EFFECTS OF CHICKEN WASTE ON VEGETATIVE PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN EGG PLANT (SOLANUM MACROCARPON L.)

The study was carried out at Horticultural Garden Federal College of Forestry Jericho Ibadan during the rainy season of 2022 to investigate the effect of poultry manure on leaf production of Solanum macrocarpon Linn. The treatments consisted of four (4) levels of poultry manure (0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5t/ha) designated as T1, T2, T3 and T0 as control. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated five (5) times. Data were collected weekly on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter and fresh weight at harvest. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was adopted in separating the means. The result obtained revealed a significant (P≤0.05) among the treatments used on all the parameters assessed and the seedlings were positively influenced. The result further indicated that, seedlings that received 2.5t of poultry manure significantly (P≤0.05) produced the widest leaves, higher number of leaves and tallest plants while seedlings that received 2.0t of poultry manure did well in terms of stem diameter and fresh harvest weight. Based on the result of this study, 2.0 t/ha of poultry manure is recommended for optimum leaf production of solanum macrocarpon L.in the study area.