Growth Parameters of Zea mays (Maize) and Talinum triangulare (Water Leaf) in Variable Iron and Potassium Growth Media

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of soil heterogeneity and nutrient fortification on the growth rates of two important food crops - maize (Zea mays) and waterleaf (Talinum triangulare). With increasing population pressures and climate change impacts posing challenges to food security, strategies are needed to improve crop yields, especially in developing economies. The research conducts greenhouse trials to measure plant growth parameters in simulated potassium and iron-fortified heterogeneous, homogeneous, and control soil treatments. Key growth parameters like number of leaves, stem height and leaf area were measured weekly for both crops across the different treatment conditions. The mean weekly longest leaf length of T.triangulaire in the control, homogenous and heterogenous treatments were 1.71cm, 1.47cm and 1.79cm respectively while that of Zea mays were  22.65cm, 18.63cm and 15.70cm respectively. Similarly, the mean weekly stem height and stem width were 0.33cm, 0.65cm, 0.56cm and 0.81cm, 1.24cm, 1.29cm for the control, homogenous and heterogenous treatments of T.triangulaire while that of Zea mays for the mean weekly stem height and leaf width were 10.00cm, 6.44cm, 6.08cm and 2.11cm, 1.42cm, 1.46cm for the control, homogenous and heterogenous treatments respectively. There was no significant difference (p >0.05) in the growth parameters of Zea mays between treatments. Similarly, no significant difference was observed in the growth parameters of T.triangulaire between treatments. However, there was a significant difference (p>0.05) in the growth parameters of both crops. This suggests a species-specific response to spatial distribution of nutrients. The study aimed to understand how soil heterogeneity, when combined with nutrient amendments, influences plant growth dynamics. Findings from this work could guide nutrient management strategies and inform efforts to improve crop productivity amid soil resource variability. By focusing on maize and waterleaf - staple food and vegetable crops widely consumed globally - the findings have implications for enhancing food crop cultivation and contributing to sustainable development goals around food security, nutrition, and agricultural practices resilient to environmental changes.