Influence of potassium fertilizer on the yield of plantain-melon intercropped on an Oxic Paleustalf in Southwestern Nigeria

Author: A. O. Olaleye ^1*, S. O. S. Akinyemi ², Hassan Tijani-Eniola ³, G. E. Akinbola ³, F. O. Odeleye ⁴, S. A. Oladosu ² and B. A. Gambo ⁵

Received 10 April 2005, accepted 27 September 2005.

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted on an Oxic Paleustalf (Ferric Luvisol) in southwestern Nigeria in 1993 and 1995 seasons. Aim was to determine optimum K fertilization for these crops and to determine most economic fertilizer rate. A randomised complete block design with four replications was adopted. Fertilizer was applied at the rates of K 120, 240, 360 and 480 kg ha^-1 and a control. Results showed that the following attributes: number of hands and fingers bunch^-1, mean length of plantain bunch as well as mean bunch and total bunch weight responded significantly (p<0.05) to K applied and maximum yield were obtained at K 360 kg ha^-1 in both cropping seasons. Optimum fertilization for melon was K 240 kg ha^-1. Results of the partial budgeting method for the intercrop at different K fertilization applied were (N)naira 10,000 (or $384.60) in 1993 and (N)naira 6,700 ($ 257.69) in 1995 cropping seasons.