CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
To The Study
Fluted pumpkin
(Telfairiaoccidentalis Hook. F), a creeping vine, trellised plant is one of
leafy vegetables indigenous to Africa and cultivated for its leaf and edible
seeds in Southern Nigeria (Horsefall and Spiff, 2005).Vegetables generally are
nutrient demanding crops, and as such adequate soil fertility is require for
crop growth. This is in view of the fact that most African soils are deficient
in nutrients required for optimum crop growth, with special emphasis on low
organic matter content (Shiyam et al., 2007). The need for soil fertility
restorative measures using available and abundant organic wastes has been
recognized by both farmers, extension agents and researchers (Adediran et al.,
2003).
Unlike solid organic
fertilizers which has already gained global recognition, liquid organic manures
has limited use especially in tropical Africa. Liquid manures which form part
of organic farming is rarely practiced by farmers in Nigeria. However, great
potential exist for their integration into existing organic based farming
practices, since smallholder crop farmers generally lack sufficient financial
resources to acquire inorganic fertilizers. With the depleted nature of the
soils of the Niger Delta which have low fertility with inherent multiple
deficiencies in nutrients, low base saturation and cation exchange capacity
(Opuwaribo et al., 1990), the need for organic amendments become very urgent,
if the crops are to yield their potential productive capacity.
Significant increase in
growth attributes such as leaf number, leaf area branch number, vine length,
shoot fresh weight and total shoot yield of pumpkinhas been reported with use
of organic fertilizer (Okoro, 2006; Fubara-Manuel et al. 2012). Shiyam and
Binang (2014) also observed significant increase in proliferation of leaves,
fresh and dry weights of plant and biomass production with organic manure
applications in pumpkin.
This study was
therefore aimed at evaluating the extent to which varied water hyacinth/animal
manure mix liquid manures will influence the growth, nutrient uptake and yield
of pumpkin
Statement
of problem
The production of this crop requires soil with high levels of organic
matter content that can provide the essential nutrients and conditions needed
for crop growth and development. There is paucity of information on the use of
pelleted and unpelleted composted organic materials for the production of pumpkin leaf (ugu)crop
Objective
of the study
The main objective of this study is to
determine the effects of organic manure on the growth and yield of pumpkin leaf
(ugu)
The specific objectives of this work is
to:
1.
determine the physical and chemical
composted organic materials
2.
determine the effects of organic
materials on the growth and yield pumpkin leaf (ugu)
Research
Questions
1. what are physical and chemical properties of organic
materials?
2.
What are the effects
of organic materials on the growth and yield of
pumpkin leaf (ugu)
Significance of
the Study
This study will aid the
study and understanding of the subject matter as it will improve the effect of
organic manure on the growth of pumpkin leaf(ugu)
Scope/ Limitation of the Study
Scope/ Limitation of the Study
The study
will cover the nssuka area of enugu state Nigeria. Just like every other
research finance and time was a limiting factor.
Also
acquiring of material/tools for the research was also another challenge
encountered by the research
Definition of Terms
Manure is organic matter, mostly
derived from animal feces except in the case of green manure, which can be used
as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of
the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are
utilised by bacteria, fungi and other organisms in the soil. Higher organisms
then feed on the fungi and bacteria in a chain of life that comprises the soil
food web
Organic manure are fertilizers derived from animal matter, animal excreta (manure), human
excreta, and vegetable matter (e.g. compost and crop residues).[1] Naturally
occurring organic fertilizers include animal wastes from meat processing, peat,
manure, slurry, and guano....================================================================
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