Response of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia Occidentalis Hook F.) to Copper Application
|
1Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin 2Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City Corresponding Author Email: orhuerob@yahoo.com.
Abstract:
The effect of copper (Cu) on some soil chemical properties and early growth of fluted pumpkin was assessed in greenhouse and field trials at the Faculty of Agriculture experimental site, University of Benin, Benin City. The greenhouse and field trials were organized in completely randomized and randomized complete block design, respectively, each replicated three times. The CuSo4. 5H2O rates used in the greenhouse were 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg per 5 kg soil equivalent to 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 kgha-1 used in the field. Results indicated that the soil nutrient components studied fluctuated at various levels of Cu treatments. However, the Cu content of the soil increased with increasing Cu treatments. Except the Zn, which was not consistent the nutrient contents such as N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu of the plant increased with increasing Cu application in the greenhouse trial. Increased nutrient content, Zn exclusive with increasing Cu levels was also recorded in the field assessment. The uptake of these nutrients follows the same pattern of plant nutrient content in the greenhouse and field trials. The plant height, number of leaves and number of branches of the Cu treated plants were significantly higher than the control in the greenhouse trial. Although the Cu treated plants were higher than those of the control in the growth parameter, significant differences were not recorded in the field trial. The shoot dry matter yield of both trials showed that the treated plants were significantly (P< 0.05) higher than the control. The ECEC and available P were significantly (P<0.05) positively correlated with the plant Cu content whereas the soil pH and organic matter non-significantly negatively correlated with the Cu component of the plant.
Read/Download Full Publication:
|
