ABSTRACT
Two field experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of Moringa leaf extract on the growth, yield and yield components of snap bean. The results showed that Moringa leaf extract applied at 11, 20, 33 and 50% concentration to snap bean plants at 10 days after emergence significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, plant dry matter (shoot and root), yield components and fresh pod yield. The snap bean response to increasing Moringa extract concentration was quadratic with respect to plant height, leaf area, leaf number, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot dry matter and root dry matter. However, Moringa leaf extract significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced shoot and root water contents. Due to the Moringa extracts-induced increase in vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, yield components and yield of snap beans, it was concluded that Moringa leaf extract could be used to enhance the growth and development of snap beans.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The nutrient requirement of sweet bell pepper is very high leading to excessive removal of nutrients from soil by the plant and as such correct nutrient management practiced is found to have increased the growth and yield of crop which is important from the point of view of small farmers (Ganjare et al., 2013). For optimal yield and growth, plants require a wellbalanced nutrient diet which can be fulfilled using manures as supplementary fertilizers. Organic manures contribute to the fertility of the soil through addition of macro and micronutrients and organic matter to improve physical and chemical properties of soils. Hence, organic manures can serve as alternative to mineral fertilizers for improving soil structure and microbial biomass (Dauda et al., 2008).
Capsicum is the most important vegetable crop in Nigeria and indeed the rest of the world. It is considered for its rich source of vitamins and minerals with various culinary uses either in its fresh form as salad or as puree in stew and soups. Increase in its yield is very vital. One of the strategies in achieving yield increase is the use of plant growth regulators (PGR) and biofertilizer. In Nigeria not much work has been done on the use of PGR and bio-fertilizer, more especially the use of natural product such as moringa extract to improve crop yield. Moringa is a common plant in households in this sub region, if its extract can increase crops yields farmers will embrace the technology and utilize the available resource with little or no cost. Furthermore, even though chemical fertilizers were reported to improve crops yields they are scarce and when available they are beyond the reach of a poor resource farmer (s). Therefore, there is the need to explore substitute and/or synergist to minimize its use and meet up with fertilizer demands.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of moringa oleifera extract on the growth and yield of pepper. The study will examine the
· Physicochemical properties of the experimental soil
· Effects of Moringa Leaf Extract and Organo-Bio Degradable Fertilizer (OBD+) on soil properties
· Effects of Moringa Leaf Extract and Organo-Bio Degradable Fertilizer (OBD+) on number of leaves (NL) of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum l.)
· Effects of Moringa Leaf Extract and Organo-Bio Degradable Fertilizer (OBD+) on plant height of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
· Effects of Moringa Leaf Extract and Organo-Bio Degradable Fertilizer (OBD+) on yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)