Growth and physiological response of Solanum nigrum L. to organic and/or inorganic fertilisers

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effect of organic and/or inorganic fertilisers on the growth and physiological response of Solanum nigrum L. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design with five treatments and fifty replicates. The treatments were: Control (T1); 100 kg N/ha (T2); 8.13 t manure/ha (T3); 100 kg N/ha + 8.13 t manure/ ha (T4) and 50 kg N/ha + 4.07 t manure/ ha (T5). Plant height, total number of leaves, chlorophyll, moisture, root: shoot ratio, leaf area and stem diameter were measured using standard growth indicator methods. Application of 100 kg N/ ha produced the best root: shoot ratio and stem diameter values; 100 kg N/ha + 8.13 t manure/ ha produced the best chlorophyll and total leaf count values and 50 kg N/ha + 4.07 t manure/ ha boosted leaf area and plant height. The control showed signs of nutrient stress and inorganic fertiliser applied independently did not significantly affect the growth parameters. Although parameters responded differently to each fertiliser treatment, applying a combination of organic and inorganic fertiliser may be a good option to poor resource farmers who may not be able to afford inorganic fertilisers.

Keywords

• Root
• shoot ratio
• stem diameter
• chlorophyll
• moisture
• leaf area