THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS APPLICATION ON SEED GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA IN MAIDUGURI, SEMI ARID ZONE.
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of different fertiliser applications on the seed germination and growth of Azadirachta indica (neem) in the semi- arid region of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Six treatments were evaluated: control (T0), interactive fertiliser, chicken droppings, NPK, sheep droppings, and cow dung. The study aimed to determine how these fertilizers influence germination, leaf production, stem height, and biomass accumulation over an 8- week period. The results showed that fertiliser application significantly enhanced seed germination, with all fertiliser treatments achieving 100%100% germination by Week 2, except for cow dung, which achieved 83.33%83.33% . In terms of growth parameters, fertilised plants exhibited higher leaf numbers, stem height, and biomass compared to the control group. The interactive fertiliser and chicken droppings treatments recorded the highest leaf numbers and stem heights, with chicken droppings also showing superior stem biomass. The study concluded that both organic and inorganic fertilizers promote the growth of Azadirachta indica in semi- arid conditions, with organic options such as chicken droppings offering a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Based on the findings, the study recommends the adoption of organic fertilizers for sustainable tree cultivation in semi- arid zones and suggests a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers for optimal growth. Further research is needed to explore the slow- release characteristics of organic fertilizers like cow dung to enhance their effectiveness.
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