Abstract
Because of cost and scarcity associated with the use of chemical fertilizers on rubber and the acidic nature of rubber growing soils in Nigeria, a study was conducted into the effect of poultry manure (PM) and its combination with NPK fertilizer (NPKF) on soil and plant nutrients and growth of rubber seedlings. Six treatments replicated three times on rubber seedlings were the control, NPK fertilizer (NPKF) at 111kg/ha, 83.3kg/ha NPKF + 0.5t/ha PM, 5.5kg/ha NPKF + 1.0t/ha PM and 27.8kg/ha NPKF + 1.5t/ha PM, and PM 2.0 t/ha. Soil samples were collected for chemical analysis at the two sites, Ilusin and Araromi in Southwest Nigeria before experiment and at 24 weeks after planting. Leaf samples were also taken and growth parameters measured. The soils were very acidic and low in N, P, K, Ca, Mg and organic matter. NPKF, PM and NPKF + PM increased soil N, P, K, Ca, Mg. The PM and its combined use with NPKF increased pH while NPKF reduced it. NPKF, PM and their combinations at reduced levels increased plant N, P, K, Ca and Mg. NPKF, PM and 83.3kg/ha NPKF + 0.5t/ha PM increased plant height, number of leaves and leaf area. The combination has a significant effect on the number of leaves and leaf area.
Keywords:
composition
fertilizer
combined
nutrient
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