Utilization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipies Mart Solms) as liquid fertilizer on the growth and yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis)

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out during the 2010 planting season, atthe Teaching and Research Farms, School of Agriculture, Lagos State Polytechnic,Ikorodu, Lagos State with the view to produce liquid fertilizer fromwater hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipies) and compare its effectiveness withpoultry manure on the performance and yield of fluted pumpkin (Telfairiaoccidentalis). Data on number of leaves and length of main vine 2 weeksbefore fertilizer application (BFA) and 3, 6 and 9 weeks after fertilizer application (WAFA) and the yield at harvesting were collected and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means compared using Least Significance Difference (LSD). The results showed that at 3 WAFA, water hyacinth had the highest number of leaves (245) and longest length main vine (2.04 cm) and in terms of yield at harvesting, water hyacinth (16.08 kg) was not significantly different (P>0.05) compared to poultry manure (18.13 kg) application. From the study it can be concluded that water hyacinth liquid fertilizer can be utilized as good source of organic fertilizer for the growth of fluted pumpkin and thus serve as veritable means of curbing the menace of water hyacinth on our water ways.