RESPONSE OF YELLOW PASSION FRUIT (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa DEGENER) TO ORGANIC FERTILISER APPLICATION IN ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Yellow Passion Fruit (YPF) is a perennial crop with great importance as flavouring component in fruit juice production due to its distinct aroma, but its growth and yield are limited by nutrient supply. Perennial crops require slow releasing nutrient sources like Organic Fertiliser (OF) for their optimal performance. There is dearth of information on effects of OF on growth and yield of YPF. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effects of OF on growth and yield of YPF. Pot and field experiments were conducted in Abeokuta to assess the effectiveness of Organic Fertiliser (N-0.78g/kg, P-12mg/kg, K-0.07cmol/kg) on growth and yield of YPF. In pot experiment, OF at 0 (control), 0.5 (T1), 1.0 (T2), 1.5 (T3), 2.0 (T4) and 2.5 t/ha (T5) were each mixed with 20 kg top soil in pots arranged in completely randomised design replicated thrice. Four-month old seedlings of YPF at the rate of one seedling per pot were transplanted and monitored for 16 weeks. Data were collected on Vine Length-VL (cm), Vine Diameter-VD (mm), Number of Leaves (NL), Number of Branches (NB) and Leaf Area-LA (cm2). Nitrogen and potassium uptakes (g/plant) were determined using standard procedures. On the field, T1, T3 and T5 were applied to transplanted seedlings spaced at 3m x 3m. Untreated plots served as control. The experiment was in a randomised complete block design with three replicates and monitored for 24 months. Data were collected on NB, Vine Trusses (VT), Number of Flower Buds (NFB), Number of Flowers (NF) and Fruit Yield (FY) and analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. In the pot experiment, the OF rates significantly influenced VL, VD, NL, NB, LA, nitrogen and potassium uptakes of YPF. The VL ranged from 83.0±4.2 (T3) and 83.0±1.5 (T4) to 194.3±5.5 (control). The VD ranged from 14.0±1.10 (T4) to 19.7±1.13 (T1), while NL and NB ranged from 10.0±7.5 (T2) to 23.0±9.3 (control) and 1.0±0.23 (T4) to 3.0±0.53 (control), respectively. The LA of YPF under T1 (497.0±4.5), T2 (497.0±4.0), T3 (440.0±10.3) and control (522.1±2.0) were comparable and significantly lower than T4 (531.0±1.2) and T5 (543.0±10.4). Uptakes of nitrogen and potassium were in the order 0.024±0.004 (T1) > 0.016±0.004 (control) > 0.013±0.004 (T5) > 0.012±0.004 (T4) > 0.011±0.004 (T3) > 0.011±0.00 (T2) and 0.062±0.014 (T5) > 0.060±0.010 (T1) > 0.031±0.014 (control), 0.031±0.013 (T2) > 0.023±0.014 (T3), respectively. On the field, SOF rates significantly affected NB, VT, NFB and FY of YPF. Significantly higher NB (15.0±1.7) was obtained under T5, while T1 (7.0±1.5), T3 (7.0±1.4) and control (3.0±0.12) had lower but similar values. Application of T1 resulted in significantly higher VT (4.0±1.1) followed by T3 (3.0±1.1), T5 (3.0±1.0), while control (2.0±1.0) had the lowest. The NFB ranged from 3.0±0.3 (control) to 9.0±0.9 (T5). The FY under T1 (1.21±0.06 t/ha) was significantly higher than T3 (0.66±0.02 t/ha), T5 (0.66±0.03 t/ha), while the control had no yield. Organic Fertiliser (N-0.78g/kg, P-12mg/kg, K-0.07cmol/kg) at the rate of 0.5 t/ha improved growth and yield of Yellow Passion Fruit in Abeokuta, Nigeria and is therefore recommended.