Effects of potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of Dennetia tripetala (pepper fruit) seedlings

A.U. Osaigbovo, K.E. Law-Ogbomo
A nursery trial was conducted to investigate the effect of different potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of Dennetia tripetala. The trial was laid out in a 7×4 factorial design with three replications. Three different media sources were used to make the growing media: rice husk (Rh), pig dung (Pd) and cocoa husk (Ch). These were combined in a 1:1 ratio to make seven media combinations. The four watering frequencies were water applied once daily (D1), twice daily (D2), once every other day (D3) and twice every other day (D4). Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, canopy diameter, stem girth, and dry weight of root and shoot. Result obtained revealed that potting medium based on Pd only produced the best seedling attributes in terms of plant height (11.46 cm) and canopy diameter (9.58 cm), while number of leaves (11.16), shoot dry weight (0.51 g) and root dry weight (0.19 g) were best with rice husk (Rh) but statistically comparable with Pd and Rh + Pd media Watering twice every other day, watering once a day and twice daily significantly enhanced the plant height. Watering once a day resulted in the thickest stem (0.16 cm). Watering once daily, twice daily and watering twice every other day had the highest dry shoot. There were significant interaction effects between potting medium and watering frequency for plant height, number of leaves, canopy diameter and stem girth. Pd only substrate combined with once daily watering produced the tallest plants (13.37 cm) and thickest stems (0.18 cm). Watering once a day in combination with Pd substrate also had positive influence on number of leaves. The combined effect of Pd only substrate and watering once daily was best for the growth of Dennetia tripetala seedlings.
Osaigbovo, A.U. and Law-Ogbomo, K.E. (2016). Effects of potting media and watering frequencies on the growth of Dennetia tripetala (pepper fruit) seedlings. Acta Hortic. 1123, 87-94
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1123.12
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1123.12
canopy diameter, dry weight, number of leaves, plant height, stem girth
English

Acta Horticulturae