Towards Understanding Nutrient Transport in Celosia argentea L. | Chapter 11 | New Perspectives in International Plant and Soil Research Vol. 1
To better understand nutrient transport
in vegetable, a pot experiment was carried out at the nursery site of the
Department of Crop Production, Federal University of Technology, Minna (9°36’
N, 6°33’ E) Niger state, Nigeria. The study aimed at determining the effect of
age of celosia plant at harvest on the yield and nutritional composition of the
plant as well as the concentration of nutrients at different leaf positions.
The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial combination of three harvest periods (5, 7
and 9 weeks after sowing) and three leaf positions on the mother plant (upper,
middle and basal) arranged in a completely randomized design. Harvested leaves
were analysed for the nutritional composition. The results showed that the
whole plant fresh weight, varied significantly (p<0.05) with the age of
plant at harvest, having the maximum and the minimum values at 9 weeks after
sowing (266.19 g/pot) and 5 weeks after sowing (96.12 g/pot) respectively. The
leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight followed the same trend with the whole
plant fresh weight. Crude protein and Na reduced significantly (p<0.05) with
the age of the plant with the highest values recorded at 5 weeks after sowing.
Zn was highest at 7 weeks after sowing. K and Vit. C content were significantly
higher at 9 weeks after sowing. Ca was highest at 9 weeks after sowing but
there was no significant difference in the value obtained at 9 and 5 weeks
after sowing. Higher values of Fe were obtained at 7 and 9 weeks after sowing.
The Mg content was not significantly affected by the age at harvest. The middle
leaves had significant higher content of Mg and Vit. C when compared to the
basal leaves but there was no significant difference between the values
obtained in upper and middle leaves. Significant (p<0.05) higher values of
Ca, Fe, and crude protein were recorded in the basal leaves. There was no
significant difference in the values of K, P, Na, Fat and Zn obtained at the
different leaf positions.
Author(s) Details
O. A. Adediran
Department of Crop
Production, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria.
Z. Gana
Department of Crop
Production, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria.
J. A. Oladiran
Department of Crop
Production, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria.
H. Ibrahim
Department of Crop
Production, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria.
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