Tropical Plant Research

J.M.N.P. Jayasundara, R. Jayasekara* and R.M.C.S. Ratnayake

Abstract:
In the present study the influence of foliar application of liquid organic fertilizers on the growth performance of two popular vegetables Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench and Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC. was investigated. Six liquid fertilizers (F1; poultry manure + Tithonia diversifolia, F2; poultry manure + Gliricidia. sepium, F3; poultry manure + Leucaena leucocephala, F4; fish waste + Tithonia diversifolia, F5; fish waste + Gliricidia sepium, F6; fish waste + Leucaena leucocephala) were formulated using leaves of the above plants, animal wastes, coconut husk ash and potable well water in weight proportion of 4: 2: 1: 60. Allowing six weeks for the decomposition, the extracts were filtered and the nutrient contents were determined using standard analytical procedures. The highest nutrient containing F1, F2 and F4 were selected for the application on A. esculentus and A. sessilis. Individuals of the plants were separately sprayed with undiluted fertilizers, as well as with 50% and 25% strengths of the liquid fertilizers diluted with well water. Plants spayed with well water only and commercial liquid fertilizer were served as the control and the standard respectively. The selected fertilizers significantly (p<0.05) increased the growth and yield of both plant species. Compared with the control, F1 recorded the highest number of fruits per plant of A. esculentus, while F2 produced the highest fresh weight biomass per A. sessilis plant. These findings suggested that the foliar application of F1 and F2 can be used effectively to improve crop productivity of A. esculentus and A. sessilis respectively. The undiluted mixtures of F1, F2 and 25% diluted F4 were the best strengths for growth enhancement of A. esculentus, whereas the undiluted F1, F2 and F4 may be considered as the best strengths for growth improvement of A. sessilis.