Abstract
A nursery experiment was carried out in Ibadan (rain forest zone), Southwest Nigeria to study relative effect(s) of combined use of organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) and cocoa pod husk ash (CPHA) on soil chemical properties, nutrient status and growth of coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica L.). Eight treatments: 5t/ha CPHA, 20 t /ha OMF, 20 t/ha OMF + 5t/ha CPHA, 15 t/ha OMF + 5 t/ha CPHA, 10t /ha OMF + 5 t/ha CPHA, 5 t/ha OMF + 5 t/ha CPHA and 400kg/ha Urea which translate to 6.25g CPHA, 25g OMF, 25g OMF + 6.25g CPHA, 18.75g OMF + 6.25g CPHA, 12.5g OMF + 6.25g CPHA, 6.25g OMF + 6.25g CPHA and 0.6 Urea per 2.5 kg of soil filled poly bag respectively with a control (no fertilizer) were applied to soil containing seedlings. The organic manures increased significantly [P<0.05] the plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, number of leaves, root and shoot length, root and shoot weight of coffee seedlings. The treatments also increased significantly [ P<0.05] soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, soil pH and OM content relative to the control. The 15t/ha OMF + 5 t/ha CPHA was most effective in improving Coffee growth, leaf and soil chemical composition. Therefore, it could be recommended for coffee farmers in Southwestern, Nigeria.
Keywords:
composition
fertilizer
chemical
effects
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