Call for Papers : Volume 11, Issue 04, April 2024, Open Access; Impact Factor; Peer Reviewed Journal; Fast Publication

Biopesticide and biofertilizer effect on some growth parameter of indian spinach and soil physical properties

A potted experiment was carried out on the faculty of Agriculture growth chamber of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, to evaluate the effects of two biopesticides and Pennisetum biofertilizer on the physical properties of Igbariam sandy loam soil cropped to Basella alba. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replications. The treatments were as follows: control soil (Ct), Ginger biopesticide (Gb), Pawpaw biopesticide (Pb), and Pennisetum biofertilizer (PF), with Indian spinach (I).The treatments generally increased total porosity compared with the control. Bulk density and dispersion ratio significantly decreased in all treatments. There was significant inecrease in aeration porosity. Field capacity and plant available water were significantly increased (p = 0.05).The treatments generally increased germination percentage compared with the control. Basella alba fresh biomass was significantly increased in all treatments with highest percetage value (341%, 280% and 206%) in treated Pennisetum biofertilizer, ginger and pawpaw leaf biopesticide with lowest value (100%) in control respectively. According to this study using Pennisetum biofertilizer, ginger and pawpaw leaf biopesticide contributed immensely in improving physical properties of soil and also increased plant biomass and biomass component of Basella alba significantly.

Author: 
Chime E. U. Nweke I. A., Ibeh C.U. and Nsoanya L.N
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