Influence of Soil-Applied and Foliar Fertilizer Combinations on the Performance of Fruit Vegetables

Abstract

This research was conducted to find out the influence of soil-applied and foliar fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield of fruit vegetables using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were: T1 – 1/2 Recommended Rate (RR) of 46 – 0 – 0 (Urea) and 0 – 22 – 0 (Doufos Phosphate); T2 – RR of 46 – 0 – 0 and 0 – 22 – 0 (control); T3 – 1/2 RR + Hatake BF; T4 – 1/2 RR + Crop Giant FF; and T5 – ½ RR + GrowMax FF. All sets of data were analyzed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and F-test. Differences among treatment means were determined using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT), interpreted at both 5% and 1% levels of significance. Results revealed that fertilization with half of recommended rate of urea (46-0-0) and duofos phosphate (0-22-0) fertilizer supplemented with Crop Giant or GrowMax foliar produced the heaviest biomass in cucumber. The recommended rate of 46-0-0 and 0-22-0 and 1/2 RR of soil-applied supplemented with any of Hatake, Crop Giant or GrowMax foliar fertilizer gave the best growth to eggplant and okra. Fruit vegetables fertilized with the recommended rate of soilapplied fertilizer for better yield performance. Application of 1/2 fertilizer recommendations supplemented with foliar fertilizer was not proven to improve the growth and yield of fruit vegetables better than the recommended rate.