Article Sidebar
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles
The Editorial Board of AgroScience and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka are committed to disseminating the research publications in AgroScience Journal as widely as possible. In line with this commitment, the Editorial Board of AgroScience has adopted the policy of Open Access, with the content licensed under Creative Commons Attrition License (CCBY). On this premise, every author grants to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka irrevocable, nonexclusive permission to exercise the copyright in the article for the purpose of open dissemination.
Main Article Content
The effect of manganese on early growth of fluted pumpkin (telfairia occidentalis hook f) in an ultisol
Abstract
The trials were conducted at the experimental site of University of Benin Teaching and Research Farm to determine the influence of Mn on early growth, nutrient content and uptake by Telfairia occidentalis using six levels of Mn treatment. The greenhouse treatment levels were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mgMn per 5 kg soil while in the field trial, 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 kgMnha-1 levels were used. In the greenhouse, completely randomized design (CRD) was used while randomized complete block
design (RCBD) was used in the field trial. Results indicated that there were no pronounced variations in the soil chemical components after the trial except for the Mn component the of soil which however increased with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, Cu
contents of the plant increased with increasing levels of Mn treatments in both trials. The N content of the plant in the field trial was however, not consistent with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Fe content of the plant consistently declined in both trials with increasing levels of Mn application indicating antagonistic influence of Mn on Fe uptake. The Mn content and uptake by the plant in the trials increased consistently with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Mn content and uptake
by the plant in the control treatment was however low. Synergistic influence of Mn on Cu and Zn uptake by the plant was recorded while the Mn had no effect on the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Na. The Mn treatments significantly increased the growth parameters and shoot dry matter yield up to 50
mgMn per 5 kg soil and 20 kgMnha-1 and declined at various Mn treatment levels indicating the levels of accommodation of Mn by the plant. Correlation coefficient (r) between soil pH, organic
matter, available P, Fe and Mn uptake by the plant indicated non-significant negative correlation (P> 0.05).
design (RCBD) was used in the field trial. Results indicated that there were no pronounced variations in the soil chemical components after the trial except for the Mn component the of soil which however increased with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Zn, Cu
contents of the plant increased with increasing levels of Mn treatments in both trials. The N content of the plant in the field trial was however, not consistent with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Fe content of the plant consistently declined in both trials with increasing levels of Mn application indicating antagonistic influence of Mn on Fe uptake. The Mn content and uptake by the plant in the trials increased consistently with increasing levels of Mn treatment. The Mn content and uptake
by the plant in the control treatment was however low. Synergistic influence of Mn on Cu and Zn uptake by the plant was recorded while the Mn had no effect on the uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Na. The Mn treatments significantly increased the growth parameters and shoot dry matter yield up to 50
mgMn per 5 kg soil and 20 kgMnha-1 and declined at various Mn treatment levels indicating the levels of accommodation of Mn by the plant. Correlation coefficient (r) between soil pH, organic
matter, available P, Fe and Mn uptake by the plant indicated non-significant negative correlation (P> 0.05).
