Use of Plant Tonic Solution Fertilizers for Improving the Soil Fertility and Yield of Pop Corn (Zea mays everta L) and Melon (Cucumeropsis edulis) Intercrop
E. I. Moyin-Jesu, O. Akinwale
Abstract
An investigation was carried out at Akure in rainforest zone of Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of liquid plant tonic or extract solution fertilizers on the soil and leaf chemical composition, growth and yield of pop corn (Zea mays everta L.) and melon (Cucumeropsis edulis L.) intercrop from 1997 to 1999. Six manurial tonic fertilizers were used namely Mango, Cashew, Coffee, Gliricidia and Cocoa leaves tonic solutions applied at 3L (3000ml) per 16m2 plot (1875 L/ha), replicated three times with NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer 400kg/ha and a control (no fertilizer; no manure) arranged in a randomized complete block design for both the popcorn, melon sole crops and pop corn/melon intercrop. The chemical analysis of the plant tonic solution and the soils were determined. The results showed that the plant tonic or extract solutions increased significantly (p
Discovery and Innovation. ISSN: 1015-079X