YIELD AND QUALITY RESPONSE OF TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS AS AFFECTED BY ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

  • A. A. Akinyemi Department of Crop Production and Soil Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
  • F. A. Olapade Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State
  • K. O. Kareem Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education Special, oyo, Nigeria
  • I. O. Adetoro Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State
  • N. A. Subairu Department of Crop Production and Soil Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Keywords: Poultry manure, Phytochemical contents, Vine length, Shoot weight, Proximte contents

Abstract

Telfairia occidentalis Hook F. (fluted pumpkin) is an indigenous leafy vegetable of high nutritional, economic, and medicinal importance in West Africa. It serves as a vital source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and income for smallholder farmers. However, declining soil fertility and overreliance on costly synthetic fertilizers have constrained its productivity and quality. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizer types on yield and quality of T. occidentalis at Teaching and Research Farm, LadokeAkintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. The treatments comprised five organic fertilizers types namely;AleshinloyeA,Aleshinloye B, Poultry Manure, Sunshine A, and Sunshine B, each applied at 60 kg N ha⁻¹, and control (0 kg N ha⁻¹). The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. Data collected on vine length, leaf number, fresh shoot weight, mineral composition, and proximate quality were subjected to ANOVA, and means separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at a
5% probability level. Results showed that organic fertilizer application enhanced vegetative growth, shoot yield, and nutritional quality compared to the control. Sunshine A and Poultry Manure consistently produced longer vines and higher leaf counts. Poultry Manure recorded the highest fresh shoot weight (56.83 g plant⁻¹) and mineral composition, including N (0.47%), K (0.56%), and Zn (0.28%). It also improved crude protein (3.10%), fibre (1.45%), vitamin A (3.80%), and alkaloids (1.62%). It is therefore concluded that organic fertilizers, particularly Poultry Manure and SunshineA, significantly enhanced growth, yield, and nutritional composition of T. occidentalis.

Published
2025-10-31
Issue
Vol 20 No 3 (2025): Vol. 20 No. 3
Section
Articles