Abstract:
The study investigated the comoerative effect of cow-dung manure
treatments and N P K fertilizer Oil soil nutrient content, growth, fruit yield and
leaf nutrient contents of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).
TWo trials were conducted at Ondo, in the rainforest zone of southwest Nigeria
between the late season of 2003 and early season of 2004 on a slightly acidic
soil, marginal in organic matter and low in available P. The six treatments
involved were 0 (control) 2.5, 5,0, 7.5 and 10 t/ha cow-dung and N P K 15: 15: 15
fertilizer at 250 kg/ha. The treatments were replicated three times using a
randomized complete block design. Relative to the control, cow-dung and N P K
fertilizer treatments increased growth and yield parameters such as number of
leaves, leaf area, plant height, girth, ru..nber and weight of fruits significantly
(P>0.05), Growth and yield parameters increased with levels of cow dung up to
7.5 t/ha. The mean fruit weiqhts per plant recorded for 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 10 t/ha
dung and N P K fertilizer were 283, 295, 338, 382, 368 and 378g respectively,
and the values for number of fruits werr= 32, 36, 41, 66, 53, and 64g. Soil organic
matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and pH increased with amount of dung. N P K fertilizer
gave less value of soil P, and K compared with.l 7 5 rind 10.0 t/ha dung. The
dung treatments increased leaf i\!, P, f<, Ca, and IvJg contents, and leaf N and P
increased with level of dung up to 10.0 t/ha. The 10.0 t/ha dung increased leaf
P, K, Ca and Mg compared with N P K fertilizer, and 7.5 and 10.0 t/ha dung gave
higher leaf N compared with fertilizer.
