Response of Raphia Palm [Raphia hookeri (Mann and Wendland)] Seedling to Various Rates of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

摘要

The effects of varied rates of organic and inorganic fertilizer on Raphia hookeri seedling growth and development were investigated at the main nursery of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research during the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 growing season.Goat dung manure (organic fertilizer) and NPKMg 12-12-17-2 (inorganic fertilizer) were evaluated at three rate (0, 28 and 56 g) per seedling. Vegetative characters of seedling such as height, stem girth, number of frond production and dry matter production were optimized when goat dung manure and NPKMg 12-12-17-2 were applied at 28 g per seedling and this was highly significant (p<0.01) when compared with other rates. Increasing rates of application from 28 to 56 g did not produce any appreciable increase instead it causes decline in vegetative growth. There was no significant difference observed between goat dung manure and NPKMg 12-12-17-2. Applied goat dung manure competes favourable with NPKMg 12-12-17-2 thus it can be use as alternate source offertilizer for raising R. hookeri seedling in the nursery.