Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of the Seedlings of Deinbolia pinnata Schum. & Thonn: An Underutilised Multipurpose Species

Abstract

Aims: A pot experiment conducted to assess the effects of organic fertiliser (cow dung) and inorganic fertiliser (urea) on the growth of Deinbolia pinnata Schum. & Thonn seedlings Study Design: The experimental design was A Complete Randomized Design replicated ten times. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Multipurpose Tree Species Multiplication and Improvement Unit Nursery at Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria (FRIN) for a period of sixteen weeks Methodology: The design include 2.5kg of cow dunged tiontilizer application 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 + 5kg of soil,5.0kg of cow dung + 10kg of soil, 7.5 kg of cow dung + 15 kg of soil and urea 0.5 g of urea +5 kg of soil 1.0 kg of urea +10 kg of soil and 1.5 kg of urea = 15 kg of soil with control  (no fertilizer application). Results: It was found out that fertilizer application had a significant effect on all the growth variables at 0.05 probability level. The best performance was recorded in the seedlings raised with cow dung with a mean value in plant height (20.59 cm), a number of leaves (36) and a number of branches (32) while the control has the highest mean value in collar diameter (6.96 mm).respectively. Conclusion: It is recommended that organic fertilisers should be applied in raising Deinbolia pinnata seedlings. These research advocates for the use of naturally produced fertilisers as products from such is safe for human consumption. this can also reduce the harmful effect of an inorganically produced crop on mankind.