Influence of Soil-Applied and Foliar Fertilizer Combinations on the Performance of Fruit Vegetables

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the influence of soil-applied and foliar fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield of fruit vegetables using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The treatments were: T1 – 1/2 Recommended Rate (RR) of 46 – 0 – 0 (Urea) and 0 – 22 – 0 (Doufos Phosphate); T2 – RR of 46 – 0 – 0 and 0 – 22 – 0 (control); T3 – 1/2 RR + Hatake BF; T4 – 1/2 RR + Crop Giant FF; and T5 – ½ RR + GrowMax FF. All sets of data were analyzed using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and F-test. Differences among treatment means were determined using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT), interpreted at both 5% and 1% significance levels. Results revealed that fertilization with half of recommended rate of urea (46-0-0) and duofos phosphate (0-22-0) fertilizer supplemented with Crop Giant or GrowMax foliar produced the heaviest biomass for cucumber. The recommended rate of 46-0-0 and 0-22-0 and 1/2 RR of soil-applied supplemented with any Hatake, Crop Giant, or GrowMax foliar fertilizer gave the best growth to eggplant and okra. Fruit vegetables are fertilized with the recommended rate of soil-applied fertilizer for better yield performance. Application of 1/2 fertilizer recommendations supplemented with foliar fertilizer was not proven to improve the growth and yield of fruit vegetables better than the recommended rate.