Response of oil palm (Elaesis guineensis Jacq.) nursery seedling to NPK and Urea based gel liquid fertilizers in oil palm belt in Nigeria

Abstract

Raising vigorous oil palm nursery seedlings for field planting is contingent upon good fertility management. Following this, two separate experiments which consisted of liquid NPK gel fertilizer and Urea based gel liquid fertilizer were conducted in a randomized complete block design in four replicates to determine the response of nursery seedlings to gel liquid fertilizers. The experiments consisted of five treatments each namely (a) zero application (control), (b) 0.2L ha-1 (c) 0.5L ha-1 (d) 1.0 L ha-1 and (e) 1.5 Lha-1of the products. Treatments were applied bimonthly after transplanting until the seedlings were 8 months old. Basal application of NPKMg fertilizer was done at 3, and 5 months after transplanting. Observation on seedling growth was taken 9 months after transplanting of pre-nursery seedlings. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and means compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. The results showed that palm height (79cm), girth (18cm), leaf number (12.57) and leaf area (0.64 m2) respectively were highest at 1.5 L ha-1 of NPK gel fertilizer. Consequently, in Urea based gel liquid fertilizer palm height (74.2cm), girth (18.20cm), leaf number (12.33), and leaf area (0.673m2) respectively were also highest in plot treated with 1.5 L ha-1. Leaf nutrient of nitrogen, and phosphorus were adequate for seedlings productivity only in NPK gel fertilizer and leaf nutrient content of Nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium were sufficient for seedlings productivity in Urea liquid-based fertilizer. This result concluded that both fertilizers produced good seedlings at 1.5 L ha-1.