Performance of Indian Spinach (Basella alba L) as affected by water stress and different sources of plant nutrients

Abstract

Basella alba L. is an important leafy vegetable of enormous nutritional and economic benefits but it is underutilized in Nigeria partly because it has received very little research attention. This work aimed to determine the effects of different sources of nutrient and water stress on the performance of the crop. The treatments consisted of 4 water stress levels (daily, 2, 4 and 6 days watering intervals) and 4 nutrient sources (control, NPK 20-10-10, poultry manure and sapropel). These were arranged in complete randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. Growth and yield data were recorded. The results revealed that water stress significantly reduced number of leaves, vine length, stem diameter and biomass yield. Water stress up to 4 days reduced the biomass yield by 82% in NPK treated plants and 26% in poultry manure treated plants but there was no significant difference between the shoot yield of daily and 2 days interval watered plants. NPK fertilizer and poultry manure significantly increased all the growth an yield parameters measured compared to sapropel treated with plants which ha statistical similar performance with the control plants. Application of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure significantly increase the shoot fresh yield by 137% and 82% respectively, while application of sapropel only increased the yield by 6%. In the control and sapropel treated plants, water stress did not significantly affect the biomass yield up to 6 days watering interval. It can therefore be concluded that application of organic or inorganic fertilizer is needed for optimum performance of B. alba. Use of sapropel alone may not be a viable alternative to chemical fertilizer in the cultivation of the crop unlike poultry manure. Water stress sets in after 2 days watering interval causing significant reduction in growth and yield. The plant can tolerate up to 6 days watering interval, but when there is improved soil nutrition leading to better growth, watering at two days interval is optimum.