INFLUENCE OF CASSAVA PEEL MANURE AND NPK FERTILIZER INTEGRATIONS ON PERFORMANCE OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum Linn.) IN OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE

Abstract

The performance of most arable crops had been reported to be grossly limiting by soil fertility, particularly under tropical soil conditions. However, chemical fertilizers which are commonly applied by the local farmers to reverse such undesirable soil conditions had been reported to be very harmful to plants, as well as the beneficial soil microbes and man, apart from being highly priced and mostly hoarded. Meanwhile, in recent times, the mountainous deposits of cassava peels around the processing areas in both the urban and rural centres are now a great concern, as they are undesirably imposing environmental pollution and health threats. Meanwhile, such wasteful cassava peels could eventually become useful as potential organic fertilizer materials, when allowed to properly decompose. Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, to evaluate the performance of sesame under sole and combined applications of NPK fertilizer and the cassava peel manure (CPM). Six fertilizer treatments investigated were: T0 = (the control or Zero fertilizer application), T1 = 100% NPK fertilizer application @ 300 kg NPK ha-1), T2 = 100% (CPM @ 4 tons ha-1), T3 = (50% NPK + 50% CPM), T4 = (75% NPK + 25% CPM), T5 = (25% NPK + 75% CPM). The field trial was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data collected on growth and yield parameters were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). T
he treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT), at 5% level of probability. The results of the pre-planting soil analyses showed the soil sample used was texturally sandy loam and slightly acidic (pH 6.12). Also, the soil was grossly low in essential nutrient concentrations
particularly total N (0.29 g kg-1), Available P (2.94 mg kg-1) and exchangeable K (0.29 cmol kg-1). Sesame responded well to improved soil nutrition, irrespective of the sources and growing conditions, as the growth and yield parameters significantly improved with fertilizer applications. Although, the
sesame growth and yield parameters obtained from the cassava peel integrations were significantly higher at 50% NPK + 50% CPM while the other integrations above 50% CPM were insignificantly higher than the 50% CPM integration. Therefore, CPM is a potential organic fertilizer material, which
is highly compatible with NPK 15-15-15 integrations. Hence, combined application of either 50% NPK + 50% Cassava peel manure or 25% NPK fertilizer + 75% CPM (particularly to reduce excess chemical loads on the soil), is therefore recommended for optimum performance of sesame in the study area.