Effect of pig dung on the vegetative growth of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Cocoyam)

Abstract

This study was carried out at Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi for a period of thirteen weeks. A 10m x 10m plot was cleared and made bare. The plot was divided into two equal halves of 10m x 5m plots each by bamboo pegs, the two plots were the control plot and the treatment plot. The topsoil of the treatment plot was removed to depth of 50cm. 60kg of pig dung was poured into the dug pit and covered with the sand removed and watered to quicken decomposition. After, five replicate plots of 50cm x 50cm plots were randomly located within the treated plots. In the same vein, 5 replicate plots of 50cm x 50cm were randomly located with the 5m x 10m control plot. Ten sets of cocoyam were planted, one on each of the replicate plots of control and treatment plot. Two weeks after planting, records of growth were taken. At the control plots on the 13th week, the following records were taken: 61:50 24.71cm (height), 19.600 4.65 leaves and 7.50 2.00 branches. The treatment plots at the 13th week recorded 84.20 31.96cm (height), 26.40 13.43 leaves and 15.50 5.10 branches. The growth rate of plants in the treatment plot with pig dung was higher than that of the control, this could have been due to the decomposition of the pig dung to form manure necessary for plant growth.