture of sand, topsoil and manure in the ratio of 2:4:1) each and watered daily for two weeks with tap water, to maintain soil at pot capacity, until the start of the treatments. The treatments, comprising four watering regimes namely 100% pot capacity (PC), 80% PC, 60% PC and 40% PC, were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. In the second objective, the fertilizer treatments comprising 200 kg/ha Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, 10 t/ha farmyard manure (FYM), 10 t/ha chicken manure (CM), 100 kg/ha DAP + 5 t/ha FYM, 100 kg/ha DAP + 5 t/ha CM and no- fertilizer (control) were tested against two harvesting methods (piecemeal and wholesome harvesting) in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times. Growth and yield data collected included leaf number, leaf area, plant height, number of branches, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, leaf yield, number of pods/fruits, total grain weight, seed weight and grain yield. Chlorophyll concentration was determined at weekly intervals for four weeks. Data on leaf vitamin A and C, total anti-oxidant activity and phenolic content were also collected. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated, where the F-test was significant, using the least significant difference test at p≤0.05.

Plant height, leaf area, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, total grain weight, leaf yield, number of pods or fruits per plant and chlorophyll concentration, vitamin A and vitamin C significantly decreased with reduction in soil moisture levels inboth cowpea and African nightshade. Reduction of moisture level from 100% pot capacity to 40% pot capacity led to decreases in chlorophyll, leaf yield, vitamin A and vitamin C by 21.1, 65.9, 78.1 and 81.6 %, respectively, in cowpea and 52.5, 85.3, 52% and 55.8%, respectively, in African nightshade. In cowpea, reduction in soil moisture levels significantly decreased 100-seed weight, and grain yield. Phenolic content and  total anti-oxidant activity significantly (p≤0.05) increased with reduction in soil moisture levels in both crops. Reduction of moisture from 100% PC to 40% PC led to increases in phenolics and total antioxidant by 29.4 and 18.7%, respectively, in cowpea and 34.5 and 45%, respectively, in African nightshade. Fertilizer application significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant and leaf yield of cowpea and African nightshade. Compared to the no-fertilizer control, application of DAP, DAP + CM, DAP + FYM, CM and FYM increased leaf yield by 68.6, 58.3, 56.6, 52.2 and 42.6%, respectively,in

cowpea and 74.9, 63.7, 60.8, 56.4 and 41.1%, respectively, in African nightshade. Fertilizer application had no significant effect on vitamin A and C, phenolics and antioxidant activity in both crops. Compared to wholesome harvesting, piecemeal harvesting significantly increased the number of leaves and leaf yield by 54.1 and 43.9%, respectively, in cowpea and 51.2 and 49.3%, respectively, in African nightshade.

Water stress reduced growth, yield and nutritional quality of cowpea and African nightshade, but increased phenolic content and total antioxidant activity in both crops. Fertilizer application increased the growth and leaf yield but had no influence on leaf vitamin A, leaf vitamin C, phenolics and antioxidant activity in both cowpea and African nightshade. Relative to wholesome harvesting, piecemeal harvesting enhanced growth and leaf yield of cowpea and African nightshade but reduced the leaf nutritional quality in bothcrops

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1 BackgroundInformation

African leafy vegetables (ALVs) constitute a significant source of food in both rural and urban areas. Their production and consumption are, however, constrained by declining yields. Callas (1994) noted that there were more than 45,000 species of plants in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) and about 1000 of these species were consumed as green leafy vegetables. African leafy vegetables are vegetables which have been consumed over a long period in Africa until they form part of the cultures and traditions of communities (Maundu, 1999); they could have originated in that area or were introduced (Abukutsa- Onyango, 2007). These vegetables include: African nightshades (Solanum spp), Amaranth (Amaranthus spp), cowpea leaves (Vigna unguiculata L.), spider plant  (Cleome gynandra L.), African kales (Brassica oleracea), sweet potato leaves (Ipomeas spp), cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta L.), jute mallow (Corchorus spp) and pumpkin leaves (Curcurbita spp) (Lebotse and Lyatuu, 2010). The leafy parts comprising flowers, young fruits and young succulent stems are used as vegetables (Chelang‟a et al.,2013).

There exist approximated 6,376 important indigenous African plants exist, 397 of which are vegetables (PROTA, 2004). Africa‟s annual per capita production of vegetables estimated at 50 kg is lower than the rest of the world, and is declining (Kamga et al., 2013). Onim and Mwaniki (2008) found large differences in the amount of vegetables eaten in different Sub-Saharan African countries. Vegetable consumption is very low in some countries such as Ethiopia (20 kg/person/year), Malawi, Tanzania and urban Guinea (40 kg/person/year each) and Ghana (50 kg/person/year) compared to Nigeria with an average vegetable consumption of 147 kg/person/year in urban areas and 73 kg/person/year in rural areas. In Nigeria, there are about 210 species of indigenous plants used as leafy vegetables (IPGRI, 2006). A study done in western Nigeria, (Abukutsa, 2007) reported that leafy vegetable cultivation continued to face challenges of optimal production. Their cultivation is limited to subsistence levels, hence their potential for commercial production has not been tapped into adequately yet the region continues to face high povertylevels.

Most people in SSA include ALVs in their diets, though the consumption patterns differ from region to region among households. For instance, in South Africa, the consumption is different and varies with poverty status, degree of urbanization, season of the year and distance to fresh market (Van Rensburg et al., 2007). In Nigeria, the consumption of ALVs increases during the rainy season, when ALVs are normally plenty and cheap. Besides, ethnicity also influences preference and consumption of ALVs (Kimiywe et al., 2007). Intake of ALVs, especially spider plant and African nightshade, which are the most affordable and available sources of micronutrients, help avert health problems, high mortality and low economic productivity (WHO-FAO, 2013). African leafy vegetables have been reported to provide important sources of both micronutrients and non-nutrient bio-active phyto-chemicals that have been related to protection against cardiovascular and other degenerative diseases (Akhtar et al., 2012). These vegetables are very important component of human diet as they give indispensable micronutrients that encourage proper development of the human body and good health (Abukutsa-Onyango, 2007a).

The contribution of these African leaf vegetables in the Nigerian domestic market is reported to have risen from 4.3% in 2011 to 5% in 2013 (Abukutsa, 2013). Acreage of production also increased from 31,864 ha to 40,000 ha in the same time frame, leading to production increase per unit area from 1 t/ha to 4.5 t/ha (HCDA, 2014), way beneath the optimal range of 20-40 t/ha (Abukutsa-Onyango, 2003). The ALVs have a significant potential as income earners (Onyango, 2002a). According to Chelang‟a et al., (2013), ALVs would fetch a higher price at supermarkets than in open air markets (informal markets) given that formal markets are patronized by many nutritionally vigilant clientele with higher incomes and the supermarkets hire contemporary retail technology in relation to storage, display and packaging.

The ALVs are better adapted to widespread environmental conditions and constitute food that is readily accessible and affordable to the resource challenged consumers (Keantinge et al., 2011; Ojiewo et al., 2012). Even though vegetables are commonly cultivated in the country, there are many production challenges that lead to reduced productivity.Themajorlimitingfactorsinclude:lowsoilfertility(inadequateN,P,K,Ca. Mg, S and organic matter), plant nutrient imbalances, low soil moisture content, particularly in drought periods, poor harvesting methods and the use of unsuitable agronomic practices (poor land preparation, late and unsuitable weeding and inappropriate plant population densities and fertilizer application rates). Other constraints include the perception of these traditional vegetables as crops for the poor, lack of partnership and networking, low capacity within institutions, poor policies, undeveloped value chains and markets, and low research attention (Eyzaguire et al.,2006).

1 Statement of the Problem andJustification

Although the African nightshade and cowpea are increasingly becoming important vegetables in Nigeria, their yields in smallholder production systems are far below the crops‟ potential partly due to inadequate soil fertility, low soil moisture and poor harvest practices. For example, growers of African nightshades obtain yields of about 1.5-3.0 t/ha (MOALD and M, 1995) compared to the potential yields of 20-30 t/ha (Chweya and Mnzava, 1997). Continuous cultivation with limited external fertilizer inputs leads to nutrient mining and reduced crop productivity of ALVS. Compared to inorganic fertilizers, the use of organic fertilizers which comprise farmyard, compost and green manures are cheap and has been regarded to have long term benefits that include release of nutrients to plants slowly and for a prolonged period of time in addition to improving the soil physical properties.

Organic fertilizers also sustain cropping systems through better nutrient recycling (Gulshan et al., 2013). However, the amount of farmyard manure and plant biomass (other than crop residues) readily obtainable to African farmers as organic input is usually inadequate (Tittonel and Giller, 2012). Besides, they have low nutrient content and release nutrients slowly hence they cannot be used during periods of peak crop nutrient demand. However, inorganic fertilizers which release nutrients fast and in large quantities are expensive and therefore out of reach of poorfarmers.

Most smallholder farmers involved in ALVs production depend on rain-fed agriculture which limits production to the rainy seasons. However, irrigation during the off-season presents an opportunity for the farmers to benefit from the low-supply versus high

demand scenario with better returns and good nutritional quality of these crops. There is need to establish the impact of water stress on leaf yield and nutritional quality of ALVs. There are various harvesting options used in ALVs production. Some of the harvesting practices such as wholesome and piecemeal harvesting may affect the productivity and nutritional quality of ALVs. Thus, call for studies to establish optimal water, nutrient management and best harvest practices to realize the yield potential without compromising the quality attributes of ALVs.

African leafy vegetables have been regarded as „insignificant crops‟ and excluded from research attention in favor of major food and cash crops such as maize and tea even though they have short production cycles, high yields with strong nutritional quality. Limited studies have been carried out to determine the impact of fertilizers (organic and inorganic), moisture stress and harvesting method on yield and nutritional quality of cowpea and African nightshade.

1 Objectives

The main objective of this study was to determine the leaf yield and nutritional quality of cowpea and African nightshade grown under different fertilizer application, harvesting methods and water stress levels to alleviate food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty in Nigeria.

The specific objectives of the study were:

i. To evaluate the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizers on growth, yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

ii. To evaluate the effect of harvesting method on the yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

iii. To determine the effect of water stress on growth, yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

1 Null Hypothesis

i. Organic and inorganic fertilizers enhance the growth, yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

ii. Piecemeal harvesting enhances the yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

iii. Water stress reduces the growth, yield and nutritional quality of African nightshade andcowpea.

.

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COW DUNG MANURE AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ON THE VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF SOME SELECTIVE COWPEA VARIETIES



TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.ORG

Researchwap.org is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.org guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.org is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.org" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.