ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research
farm of the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of
Nigeria, Nsukka in the 2006 cropping season, to assess the effects of planting
distance and organic manure rates on yield and nutrient composition of
waterleaf at Nsukka. in Southeastern Nigeria. Treatments comprised five
planting spacings and four manure rates. The planting spacings were 25cm x
10cm, 25cm x 15cm, 25cm x 20cm, 25cm x 25cm and 25cm x 30cm corresponding to 1,000,000;
444,444; 250,000; 160,000 and 111,111 plants per hectare, respectively. The
manure rates were 0,10,20 and 30t/ha, and the nutrients were nitrogen (N),
calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe). Also
vitamins A, B and C were investigated. All possible combinations of spacing and
manure rates were laid out in a factorial arrangement using randomize complete
block design in twenty treatment combinations per block, and there were three
replications. The closest spacing of 25cm x 10cm gave the highest waterleaf
vegetable yield, and yields generally decreased with progressive
harvests. Yields tended to decrease with wider spacings. Vegetable yield was
significantly lowest with where no manure was applied. Application of manure at
30t/ha significantly
Yield higher than application of either 10t/ha or 20t/ha.
Combination of organic manure at 30t/ha with 25cm x 10cm spacing gave the
highest yield while combining manure at 30t/ha with the spacing of 25cm x 20cm
followed in yield improvement. Marketable vegetable yield was significantly
increased with successive increment in the manure rate. Where no manure was
applied, yield was greatly depressed by over 58%. The dry matter yield of
waterleaf decreased as
the spacing increased with 25cm x 30cm spacing giving the lowest dry matter
yield and the closest spacing of 25cm x 10cm giving the highest dry matter
yield. The moisture content of the leaf was high all through the harvest
periods being as high as 89% on the average. The ash
content and fibre were low while fat was in trace quantity in the stem and in
the inflorescence. Studies on the elemental content of the vegetable indicated
that there are no significant effects of manuring on the Mg, Ca Fe and on the
N, P and K contents of the leaf. There were no clear effects of manuring on the
vitamins A, B and C in the leaf or in the stem or in the inflorescence
fractions of the waterleaf vegetable.
INTRODUCTION
Waterleaf, Talinum triangulare is one of the
most widely consumed vegetables in southeastern Nigeria (van Epenhuijesen,
1974). It is a dicotyledonous plant belonging to the family of Hydrophyllaceae.
In some places in Nigeria, it is often considered to be a weed and only a few people in sub-Saharan Africa recognized it as a
potential vegetable (Schippers, 2000). Schippers (2000) stated that as the name
triangular implies, it is best recognizedby its triangulare peduncle. The
Yorubas call it ‘gbure’ whereas the Igbos call it ‘mgborodi’, in Sierra Leone,
it is referred to as ‘bologi’ while in Cameroon, it is called ‘elok-sup’
(Scippers,2000).
Waterleaf is a small glabrous
herbaceous plant in growth habit and is well adapted to areas close to rivers
and streams. In the Southern part of Nigeria, where it is abundant, it is found
growing in both wild and domesticated states (Williams et al., 1991).
Triangulare is regarded as a volunteer crop, which comes up immediately after
the first rains of the year, usually around March/April. The crop is mostly
grown b woman and children (Ekpe and Obiefuna, 1977).
The leaf is alternately
arranged on the stem. It is sessile, succulent and usually not longer than
7.5cm. In a light shade it can reach up to 11cm in height. The leaf is oblanceolate
with pointed tips, and usually falls soon after the start of the dry season.
The stem is thick, and bright green with numerous hairs. The inflorescences are
terminal, 7-15cm long, with three sided stalks
carrying racemes of flowers.
The rigid
pedicels, measuring about 1cm long, bend down when the
Seeds are mature (van Epenhuijsen, 1974). The flowers are
deep pink and open only in the mornings. Each has two sepals with three dark
green nerves. The flowers dry up and fall before the fruits are ripe. Uzo and
Peregrine (1991) summarized the major biology of the crop and
According to van Epenhuijsen
(1974), waterleaf is also drought tolerant like some other vegetable crops such
as fluted pumpkin. It has the ability to ratoon in the following year with the
early rains. It thrives well under a wide range of soil conditions, but does
better in a well-drained sandy loam soil rich in organic matter (Thompson et
al., 1975).
Talinum triangulare is
a vegetable that is grown because of its wide variety of uses and mainly
consumed in the south-south areas of Nigeria. The leaves and tender
shoots/stems are used as browse plant for feeding livestock and may be used as
a green manure crop. The young leaves and tenders shoots are also consumed as
pot herbs (van Epenhuijsen, 1974). Waterleaf is recognized as a crop that is
important for its palatable and nutrients leaves. (Akoroda (1990)) reported
that the leaves of fluted pumpkin and other vegetable leaves like waterleaf
leaf could be used for local vegetable soup especially in Southern Nigeria. For
example, waterleaf is one of the soups in the ingredients in the preparation of
the popular local dish called “Edikang-ikong” soup in the South-South Area of
Nigeria, like Calabar, the Cross River State, and in other vegetable soups, and
in stew.
Asiegbu (1984) who worked on Telfairia occidentalis
reported that with the need for fresh vegetables at all times, sequential
establishment over a period of time can be employed to extend the period of
availability and harvest of certain vegetables. Waterleaf may be established in
August or September so as to be available for profitable sale in the dry season
when.....
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