Short-term effects of NPK fertilizer and cocoa pod-based manures on soil chemical properties, growth and cucumber yield in Guinea Savannah

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms of Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State of Nigeria, for comparative evaluation of inorganic fertilizer with sole and integrated forms of cocoa pod ash (CPA) and cocoa pod husk powder (CPHP) on soil chemical properties, growth and yield of cucumber in Southern Guinea Savannah Zone of Nigeria. The treatments used for the experiment were control, NPK 20:10:10 (200 kg/ha), 100 % CPA (10 t/ha), 100 % CPHP (10 t/ha), 100 % CPA (10 t/ha) + 100 % CPHP (10 t/ha), 100 % CPA (10 t/ha) + 50 % CPHP (5 t/ha), 50 % CPA + 100% CPHP, and 50 % CPA + 50 % CPHP. At two weeks after planting NPK 20:10:10 was applied to the assigned plots at the rate of 200 kg/ha. Treatments were arranged in Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS procedure while DMRT at 5% level of probability was used to separate the means. Results showed that treatment with 10 t/ha CPA + 10 t/ha CPHP increased soil chemical properties compared to control. Treatments with 100% CPA + 100% CPHP and 100% CPA + 50% CPHP gave significantly higher and similar values of plant height, number of leaves, number of lateral branches and other yield parameters (fruit number, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight and total yield) of cucumber compared to the control. Therefore, the application of 10 t/ha CPA + 5 t/ha CPHP was considered best for growing cucumber in the study area. These cocoa wastes are readily available and eco-friendly compared to NPK that is costly and which may have adverse effect on the environment.

Keywords: cocoa pod ash, cocoa pod husk powder, cucumber, soil chemical properties, growth and yield