TITLE:
Comparative Effect of Foliar Application of Cow Dung, Wood Ash and Benlate on the Disease Initiation and Development of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Coniella musaiensis Var. Hibisci. in Makurdi, Central Nigeria
AUTHORS:
K. D. Apeyuan, A. O. Nwankiti, H. O. A. Oluma, E. J. Ekefan
KEYWORDS:
Foliar Application, Cow Dung, Wood Ash, Benlate, Disease Initiation, Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Accession, Leaf Spot, Coniella musaiensis Var. Hibisci
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.8,
August
8,
2016
ABSTRACT: A study
on the comparative effect of cow dung, wood ash and benlate for the control of
leaf spot disease of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) was carried out following the preparation and foliar application of the
materials on selected Roselle plants of the green and red accessions (Acc1 & Acc3) in the field. The cow dung was fermented for 14 days
while sour milk was added to wood ash, dissolved and all filtered and labeled.
The spraying commenced soon after the plants were thinned to one and was done
weekly until after 50% of the plants had flowered. Results showed significant
(p = 0.05) difference between benlate, the synthetic fungicide and the
bio-fertilizers (cow dung and wood ash) for the two years of the study. Disease
severity was significantly lower in the benlate than in the bio-fertilizers.
There was no significant difference in yield between the treatments although
higher yield was recorded in benlate. Though the bio-fertilizers could not
suppress infection, they aided the growth of the plants by boosting luxuriant
growth. The result showed that these bio-fertilizers cannot be used as
substitute to the synthetic fungicide for the control of this leaf spot disease
caused by Coniella musaiensis var. hibisci. However, since they give
equally good yield the bio-fertilizers can still be used to minimize the
reliance upon use of chemical fungicides.