INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF INDIAN SPINACH (Basella alba L.)

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1 Rop et l. 111 INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF INDIAN SPINACH (Bsell l L.) Rop NK 1 *, Mutui TM 1 nd Kiprop EK 2 1 Deprtment of Seed, Crop nd Hortiulturl Sienes, Chepkoilel University College, P. O. Box Eldoret, Keny 2 Deprtment of Biologil Sienes, Chepkoilel University College, P. O. Box Eldoret, Keny *Correspondene: ropkn2@yhoo.om Astrt Bsell l is highly nutritious ompred to most indigenous lefy vegetles oupled with mediinl enefits. Sdly, this vegetle is not inluded in the top 1 priority indigenous Afrin vegetles for reserh in Keny. B. l hs the potentil of lleviting mlnutrition mong ertin vulnerle groups in the rurl poor ommunities in Keny, ut there is lk of pproprite gronomi prties prtiulrly orret nitrogen levels for inresed high qulity lef yield. The im of the urrent study ws to evlute the response of inorgni nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield nd qulity of B. l. This study ws onduted in the glsshouse t Lrenstein Interntionl Agriulturl College (LIAC), Deventer, The Netherlnds. Five ( kg N h -1, 3 kg N h -1, 6 kg N h -1, 9 kg N h -1 nd 12 kg N h -1 ) levels of nitrogen were pplied. Tretments were rrnged in ompletely rndomized design (CRD) nd replited five times. Dt olleted ws nlysed for vrine using SAS progrmme pkge. Applying 9 kg N h - 1 or 12 kg N h -1 t 6 weeks fter trnsplnting (WAT) inresed stem length, numer of leves, lef re, lef weight nd mintined green lef olour. However, the effets of the nitrogen levels on numer of remes were not pprent. Interestingly only 12 kg N h -1 inresed hrvest index in B. l 6 WAT. Our results suggest tht either 9 kg N h -1 or 12 kg N h -1 n e used to enhne qulity nd lef yield in B. l. Therefore, we reommend pplition of 9 kg N h -1 y resoure poor frmers in the prodution of B. l for improved food seurity nd welth retion. Keywords: Bsell l, Lef qulity, Nitrogen, Yield Introdution Bsell l elongs to the fmily Bsellee. B. l is fst growing vegetle, ntive to tropil Asi (Indi or Indonesi) nd extremely het tolernt (Gruen nd Denton, 24). It is ommonly known s Mlr, Ceylon, Est- Indin, Surinm nd Chinese spinh (Fiol, 199). It is fst growing perennil plnt ut it is sometimes ultivted s n nnul for home grdens nd s sh rop. It is n esy growing plnt propgted y seed, root or long tip uttings. B. l is ommonly grown for its leves nd young shoots, whih re high in Vitmin A, B9, C, iron nd lium (Gruen nd Denton, 24). Due to its muilginous nture of leves nd stems, the juie of leves hs een presried ginst onstiption espeilly for hildren nd pregnnt women (Duke nd Ayensu, 1985). Its thik, semisuulent, hert-shped leves hve mild flvour nd muilginous texture. Dily onsumption of Indin spinh hs een shown to provide vitmin A espeilly in popultions t high risk of vitmin A defiieny (Hskell et l., 24). In tropil Afri, B. l is extensively ultivted in Ethiopi nd Mozmique nd to smller extent in Sierr Leone (Shippers, 2). It is exeedingly vigorous plnt with liming hit nd does etter with support thn when sprwling on the ground to keep the folige len (Pld nd Chng, 23). It thrives well in tropil nd sutropil limtes, where true spinh often performs poorly due to inset pests nd high tempertures (Gruen, 1997). B. l is highly nutritious ompred to most indigenous lefy vegetles ville in Keny. Despite its nutritionl nd mediinl enefits, this rop is not inluded in the top ten Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

2 112 Influene of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, yield nd qulity of Indin spinh priority Afrin lefy vegetles for reserh in Keny (Aukuts-Onyngo, 27). It is normlly found in vlleys with wter soures or strems nd smll rivers without ny forml ultivtion. Sine it is perennil vine, it hs plyed vitl role in food nd nutrition seurity prtiulrly during the dry periods (Mundu et l., 1999). Mny people in rurl res in Keny re undernourished, espeilly hildren just wened, pregnnt nd ltting mothers. Consequently, nutrient-defiieny diseses suh s night lindness, survy nd rikets re ommon in rurl nd slums res (GOK, 28). These diseses ould e prevented y onsumption of B. l, sine lterntive niml soure foods suh diry foods, eggs nd liver re generlly not ffordle. B.l n grow under onditions of moderte soil fertility ut prodution is enhned with pplition of fertilizers. Fertilizer is ny orgni or inorgni mteril of nturl or syntheti origin tht is dded into soil to supply one or more plnt nutrients essentil for the growth of plnt (Murwir nd Kirhmnn, 1993). A soil nlysis is essentil to determine the soil nutrient sttus prior to fertilizer pplition. The fertilizer requirement is sed on the trget yield. Pld nd Chng (23) reommended pplition of ompost or mnure t 3-4 ton h -1 during plot preprtion nd side dressing one month t kg h -1. The use of mnure or ompost in rop prodution hs severl disdvntges whih inludes presene of pthogens if not properly omposted, the nutrient ontents re vrile nd not redily relesed to plnts t the right plnt growth stge, re voluminous nd n e too ulky to deploy the right mount of nutrients nd re more expensive to produe. The mjor hllenge in the use of mny inorgni fertilizers is tht they my not reple tre minerl elements in the soil whih eome grdully depleted y rops. High pplition rtes of inorgni fertilizers hve the disdvntge of getting into surfe runoff s well s into groundwter (Bijy et l., 1995). Nitrogen is n essentil plnt nutrient needed for vegettive growth nd it is mjor limiting nutrient for rop prodution (Pionke et l., 199). High nitrogen level pplition redues fruit size due to growth of vegettive mtter in lefy vegetles whih my shift sink to the leves insted of the remes (Kirimi et l., 211). It is onstituent of lrge numer of importnt ompounds found in living ells, suh s mino ids, enzymes nd nulei ids (RNA nd DNA) (Le nd Leegold, 1993). Thus it is ritil in improving growth nd yield of vegetle rops. A negleted rop suh s B. l hs potentil in lleviting mlnutrition mong ertin vulnerle groups in the rurl ommunities in Keny ut there is lk of pproprite gronomi prties suh s orret nitrogen level leding to redued lef yield. Sine vegetles re onsumed frequently nd in lrge quntities, there is need to inlude B. l s priority lefy vegetle in Keny y foussing on nutritionl spets with the im of inresing yield nd qulity. Therefore, the im of this study ws to evlute the response of inorgni nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield nd qulity of B. l. Mterils nd Methods Plnt mterils Seeds of B.l were sown in plsti pots filled with pet soil. Approximtely 1 month fter sowing, the seedlings were trnsplnted into plsti pots with dimeter of 21 m nd n re of 346 m 2 filled with poor sndy soil. This pot experiment ws onduted in greenhouse t Lrenstein Interntionl Agriulturl College, Deventer, The Netherlnds. Tretments Five ( kg N h -1, 3 kg N h -1, 6 kg N h -1, 9 kg N h -1 nd 12 kg N h -1 ) levels of nitrogen were pplied in the form of mmonium nitrte (27% N). Eh pot reeived phosphorus nd potssium in the form of super phosphte (19% P 2 O) nd sulphte of potsh (3% K 2 O) t the rte of 2 kg h -1. Suffiient wter ws given dily. The stems were supported y moo stiks nd wire during the growth period. Growth prmeters The prmeters determined were: (i). Length of the min stem plus rnhes ws tken using tpe mesure. (ii). Lef weight ws determined using digitl lne (Srtorius GE212). Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

3 Stem length (m) Numer of leves Rop et l. 113 (iii). Lef surfe re ws mesured using lef re meter (L1-31 C). (iv). Hrvest index ws tken s the rtio of lef weight to totl ove-ground weight. (v). Numer of leves nd numer of remes were ounted. (vi). Lef olour t hrvest time ws sored using sle of 1-4 (where: 1=drk green nd 4=yellow). Experimentl design nd sttistil nlysis The 5 tretments with 5 replitions eh were lid out using ompletely rndomized design (CRD). The dt olleted ws sujeted to nlysis of vrine (ANOVA) using the generl liner model (pro.glm) proedure of the Sttistil Anlysis System (SAS, 2) progrmme pkge. Multiple omprison mong tretment mens ws done using proteted Lest Signifint Differene (LSD) t P =.5. Results Stem length Applying nitrogen in the form of mmonium nitrte hd no effet on stem length of B. l, 2 weeks fter trnsplnting (2 WAT) (Fig.1). However, pplying 9kg N h -1 enhned stem length of B. l, followed y 6kg N h -1 nd 12kg N h -1 t 4 WAT (Fig.1). Nitrogen effet on stem elongtion ws not pprent when 3kg N h -1 ws pplied t 4 WAT ompred to ontrol (Fig.1). At 6 WAT, pplying 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h -1 resulted in longest B. l plnts, followed y 6kg N h -1 (Fig.1). However, pplying 3kg N h -1 hd no effet on stem length in B. l t 6 WAT (Fig.1) N 2WAT 4WAT d d A KgN/h 3 KgN/h 6 KgN/h NS 2WAT 4WAT d B KgN/h 3 KgN/h 6 KgN/h 9 KgN/h Weeks fter tretment (WAT) Weeks fter tretment(wat) Fig 1. Effet of pplying vrious levels of nitrogen on (A) stem length nd (B) numer of leves in Bsell l. Mens followed y the sme letter(s) within the olumn re not signifintly different. LSD.5 vlues for stem length were , nd nd for numer of leves were 6.25, 21. nd for the 2 WAT, 4 WAT nd 6 WAT, respetively. Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

4 Lef re (m 2 ) sores (-4) 114 Influene of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, yield nd qulity of Indin spinh Numer of leves All nitrogen levels hd no effet on numer of leves in B. l 2 WAT (Fig. 1). At 4 WAT or 6 WAT, pplition of 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h -1 produed mny leves in B. l. This ws followed y 6kg N h -1 (Fig. 1). Applying 3kg N h -1 hd no effets on numer of leves in B. l t 4 WAT. However, it inresed numer of leves t ompred to the ontrol (Fig.1). Lef re Applying 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h -1 signifintly (P =.5) inresed lef re in B. l, 6 WAT (Fig. 2). Additionlly, these two nitrogen levels were not different from eh other. However, pplying 3kg N h -1 or 6kg N h -1 hd no effet on lef re of B. l, 6 WAT (Fig. 2) KgN/h A KgN/h d B Fig. 2. Effet of pplying vrious levels of nitrogen on () lef re nd () lef olour in Bsell l t 6 WAT. The olour ws sored s follows: 1=drk green, 2= green, 3=light green nd 4 = yellow. Mens followed y the sme letter(s) within the olumn re not signifintly different. LSD.5 vlues for lef re ws nd lef olour ws.95, respetively. Lef olour At 6 WAT, ll nitrogen levels mintined green olour in B. l ompred to ontrol (Fig. 2). Applying 12kg N h -1 ws the most effetive in enhning retention of green olour in the leves of B. l. This ws followed y 9kg N h -1 nd 6kg N h -1 whih were not different from eh other. Applying 3kg N h -1 ws the lest effetive in mintining green olour in B. l leves t 6 WAT (Fig.2). Numer of remes nd hrvest index All nitrogen levels hd no effet on numer of remes in B. l (Fig. 3). Applying 12kg N h -1 signifintly inresed hrvest index in B. l t 6 WAT (Fig.3). However, nitrogen effet on B. l hrvest index ws not pprent for the other levels (Fig. 3). Lef weight Applying 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h -1 led to prodution of B. l with hevy leves. There ws no signifint (P =.5) differene etween 9kg N h -1 nd 12kg N h -1. This ws followed y 6kg N h -1 (Fig.4). Lower nitrogen level (3kg N h -1 ) hd no effet on lef weight of B. l t 6 WAT (Fig.4). Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

5 Lef weight (g) Numer of remes Hrvest index Rop et l A B Kg/N/h KgN/h Fig. 3. Effet of pplying vrious levels of nitrogen on (A) numer of remes nd (B) hrvest index of Bsell l t 6 WAT. Mens followed y the sme letter(s) within the olumn re not signifintly different. LSD.5 vlues for numer of remes ws 2 nd for hrvest index ws.4, respetively KgN/h Fig. 4. Effet of pplying vrious levels of nitrogen on lef weight of B. l t 6 WAT. Mens followed y the sme letter(s) within the olumn re not signifintly different. LSD.5 vlues for lef weight ws Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

6 116 Influene of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, yield nd qulity of Indin spinh Disussion Applition of 9kg N h -1 enhned stem length of B. l t 4 WAT (Fig. 1). This is in onurrene with those of Br et l. (21) nd Bowen nd Frey (22). The height of plnt depends on plnt vigour nd growth hit. B. l is vigorous growing plnt nd nitrogen hd signifint effet on the length of vines. The initil quik response of 9kg N h -1 ws to meet the high initil plnts nitrogen requirements neessry for erly vegettive growth (Simon et l., 199). Nitrogen is essentil for plnt ell division espeilly during erly vegettive growth in plnt (Slisury nd Ross, 1986). This implies tht timing nd pplition of nitrogen levels is ruil in prodution of lefy vegetles. Aton nd Klymn (24) showed high N rtes inresed the numer of side shoots t erly phses of growth. In B. l, pplying 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h - 1 produed mny lrge leves nd enhned retention of green olour in the leves. Nitrogen is essentil for protein synthesis nd hloroplst development (Slisury nd Ross, 1986). This implies tht there ws inresed ell division (mitoti tivity) nd enlrgement resulting in mny leves. Through inresed photosyntheti tivity, there ws umultion of rohydrtes in leves, thus inresing their weight. Mintenne of green olour in B. l is ttriuted to the ft tht nitrogen is involved in hloroplst development (Bsel nd Mhden, 28), whih onfers green olour in plnts. The effet of nitrogen on numer of remes produed y B. l ws not pprent. However, only high (12kg N h -1 ) nitrogen level inresed hrvest index. High nitrogen levels promote vegettive growth t the expense of reprodutive strutures (Slisury nd Ross, 1986). Consequently, high nitrogen levels hd no effet on numer of remes ut it inresed hrvest index in B. l. Our findings re supported y White nd Wilson (26) who stted tht there is limit to hrvest index. This upper limit should e determined for eh plnt speies in order to exploit inresed iomss prodution s mehnism y whih yield is inresed. In ddition, Akni et l. (27) stted tht fruit size is genetilly nd environmentlly ontrolled through suessive phses of fruit development nd is positively orrelted with the mount of N-element ville for plnt use during fertiliztion, ell mitoti tivity nd enlrgement. Applition of either 9kg N h -1 or 12kg N h -1 ws effetive in inresing fresh lef yield. Nitrogen forms n integrl prt of hlorophyll nd hene is diretly involved in dry mtter umultion through photosynthesis. Nitrogen leds to n inrese in the rohydrte umultion in the plnts thus enhning lef fresh weight (Slisury nd Ross, 1986). Nitrogen is onsidered n essentil omponent of ny system in whih the im is to mintin good yield (Lw nd Eghrev, 29). Conlusion nd Reommendtion The study showed tht 9kg N h -1 produed the est qulity leves nd yield in B. l. Higher nitrogen (12kg N h -1 ) level ws not different from 9kg N h -1 with respet to ll growth prmeters exept hrvest index. High nitrogen level is ostly to resoure hllenged smllsle growers in ddition to eing hrmful to the environment. Our results strongly suggest tht the optiml nitrogen level for growth of B. l is 9kg N h -1 to hve long stems, mny lrge green leves nd enhned overll fresh lef yield. Aknowledgements The uthors wish to thnk MHO/NUFFIC of the Netherlnds for finnil support to the first uthor under ollortive projet etween Lrenstein Interntionl Agriulturl College (LIAC) nd Moi University (MU). Referenes Aukuts Onyngo, M.O. 27. The Diversity of ultivted Afrin Lefy Vegetles in three ommunities in western Keny. Afrin Journl of Food Agriulture, Nutrition nd Development 7(3): Aton, N. nd Klymn, D.L. 24. Artemisinin, new sesquiterpene ltone endoperoxide from Artemisi nnu. Plnt Medi 47: Akni, W.B, Togun, A.O, Olnirn, O.A, Akinfsoye, J.O. nd Tiru, F.M. 27. Physio-hemil properties of Eggplnt (Solnum melongen L.) fruit in response to Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

7 Rop et l. 117 nitrogen fertilizer nd fruit size. Agriulturl Journl 2(1): Br-Tl, A., Aloni, B, Krin, L. nd Rosenerg, R. 21. Nitrogen nutrition of greenhouse pepper: Effets of nitrogen onentrtion nd NO 3 :NH 4 rtio on growth, trnspirtion, nd nutrient uptke. J. Hort. Si., 36: Bsel O, nd Mhdeen, A. 28. Effet of fertilizers on growth, yield, yield omponents, qulity nd ertin nutrient ontents in rooli (Brssi olere). J. Agri. Biol., 1: Bijy, S., Ydvinder, S. nd Sekhon, G.S Fertilizer-N use effiieny nd nitrte pollution of groundnut in developing ountries. Journl of Contminnt Hydrology 2: Bowen, P. nd Frey, B. 22. Response of plstiultred ell pepper to stking, irrigtion frequeny nd fertigted nitrogen rte. J. Hort Si., 37: Duke, J.A. nd Ayensu, E.S Mediinl Plnts of Chin Referene Pulitions, In. ISBN Fiol, S Cornuopi-A soure Book of Edile Plnts. Kmpong Pulitions. ISBN : Government of Keny (GOK). 28. Food Seurity nd Nutrition Strtegy 2 nd Grft World Helth Orgniztion/Interntionl Vitmin A Consulttive Group. Vitmin A supplements: guide to their use in the tretment nd prevention of vitmin A defiieny. Genev: World Helth Orgniztion, 2. Gruen, G.J.H Tropil Vegetles nd their Geneti Resoures. Royl Tropil Institute, Amsterdm, Netherlnds. 453pp. Gruen, G.J.H. nd Denton, O.A. 24. Plnt Resoures of Tropil Afri 2. Vegetle. PROTA Foundtion, Wgeningen; Bkhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wgeningen. 4: Hskell, M. J., Jmil, K.M., Hssn, F., Peerson, J.M., Hssin, M.I., Fuhs, G.J. nd Brown, K.H. 24. Dily onsumption of Indin spinh (B. l) or sweet potto hs positive effet on totl-ody vitmin A store in Bngldeshi men. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 8(3): Kirimi, J. K., Ituly, F.M. nd Mwj, V.N Effets of nitrogen nd sping on fruit yield of tomto. Afri. J. Hort. Si. 5: 5-6 Lw-Ogomo, K. nd Eghrev, E. 29. Effets of plnting density nd NPK fertilizer pplition on yield nd yield omponent Le, J.P. nd Leegold, C.R Plnt iohemistry nd moleulr iology. John Wiley nd Sons Ltd, pg Mundu, P.M., Ngugi, G.W. nd Kuye, C.H Trditionl Food plnts of Keny. KENRIK, Ntionl museums of Keny. 27p. Murwir, H.K., Kirhmnn, H Cron nd nitrogen of ttle mnures, sujeted to different tretments, in Zimwen nd Swedish Soils. In: Mulongoy K, Merkx R (eds) Soil orgni mtter dynmis nd sustinility of tropil griulture. Wiley- Sye, Chihester/Exeter, UK pp Pld, M. C. nd, Chng, L.C. 23. Suggested ulturl prties for Bsell. AVRDC Interntionl Coopertors Guide. AVRDC Pu No Pionke, H.B., Shrm, M. L. nd Hirsherg, K.J Impt of irrigted hortiulture on nitrte onentrtion in ground wter. Agriulture,Eosystems nd Environment 32, SAS. 22. SAS/STAT User's guide for personl omputers, version 8. SAS Institute, Cry, NC, USA. Slisury, F.B. nd Ross, C.W Plnt physiology. Wdworth, Cliforni. pp Shippers, R. R. 2. Afrin indigenous vegetles n overview of the ultivted Agriulturl nd rurl Coopertion. pgs 214 speies. Chthm, UK. Nturl Resoures Institute /ACP-EU Tehnil Centre for Interntionl oopertion. Simon, J. E., Chrles, D., Ceert, E., Grnt, L., Jnik, J. nd Whipkey, A Artemisi nnu L.: A promising romti nd mediinl. P In: Jnik nd J.E. Simon (eds.), Advnes in new rops. Timer Press, Portlnd, OR. White, E.M. nd Wilson, F. E. 26. Responses of grin yield iomss nd hrvest index nd their rtes of geneti progress to nitrogen vilility in ten winter whet vrieties. Irish Journl of Agriulturl nd Food Reserh 45: Afr. J. Hort. Si. (June 212) 6:

Otitoloju Kekere and Peter A. Omoniyi. Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, AdekunleAjasin University, AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

Otitoloju Kekere and Peter A. Omoniyi. Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, AdekunleAjasin University, AkungbaAkoko, Ondo State, Nigeria Amerin-Eursin J. Agri. & Environ. Si., 16 (1): 133-139, 2016 ISSN 1818-6769 IDOSI Pulitions, 2016 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.ejes.2016.16.1.12783 Soil Conditioner Enhned the Potentil of Orgni nd Inorgni Fertilizers