TITLE:
Comparative Effects of Cocoa Pod Husk and Oil Palm Bunch Ash on Nutrient Uptake, Growth and Dry Matter Yield of Cocoa (The-obroma cacao) in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Olorunfemi Sunday Ojo Akanbi, Amos Olatunde Famaye, Olayinka Olufemi Olaniyi, Rufus Rotimi Ipinmoroti, C. I. Iloyanomo, Beatrice Abanum Nduka, Seun Adewale Adeosun
KEYWORDS:
Cocoa Pod Husk Ash, Oil Palm Bunch Ash, Dry Matter Yield, Cocoa Seedlings
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.11,
September
26,
2014
ABSTRACT:
The high premium placed on the organically produced cocoa in the
international market coupled with its health and environmental benefits
necessitated recent focus on research into the use of agricultural wastes as
source of nutrients in cocoa (T. cacao)
production. The study was carried out at the Cocoa Research Institute of
Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan (Lat. 7°25'N Long. 3°25'E), South-western, Nigeria during the 2010/2011 seedling production
season to compare the effects of NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer, Cocoa Pod Husk and
Oil Palm Bunch Ash (CPHA and OPA) on the seedling growth and dry matter yield
of cocoa (T. cacao). Equivalent
amount of different rates of two nutrients sources CPHA and OPA were applied
one month after planting at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 t/ha respectively, recommended
rate of 10 kg·N of the
conventional NPK (20:10:10). Fertilizer was used as reference fertilizer.
Results indicated that all the fertilizer materials positively and
significantly (p > 0.05) increased the growth parameters considered. The
influence of the ash materials irrespective of sources on the nutrient uptake,
dry matter yield of cocoa seedlings and shoot to root ratio were either higher
than or had a comparable results with the reference fertilizer (NPK 20:10:10).
CPHA and OPA applied at a rate of 4 t/ha significantly (p > 0.05) increased
the plant height and root length of cocoa seedlings respectively relative to
control and in—organic fertilizer
and could therefore be recommended for the prospective and existing Nigerian cocoa
farmers for raising their seedlings in the nursery before transplanting to the
field.