Bio-Fertilizer Improved Oil Palm Seedling Growth. Journal of Agricultural Science

Abstract

In most farming systems newly introduced commercial fertilizers to be ac- cepted, adopted and used by farmers, their effectiveness and appropriate ap- plication rates must be exhibited. This study was conducted to validate the effect and rates of a bio-fertilizer (super agric) on oil palm seedling growth. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three application rates of 0, 4 and 8 ml/L of water (treatments) replicated thrice. Following the application of super agric to oil palm seedlings for a period of six months, observations drawn from the analysis of growth data were as follows: Three months after treatment, super agric significantly (P < 0.05) increased the height and breadth of oil palm seedling compared to those which were not applied with super agric. The results also showed that when super agric was applied at a rate of 4 ml/L, the leaf length and breadth were higher compared to the control were super agric was not used. Fur- thermore, applications of super agric improved oil palm seedling nitrogen uptake by 31% in treatment groups as compared to the control which ex- plained the height and breadth increase in the oil palm seedlings that were applied with super agric. On the other hand, the effect of super agric appli- cation on phosphorus uptake by seedlings was not significant. Although the height, breadth, leaf width and length were all significantly affected by su- per agric application, the number of oil palm leaves and spears were not af- fected for the period the experiment was conducted. Six months after ap- plication of super agric the growth of oil palm seedlings was favorably im- pacted, hence we recommend super agric to be promoted among oil palm seedling growers.