RESEARCH TOPIC: EFFECT OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN SOURCES ON THE

GROWTH, YIELD, AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CORCHORUS OLITORIUS

STUDENT NAME: ADESOLA OLUWANIFEMI OMOWUMI

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macro element required for the success of all known crop life forms,
including Corchorus olitorius. It acts as a key catalyst to support photosynthesis and other
important biochemical reactions required for healthy crop growth since it is a key elemental
component in chlorophyll the biomolecule which allows plants to absorb energy from light to
facilitate growth. However, there is continuous loss of nitrogen in most tropical soils due to
leaching, denitrification and volatilization which makes it unavailable for crop growth.
Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the effect of different nitrogen sources on growth, yield
and mucilage quality of Corchorus olitorius . The experiment was conducted at Landmark
University Teaching and research farms, Omu-aran, Kwara state, Nigeria. The experiment was
laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replicates. treatments nitrogen
sources used include; poultry manure, pig manure, Cow dung, Urea and control which were
applied to the soil at 45 kg ha-1 of Nitrogen. Two mostly grown cultivars of Corchorus were used
for the experiment which are NHC 09 (Oniyaya) and NHC 03(Eti ehoro). Vegetative parameters
(plant height, number of leaves and stem girth) yield parameters (leaf weight and biomass
weight) and nutritional parameters (calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Nitrate, Sodium, Potassium,
Vitamin k and mucilage) were evaluated. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance
and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range test at 5% level of significance.
The result obtained showed that there were significant differences between all treatments.
Poultry manure had the highest influence on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf
weight, biomass weight in both cultivars. The oniyaya cultivar showed better vegetative growth
compared to Eti ehoro cultivar. Poultry manure improved the mucilage content of Eti ehoro
cultivar, while cow dung had the highest influence on mucilage content of Oniyaya cultivar.
Poultry manure also increased the Nitrate, calcium and sodium content in the leaves of both
cultivars . Treatment with cow dung amendment had the highest value of magnesium content in
Oniyaya cultivar, while treatment with poultry manure had the highest magnesium content in Eti
ehoro cultivar. Pig manure increased the iron content of the leaves of Eti ehoro cultivar but was
significantly lower in Oniyaya cultivar. Therefore, it is recommended that poultry manure is a
better source of nitrogen to the vegetative growth and nutritive value of C.olitorius . Cultivar
NHC 09 (Oniyaya) can be cultivated for higher leaf yield while cultivar NHC 03(Eti ehoro) can
be cultivated for better mucilaginous quality.

Keywords: Nitrogen sources, Corchorus Olitorius, Growth, Mucilage