Influence of Composted Substrate Types on the Growth Performance of Sour Sop (Annona muricata)
O. A. Onawumi *
Department of Soils & Tree Nutrition, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Nigeria.
A. I. Oluwaponle
Department of Soils & Tree Nutrition, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Nigeria.
N. C. Isienyi
Department of Soils & Tree Nutrition, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The increasing demand for the “Miracle Tree”, Annona muricata, also known as Sour sop has led to the need for increased production. However, the importance of appropriate growing media for the propagation of this seedling cannot be over emphasized. This experiment was conducted in 2019 at the screen house of the Soil and Tree Department of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State to evaluate the effect of different composted media on the growth Annona muricata L (Sour sop). The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design with sixteen (16) treatments and three replicates. Data on growth parameters were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% probability level. It was observed that treatment A2 (80: 20; soil: OF; v/v) performed significantly higher in, number of leaves, plant height and stem girth followed by treatment A3 (60:40; soil: OF; v/v). This study concluded that the growing media or treatment A2 (80: 20; soil: OF; v/v) was optimum for the growth of Annona muricata.
Keywords: Sour Sop, Annona muricata, growth performance, influence, composted substrate types.