International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.1, 1
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There was a significant (P<0.05) difference on dry
weight among treatments. Dry matter content was
higher in plants from 8t CM+RP 43.67g/plant and
followed in decreasing order: 8 t PGM+RP
(40.00g/plant), 8 t PGM + RP (36.33g/plant), 4t PGM +
SSP (35.00g/plant), 12t PGM (34.33) and lastly 4t
PM+RP (17.33g/plant) was observed in Ikorodu. While
from Akure dry matter content was higher in plant
obtained from 4t PM + SSP (14.33g/plant) followed in
decreasing order: 8 t PGM+RP (13.33g/plant), 4t
PM+RP and 12t CM (13.00g/plant), 12t PGM
(12.67g/plant)and lowest dry matter content was
recorded from 4t PGM + SSP (6.67g/plant) and 12t PM
(6.0g/plant) (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Dry weight of harvested lettuce
The results of the present study show that SSP
amended with CM was superior to the control or other
organic manure combination. This shows that the
effectiveness of phosphorus fertilizer on crop
production was remarkably improved through the
solubilizing effect of cow manure. The result from the
study supports the findings of Akande et al (2006)
who reported that complementary use of phosphorus
fertilizer with 3 t ha
-1
cow dung manure gave the
optimum yield in maize and okra.
Application of organic based fertilizer and inorganic
fertilizer enhanced plant yield when compared to
untreated controls. The nutrient use efficiency of
crops is better with a mix of manure and inorganic
fertilizer (Murwira and Kirchmann, 1993). The
organic manure mixed with phosphorus based
fertilizer supported lettuce growth better than sole
organic manure.
Considerable variations in leaf dry matter of lettuce
were observed amongst the treatments. Magkos
et al.,
2003 observed that vegetables cultivated on soils with
higher amount of organic fertilizers had high dry
matter as compared to those produced conventionally.
But findings from this study negate such assertion,
because all lettuce grown on sole organic manure
recorded low dry matter.
1.3 Effects of soil amendment on Lettuce Leaf
Proximate composition
In Akure study, the lowest moisture, crude protein, ash,
crude fibre, carbohydrate and fat contents, were
recorded from lettuce treated with 4t CM + RP, 12t
PM, control and 12t CM, 4t CM + RP, 12t PM and 4t
CM + SSP respectively, while lettuce treated with
control and 8t CM + RP had highest moisture content;
8t CM + RP and 4t PM + SSP had highest crude
protein content and 8t CM + RP had highest ash
content which is closely followed by lettuce in soil
amended with 4t PM + RP and 8t PGM + RP. Crude
fibre content was highest in lettuce that received 8t
PM + SSP and followed by 12t CM and 4t PM +
SSP respectively. 8t CM + RP and 4t PM + SSP
plots produced lettuce with high carbohydrate
content while 4t CM + RP produced that with
highest fat content (Table 2).
