EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON THE EARLY GROWTH OF MORINGA OLEIFERA
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of fertilizer application on the early growth performance of Moringa oleifera propagated from seed with the aim of identifying the most effective fertilizer application strategy for optimal plant development. The experiment was conducted at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria, using three treatments: poultry manure (20 g/2 kg of soil), NPK 15:15:15 (2 g/2 kg of soil), and a control, replicated five times in a completely randomized design. Growth parameters measured included plant height, stem girth, number of branches, number of leaves, and biomass, recorded biweekly over 12 weeks. Results revealed that poultry manure significantly enhanced plant height (48.00 cm), stem girth (2.16 cm), number of branches (12.50), and number of leaves (124.00) compared to the NPK and the control. While NPK yielded the highest leaf biomass (7.00 g), poultry manure showed the higest performance in overall vegetative growth. These findings suggest that organic fertilizer, particularly poultry manure, promotes better early growth, while NPK offered the highest rapid leaf mass accumulation. The study recommends an integrated fertilization approach combining both organic and inorganic inputs to maximize yield and maintain soil sustainability in Moringa oleifera cultivation.
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