Pre-harvest Application of Carbonized Rice Husk and Poultry Manure Affect Growth, Yield and Shelf-life of Solanum scabrum

Sustainable agriculture includes the use of agricultural by-products as suitable alternative to conventional fertilizers. Additionally, information reconciling the potentials of agricultural by-products in both production and post-harvest are limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of carbonized rice husk (CRH), poultry manure (PM) and NPK on the growth, yield and shelf-life of Solanum scabrum. Treatments included CRH - 117kg/ha, PM - 5 tons/ha, NPK 20:10:10 - 200kg/ha and the control with no amendment. Growth and yield were evaluated in the field and the shelf-life was established through measurements of biomass weight loss, colour changes and rotting. Results showed that at week 3 after transplanting, plots amended with PM recorded the highest number of leaves (49.68), and the lowest in control plots (43.8). The highest cumulated yield (45.0 t/ha) from three harvests was recorded from plots amended with CRH, followed by NPK (34.6 t/ha), and the lowest (10.4 t/ha) from the control. PM and CRH amendments improved the colour of Solanum scabrum leaves to dark green at harvest and positively affected colour change during postharvest storage. Leaves of Solanum scabrum plants raised with CRH and PM plants obtained a two and one day extended shelf-life respectively compared to control and NPK treatment which had no delay in colour change. Thus, the use of CRH and PM in Solanum scabrum cultivation improves yield and provides postharvest storage benefits observed by extension of produce shelf-life through delay in decline of leaf greenness and weight loss.