Response of Waterleaf Vegetable (Talinum Trangulare JACQ) to nitrogen and organic fertilizer

Abstract

Investigations were carried out to determine the growth and yield responses of waterleaf (Talinum traingulare Jacq), a vegetable crop, to different sources and levels of nitrogen and organic fertilizers at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Calabar in a high rainfall area of Southeast Nigeria. The results showed as expected, that yield performance was better in manured than in control plots. Responses varied very widely with sources of maures in terms of vegetative growth and yields. Effects of the compound fertilizer (NPK) were superior to single fertilizer (urea) and organic manure (cowdung) in that order. Average cumulative fresh weight of waterleaf under the different manurial regimes were 1.89 kg, 1.65 kg and 0.89 kg for NPK, urea and cowdung, respectively. Studies are, however, continuing to enable us elucidate current fertilizer rates as well as develop optimum fertilizer formulae for intensive Talinum cultivation in the zone.

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume , No 1 January (2001) pp. 7-12



KEY WORDS:

Water leaf vegetable, nitrogen and organic fertilizers, Southeast Nigeria.