Articles
Influence of neem leaf fortified fertilizers on tea (Camellia sinensis) yield and soil chemical properties
Article number
1253_19
Pages
141 – 146
Language
English
Abstract
Tea production is intensive system with high demand for N, P and K fertilizer.
A field study was conducted to assess the influence of inorganic and organic nutrient sources applied with or without neem leaf on tea leaf yield, nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties in Kusuku area of Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria.
The fertilizers – NPK (15:15:15), urea + single superphosphate (SSP), cocoa pod husk (CPH), NPK + neem, urea + SSP + neem and CPH + neem, were applied for total supply of 150 kg N ha‑1 while the neem leaf was applied at 10 kg ha‑1. The treatments were in 3 replications in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Tea leaves harvested were weighed, milled after drying and analyzed for nutrient contents.
The soil from each treatment was collected, processed and analyzed for the pH, organic C, total N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn contents and compared with the corresponding initial values.
The results showed that tea leaf yields were significantly (p≤0.05) higher when fertilizers were applied compared with the control without fertilizer.
The organic and straight fertilizers compared favorably with NPK 15:15:15 (the reference fertilizer). Fortification of the fertilizers with neem leaf resulted to 2.22-46.9% higher tea leaf yield.
The organic fertilizer and neem fortification led to improved soil pH, organic C and high nutrient build up compared with NPK (15:15:15). The fertilizers resulted to 9.33-66.7% increase in tea yield with Urea + SSP + neem treatment being absolute best, which was followed by CPH + neem.
A field study was conducted to assess the influence of inorganic and organic nutrient sources applied with or without neem leaf on tea leaf yield, nutrient uptake and soil chemical properties in Kusuku area of Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria.
The fertilizers – NPK (15:15:15), urea + single superphosphate (SSP), cocoa pod husk (CPH), NPK + neem, urea + SSP + neem and CPH + neem, were applied for total supply of 150 kg N ha‑1 while the neem leaf was applied at 10 kg ha‑1. The treatments were in 3 replications in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Tea leaves harvested were weighed, milled after drying and analyzed for nutrient contents.
The soil from each treatment was collected, processed and analyzed for the pH, organic C, total N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn contents and compared with the corresponding initial values.
The results showed that tea leaf yields were significantly (p≤0.05) higher when fertilizers were applied compared with the control without fertilizer.
The organic and straight fertilizers compared favorably with NPK 15:15:15 (the reference fertilizer). Fortification of the fertilizers with neem leaf resulted to 2.22-46.9% higher tea leaf yield.
The organic fertilizer and neem fortification led to improved soil pH, organic C and high nutrient build up compared with NPK (15:15:15). The fertilizers resulted to 9.33-66.7% increase in tea yield with Urea + SSP + neem treatment being absolute best, which was followed by CPH + neem.
Authors
R.R. Ipinmoroti, O.S.O. Akanbi
Keywords
fertility, fertilizer, neem leaf tea production, soil productivity
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