Growth and Varietal Response of Cacao Seedlings to Poultry Manure Application in the Nursery

Abstract

Low soil fertility is one of the major problems of cacao seedlings in the nursery. However, cacao (Theobroma cacao L) is characterized by high nutrient demand, particularly N, P. K, Ca and Mg for healthy growth. In this study, growth response of different cocoa seedling varieties to poultry manure application in the nursery was investigated in Uhonmora, Owan-West Local Government, Edo State. The nursery experiment was laid in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications. The treatments were: hybrid CRIN TCs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and F3 Amazon cultivars which served as a control, while poultry manure (PM) was tested at 25g (20 tons/ha) per 2.5 kg soil.  Data collected on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, number of branches and leaf area were subjected to analysis of variance to test the treatment effect on different parameters and significant means were separated using Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) (P < 0.05).   The soil of the experimental site was acidic, low in organic matter, total N, available P and exchangeable K; while Poultry manure applied increased soil pH above 5 (acidity level). CRIN Tc3 and Tc4 had significant higher number of leaves relative to F3 Amason and other Tc series treatments. Poultry manure could serve as a good fertilizer and liming material for cacao seedlings growth especially in depleted and acidic soils as shown in the experiment. CRIN Tc3 and Tc6 gave the highest growth parameters relative to other treatments.  Tc3 and Tc6 performed better than the other five cultivars under organic production condition in the nursery and are therefore recommended for good seedlings establishment or rootstock production.