EFFECTS OF SOURCES OF POTASSIUM AND WATERING REGIMES ON THE GROWTH OF AFRICAN STAR APPLE (CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM G. DON) SEEDLINGS

Abstract

There is shortage of research-based facts on the performance of potassium-found plant foods on the improvement of Chrysophyllum albidum. To promote the gradual development of Chrysophyllum albidum, examination was carried out. A 3×3 split-plot experimental design accompanying three replications was chosen to determine the outcomes of origins of potassium and wetting periods on the enlargement of Chrysophyllum albidum plantlets. Three origins of nutrient specifically; muriate of potash (5g), potassium sulphate fertilizer (5g) and sheep manure (10g) made up the main plot treatments. The regular wetting (200ml), 3 days interval (200ml) and 5 days interval (200ml) formed sub plot treatment. The treatment comprised of three sources of potassium and three watering intervals copied three times. Twelve (12) seedlings stood for a replicate. Three hundred and twenty-four (324) seedlings were concerned. A month old C. albidum seedlings were transferred into pots with enhancers and exposed to 200ml watering at varying day’s interval. Data gathered were submitted to two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The outcome disclosed that fountains of potassium and watering gaps considerably (p < 0.05) boosted the growing of C. albidum. Remarkable height (93.37cm), total fresh weight (26.55g), total dry weight (11.23g), leaf number (15.34), relative turgidity (81.35%) and relative growth rate (0.446gg-1wk-1) were written down from seedlings cultivated in the soil enhanced with sheep manure and watered at day 1 and 3 interval comparable to other treatments. Administration of sheep manure and watered from day 1 to 3 interval upgrades the growing of C. albidum for multiplication in agroforestry systems.