Comparative Effect of Cocoa Pod Husk Ash and NPK Fertilizer on Soil and Root Nutrient Content and Growth of Kola Seedling

Abstract

Screen house experiment was conducted to study effectiveness of Cocoa Pod Husk Ash (CPHA) as source of nutrients for kola (Cola nitida) seedlings. Six levels of CPHA namely: 0. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, t ha"1 and 200 kg ha"1 NPK (15-15-15) fertilizer (NPKF) were applied to seedling at Akure and Ibadan Southwest Nigeria. The CPHA treatments and NPKF increased significantly the seedling height and number of leaves. The 2, 4 and 6 t ha-1 CPHA had higher values of the growth parameters than NPKF. Application of CPHA increased soil organic matter, available P and exchangeable K, Ca and Mg. Compared with NPKF, application of CPHA increased significantly root N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations which increased with level of CPHA. Compared with NPKF, CPHA at 2,4,6,8 and 101 ha-1 gave higher values of root P and Ca uptake. The 4 and 61 ha-1 CPHA gave highest values of seedlings height and number of leaves respectively and higher root Ca uptake.

Description

Keywords

Cocoa pod husk ash, kola, seedlings, exchangeable, number of leaves, root Ca uptake

Citation

International Journal of Soil Science 2 (2): 148-153, 2007

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