Preliminary evaluation of fertilizer application on garden egg (Solanum integrifolium L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) intercropped system

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
1999-02-14
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
A preliminary study on fertilizer application in a garden egg (Solanum integrifolium L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) intercropped system was conducted in a 5 x 3 factorial experiment at the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, UST, Kumasi. Using a randomised complete block design with four replications, five cropping systems namely: a) Weed-free plot of pure stand of garden egg b) No weeding plot of pure stand of garden egg c) Garden egg transplanted into 14-day old cowpea crop d) Garden egg transplanted into 7-day old cowpea crop e) Garden egg and cowpea planted the same day, and three fertilizer treatments i) Og NPK 15-15-15 ii) 5g NPK 15-15-15 iii) 5g NPK 15-15-15 + a split application of sulphate of ammonia respectively were evaluated. Data collection included nutrient status of soil samples, vegetative and reproductive growth, yields, nematode and weed counts, survival of garden egg plants from Scierotium wilt infection and from cowpea competition and the economic profitability of the different treatments were assessed. Cropping system influenced soil nutrients, vegetative and reproductive growth, marketable and unmarketable yields, weeds and nematode population, survival of garden egg plants in the event of Scierotium wilt infection and also garden egg competition with cowpea and income and profit parameters. Fertilizer application also significantly (P <0.05) influenced available phosphorus and potassium, the number of leaves on garden egg plant, marketable yields and income from garden egg alone, income from cowpea alone and income from garden egg plus cowpea, production cost and profit. The intercrops produced higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compared with the weed free and no weeding pure stand of garden egg. The treatments did not affect plant height but garden egg plants which were under weed free conditions had wider canopy than those grown without weeding. Garden egg plants which received 5g NPK + 20g sulphate of ammonia had more branches, gave higher yields and therefore higher income and profit than the other fertilizer treatments. Marketable yield from the weed free pure stand of garden egg was significantly greater than from the intercrops. The intercrops, however, produced lower unmarketable yields. Parasitic nematode population reduced after harvest compared to the high population before planting. The intercrop treatments had reduced number of nematodes compared with the weed free and no weeding pure garden egg treatments. The intercrop also suffered fewer losses of garden egg plants in the event of Scierotium wilt infection. With regard to weed suppression, the 14-day old cowpea suppressed weeds better than the 0 or 7-day old cowpea. Higher income and profit accrued from weed free pure garden egg treatments despite its higher cost of production. The interaction of cropping system and fertilizer application significantly (P <0.05) affects canopy spread, cowpea yield and number of free living nematodes after harvest.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Science degree in Olericulture, 1999
Keywords
Citation
Collections