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Effect of NPK fertilizer rates on the yield and yield components of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina del.) in Owerri southeastern Nigeria


II Ibeawuchi
OP Obilo
II Osugiri

Abstract



An experiment was carried out from March – December 2004 and repeated in 2005 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology Owerri to evaluate the effect of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer rates on the yield and yield components including the cost benefit of bitter leaf in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria. There were 6 treatments namely 0 (control), 100,200,300, 400 and 500 kgha-1 rates of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer. A randomized complete block design was used with 4 replications. Results indicated that 500 and 400 kgha-1 NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer rates produced significantly higher growth and yield of bitter leaf and were better than 300, 200, 100 and 0 kgha-1 NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer rates. Although there was no significant difference between 500 kgha-1 and 400kgha-1 fertilizer rates, the former had higher yield and enhanced the crop growth more than the later. The NPK fertilizer treatment gave positive cost benefit at 400 and 500 kgha-1 respectively. The applications of NPK fertilizers with high N-levels supply enough nutrients for the high productivity of Vernonia amygdalina.

Keywords: NPK fertilizer; yield; yield component; Vernonia amygdalina; Nigeria

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 230-234

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