Vol.1, No2, Dec,2023-Article-1

ABSTRACT:

The study evaluated the effect of Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. A. Gray and Cattle dung on the growth of maize was conducted at the Greenhouse of the Teaching and Research Farm, of University of Abuja. The study was laid-out in a Complete Randomized Design(CRD) with three treatments replicated five times. The treatments Tithonia diversifolia extract (3kg blended and mixed with 2 liters of water applied as foliar spray), Cattle dung powder (air dried and powdered incorporated into the soil) and Water were applied to a maize variety (SAMMAZ51) planted in pots filled with 20 kg of soil each. The data collected was analyzed using One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the growth rate response to the application of Tithonia diversifolia (16.250c, 247.250c, 288.750c, 329.250c at weeks 3, 7, 9 and 11respectively) was significantly different from the application of Cattle dung (177.250b, 221.250b,281.250b) which was significantly better than water at weeks 7, 9 and 11 respectively. The results obtained for leaf length, leaf width and number of leaves followed the same trend indicating that the application of Tithonia diversifolia was more effective positively on the vegetative growth of the maize variety. Findings from this experiment indicated that the application of Cattle dung was better than water but not as effective as Tithonia diversifolia when used as organic fertilizer. Thus, the use of Tithonia diversifolia will be a good source of organic fertilizer that farmer can use to grow maize for efficient growth.