An International Open Access Journal
News Scroll
E-mail Alerts
Subscribe for TOC Alerts
Search Articles
sidebar
Creative Commons License

Full Text


org

Volume 6, Issue 1, February Issue - 2018, Pages:116-123


Authors: E.G.O. Ogidi*, I. K. Okore, and J.C. Dike
Abstract: Numerical analysis of some quantitative nutrient soil-plant content and bud take in Hevea brasiliensis (HB) were carried out in 2014 and 2015 at Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria Sub-station Akwete, Abia State, Nigeria. Further, effect of different fertilizer doses and bud wood age on soil - plant nutrient absorption and Hevea budding success was also investigated during this study. Three doses of N.P.K (20:10:10) fertilizer (0, 100, and 150 kg/ha) were applied to five bud wood garden of different ages  (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years)  in a factorial pattern with three replicates in late October 2014. Budding activities and transplanting were carried out in 2015. Result of study revealed that bud wood age and NPK fertilizer significantly (P < 0.05) increased bud stick length, bud take percentage and sprouting. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were reported between soil calcium and magnesium, soil organic matter and total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium; leaf nitrogen, calcium and phosphorous contents. Percentage bud take showed positive effect with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable calcium, leaf calcium and nitrogen content. Four Principal components (PC) had eigen values greater than one and contributed 99.6 % of the total variation among the studied parameters. PC1 contributed 69.30%, whereas PC2, PC3 and PC4 contributed 14.84 %, 9.11 % and 6.35 % respectively of the total variation. Accordingly, PC1 was loaded with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium, calcium, magnesium, leaf nitrogen and calcium contents and were most discriminative. Hence, appropriate selection based on PC1 parameters will enhance Hevea brasiliensis budding programme in southeastern Nigeria.  
[Download PDF]
Full Text:    
% respectively of the total variation. Accordingly, PC1 was loaded with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium, calcium, magnesium, leaf nitrogen and calcium contents and were most discriminative. Hence, appropriate selection based on PC1 parameters will enhance Hevea brasiliensis budding programme in southeastern Nigeria.      

1 Introduction   Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is an important plantation crop that is grown in over 10.3 million hectares globally (International Rubber Study Group, 2012). Along with its ecological importance, rubber is mainly grown in the humid tropical areas of Nigeria where the soil is highly weathered, characterized by rapid organic matter decomposition (Awodun et al., 2007) Strongly acid with low exchangeable base cations and available phosphorous (P) as well as high iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentration (Waizah et al., 2011; Oku et al., 2012; Suchartgul et al., 2012). Soil is a reservoir of plant nutrients and greatly varies with their distribution in time and space due to changes in chemical and physical characteristics (Awe et al., 2007). The productivity depends on the equilibrium between organic input supply and decomposition. Plant growth and development depend largely on the combination and concentration of mineral nutrients available in the soil and this is greatly influenced by root adaptations. For plants to maintain nutrient homeostasis, nutrient uptake and respond to changes in the soil and within the plant must be regulated (Kumar et al., 2017). Essential nutrients for plant growth could either be from organic or inorganic source or their combination. The inorganic sources involved the use of fertilizers. However, organic amendments decompose very rapidly under hot and warm humid tropical conditions and require repeatedly application at short intervals to sustain soil productivity (Jenkinson & Ayanaba, 1977; Dharmakeerthi et al., 2012).To improve and obtain sustainable Hevea bud stick and latex yield, proper management of essential nutrients is required. Soil and plant nutrient content analysis have often been used for nutrient diagnosis based on the hypothesis that there is relationships between plant growth rates (yield) and its nutrient content (Marschner, 1997). Soil nutrient management with inorganic fertilizer or integrated nutrient application in rubber supporting soils in terms of improved vigour and establishment, latex yield, dry rubber content of latex and soil nutrient conservation have been reported (Okore et al., 2007; Esekhade et al., 2013; Abraham et al., 2015; Alle et al., 2015;  Okore et al., 2016). Previously conducted studies revealed significant effects of organic manure on the growth and nutrient cycling of Hevea (Tolentino, 2010; Waizah et al., 2011; Dharmakeerthi et al., 2012; Damrongrak et al., 2015). Various researchers have utilized various available numerical analysis methods like multivariate technique; Cluster Analysis (CA), Discriminant Analysis (DA) , Principal component analysis (PCA) for characterizing distinct agronomic characteristics and soil relationships in various  crops such as rubber (Alika, 1991; Gouvêa et al., 2010; Omokhafe & Alika,2000),  rice (Nassir, 2002; Adebisi et al., 2013), melon (Idehen et al., 2007), wheat (Habibpour et al., 2012), African yam bean (Nwofia et al., 2014)  and in soil properties characterization (Nageswara & Jose, 2002;  Campbell, 2004; Couto et al., 2006; Iwara et al., 2011; Edokpayi et al.,  2015). Principal Component Analysis is a method that reduces data, exhibits the association between two or more parameters of a crop dividing the total variance of the original parameters into limited number of uncorrelated new variables. The reduction leads to linear transformation of the original variables into a new set of noncorrelated variables, known as Principal Components (PCs) (Wiley, 1981).  The analysis also helps to identify the genetic distance between crop genotypes (Aremu et al., 2007). PCs are orthogonal and independent of each other revealing different properties of the original data as may be interpreted independently. According to Mohammadi & Prasanna (2003), total variation of the original data could be partitioned into components that are cumulative in nature. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of fertilizer and bud wood age on bud take of Hevea brasiliensis as well as assess their effects on the soil and leaf nutrient contents of the crop. 2 Materials and Methods The field experiment was conducted between  2014 and 2015 Hevea brasiliensis bud wood garden cut back and budding seasons at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria Substation Akwete, Abia State (lat. 4°  50' and 4°   65´N and Long.70  00' and 70   19' E). The climate is humid tropics with an average precipitation of 2,163 mm. The temperature is generally high ranging from 33-34oC as the maximum and 28 - 29oC as the minimum. It has two distinct seasons (rainy season- March / April to October and dry season- November to March). The soils of Akwete are mainly coastal plain acid sands of Niger Delta                  Basin derived from unconsolidated sedimentary deposits of Miocene Pleistocene periods (ILACO- NEDECO, 1966;              Kamalu et al., 2014). The treatments comprised a 5 X 3 factorial combinations arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor consisted of five bud wood garden of different ages (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years) while the second factor consisted  of three doses of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer (NPK) (0, 100 and 150 kg/ha). The fertilizer was applied in late October 2014 after cutting back the bud woods, while budding was carried out in 2015. The budded stumps were transplanted to the field at 0.5m x 0.5m spacing. All the standard agronomic practices for bud wood garden establishment and management were adopted.     Table 1 Effect of H. brasiliensis bud wood garden age and NPK fertilizer doses on bud stick length (cm)
BA (Years ) FD doses (kg/ha) 0 100 150 Mean 2 110.67 173.33 145.33 143.12 5 123.00 158.30 140.00 140.43 10 212.00 150.33 137.40 166.59 15 155.83 165.38 188.67 199.96 20 121.67 184.33 131.64 147.55 Mean 144.64 166.33 149.61  
LSD (0.05): BA = 45.06, FD = 20.71, BA x FD = NS, BA = Bud wood age, FD = Fertilizer dose, BA x FD = Bud wood age and fertilizer doses interaction     Table 2 Effect of bud wood garden age and NPK fertilizer doses on percentage bud take and percentage sprouting of H. brasiliensis BA (Years) FD doses (kg/ha) Percentage Bud take  (28 DAB) Percentage  sprouting (90 DAT) 0 100 150 Mean 0 100 150 Mean 2 53.35 53.55 53.77 53.49 61.70 58.30 41.70 53.90 5 32.24 50.00 81.82 54.67 68.30 66.70 50.00 61.70 10 66.67 70.00 80.00 72.22 75.00 83.30 75.00 77.80 15 49.67 60.00 75.00 61.56  
REFERENCES

Abraham J, Joseph K, Joseph P (2015) Effect of integrated nutrient management on soil quality and growth of Hevea brasiliensis during the immature phase. Rubber Science 28: 159-167.

Adebisi MA, Okelola, FS, Ajala MO, Kehinde TO, Daniel IO, Ajani OO (2013) Evaluation of variations in seed vigour characters of West African rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes using multivariate technique. American Journal of Plant Science 4: 56-363.

Alika JE (1991) Principal component analysis of variations pattern among sixteen Hevea clones. Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Science 6: 20-24.

Alle JY, Dick EA, Soumahian EF, Olaye RG, kebi JZ, Obouayea S (2015) Effect of mineral fertilizer on agro physiological parameters and economic viability of clone PB 253 of Heveabrasiliensis in the region of G O in SW. Coted’voire. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 24: 3768 – 3780.

AOAC (1990) Official methods of analysis 15thedition.Association of official analytical chemists Washington, D.C. USA.

Aremu CO, Ariyo OJ, Adewale BD (2007) Assessment of selection techniques in genotype x environment interaction in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Walp. African Journal of Agriculture Research 2: 352 – 355.

Awe OA, Thogong TK, Nze'e SY, Adegboye MA (2007) A survey of soil fertility management technologies used by small holders in Jos Plateau. In: Olufaji OO (Ed), Reviving Agriculture for sustainable natural growth and stable democracy. Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of Agricultural society of Nigeria (ASN) held at IAR, Samaru, ABU Zaria, Nigeria 22nd - 26th October, 2007.

Awodun MA, Ojeniyi SO, Adeboye A, Odedina SA (2007) Effect of oil palm bunch refuse ash on soil and plant nutrient composition and yield of maize. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 1: 50 - 54.

Campbell S (2004) Discriminant analysis of heavy metal concentrations in the soil of St.John’s New found land. Available on http://www.mun.ca/biology/schneider/b4605/GradProj/StacyCampbellProj04.pdf access on 29th April, 2017.

Chauhan JS (2001) Fertility status of soils of Bilra panchayathsamiti of Jodhpur district (Rajasthan). M.Sc. (Ag.) thesis submitted to MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Corley RHV, Tinker PB (2009) The Oil palm, 4th Edition. UK Blackwell Science Ltd. Oxford.

Couto EG, CuntaCaitianunes da (2006) Application of Multivariate analysis to identify soil landscapes in the Pantanal of MatoGrosso – Brazil, a poster presentation at the symposium organized by WCSS held in Thailand,  14th  – 21st  August, 2002.

Damrongrak I, Onthong J, Nilnond C (2015) Effect of fertilizer and dolomite applications on growth and yield of tapping rubber trees. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology 37: 643-650.

Dharmakeerthi RS, Chandrasiri JAS, Edirimanne VU (2012) Effect of rubber wood biochar on nutrition and growth of nursery plants established in an ultisol. Springer plus 1:1-13.

Edokpayi AA, Osayande PE, Ikuenobe CE, Aghimien AE (2015) Multivariate analysis of soils under oil palm cultivation in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture Food and Environment 11: 97-102.

Esekhade TU, Okore IK, Ogidi EGO, Arasowan J (2013) Effect of weeding frequency and fertilizer

rates on the Growth performance and budding successes of Hevea rootstock seedling in a humid forest area of south eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development16: 1421-1424.

Gouvêa LRL, Rubiano LB, Chioratto AF, Zucchi M, Gonçalves PS (2010) Genetic divergence of rubber tree estimated by multivariate techniques and microsatellite markers. Genetics and Molecular Biology 33: 308-318.

Habibpour M, Ahmadizadeh M, Shahbazi H (2012) Assessment of relationship between agro – morphological traits and grain yield in bread wheat genotypes under drought stress condition. African Journal of Biotechnology 11:8698 – 8704.

Idehen EO, Kehinde OB, Ariyo OJ (2007) Numerical analysis of variation among Nigerian accessions of ‘Egusi’ Melon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai). Journal of American Science 3: 7-15.

ILACO NEDECO (1966) Report on the soil investigations in the Niger Delta special areas. The Hague special areas Aruhem, The Hague, Netherlands.

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (1979) Laboratory manual for soil and plant analysis. Manual series 7, IITA, Ibadan.

International Rubber Study Group (2012). Rubber Statistical Bulletin 52:7–9.

Ishfaq M, Abbas RM, Nasir IA (2012) Effect of budwood age, budding height and stock looping, on bud take in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) var pine apple. Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science 1:275-278.

Iwara AI, Ogundele FO, Ibor UW (2011) Multivariate Analysis of Soil – Vegetation Interrelationships in a South – Southern Secondary forest of Nigeria. International Journal of Biology 3: 73 - 82.

Jenkinson DS, Ayanaba A (1977) Decomposition of carbon-14 labeled plant material under tropical conditions. Soil Science Society of American Journal 41: 912–915.

Kamalu OJ, Ugwa IK, Omenihu AA (2014) Survey, classification and suitability    evaluation of Akwete soils for rubber (Heveabrasiliensis) cultivation in southeastern Nigeria. Acta Agronomica Nigeriana 14: 56 – 63.

Kavitha C, Sujatha MP (2015) Evaluation of soil fertility status in various agro ecosystems of Thrissur District, Kerala, India. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences 8: 328-338.

Kumar M, Kumar V, Kumar R, Pratap R (2017) Correlation between soil nutrient and plant nutrient concentration in mustard. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 6: 751 – 754.

Marschner H (1997) Mineral nutrition of higher plants, Academic Press, San Diego.Pp. 889.

Miller PA, Williams JC, Robinson HF, Comstoc RE (1958) Estimates of genotypic and environmental variances and covariance in upland cotton and their implications in selection. Agronomy Journal 50: 126 – 131.

Mohammadi SA, Prasanna BM (2003) Analysis of genetic diversity in crop plants salient statistical tools and considerations. Crop Science 43:1235-1248.

NageswaraRao DVK, Jose AL (2002) Numerical classification of soils under rubber in Kerala. Journal of Indian Society Soil Science 50: 492 – 497.

Nassir A (2002) Studies on genotype x environment interactions, variability and plant character correlation in rice. PhD thesis submitted to the Postgraduate school of University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria Pp. 123.

Nwofia GE, Awaraka R, Mbah EU (2014) Yield and yield component assessment of some African

yam bean genotypes (Sphenostylis stenorcarpa Hochst Ex A. Rich) Harm in low land humid tropics of south eastern Nigeria. American- Eurasian Journal Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 14: 923-931.  

Okore IK, Akpobome FA, Tijani-Eniola H, Oghide EA (2007) Effect of tillage on the growth performance of Hevea seedling rootstock and some fertility indices of sandy acid soil in the humid forest area of Nigeria. Journal of Rubber Research 10: 116-126.

Okore IK, Idubor C, Ogidi EGO, Okundia RO (2016) Latex and dry rubber yield response of a natural rubber clone to stimulation and fertilizer application in a sandy-loam ultisol. Proceedings of the 3rd National Annual of Conference of crop Society of Nigeria, held at UNN, Nigeria on 27th-39th September, 2016 Pp. 496-503.

Oku E, Iwara A, Ekukinam E (2012) Effects of age of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg.) plantationon pH, organic carbon, organic matter, nitrogen and micronutrient status of ultisols in the humid forest zone of Nigeria. Kasetsart Journal Natural Science 46: 684-693.

Omokhafe KO, AliKa JE (2000) Multivariate of agronomic data on Heveabrasiliensis. In: NoKoe S (Ed). Biometry and quality of life. Proceedings of SUSAN – IBS meeting, 23rd27thAugust, 1999, Ibadan, Nigeria, SUSAN – IBS, Nairobi, Kenya, Pp. 168 – 173.

Osayande PE, Oviasogie PO, Awanlemhen BE, Orhue ER (2014) Soil fertility assessment of a Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn C. F.) field at Bida, Niger, State. Nigerian  Journal of Soil Science 24:117-124.

Raji AA (2002) Assessment of genetic diversity and heterotic relationship in African improved and local cassava (Manihot esculentus Crantz) germplasm. PhD thesis submitted to the Postgraduate school, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Samish RM, Gur A (1962) Experiments with budding avocado. Proceedings of the American Society for Horticultural Science 81:194-201.

SAS Institute Inc. (1996) SAS software: Changes and enhancements through release, 6.12. Cary: SAS Institute Inc.

Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1980) Statistical methods (Ed. 7). The Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, U.S.A. Pp. 507.

SPSS (2004) SPSS for windows version (16.0) software programme.

Suchartgul S, Maneepong S, Issarakrisila M (2012) Establishment of standard values for  nutrient diagnosis in soil and leaves of immature rubber tree. Rubber Thai Journal 1: 19-31.

Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD (1993) Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, 5th Edition, Macmillan Publishing Co., New York U.S.A.

Tolentino LM (2010) Mykovam as a promising organic fertilizer on the growth of rubber (Heveabrasiliensis) seedlings at USM, Kabacan, Cotabato, Philippines. USM R and D Journal18: 125-128

Waizah Y, Giroh YD, OjieKpon F, Umar H, Oghide A (2011) Influence of rubber  effluent on some soil chemical properties and early growth of rubber seedling. Proceedings of the 45thAnnual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria, held at UDUS, Nigeria on 24th – 28th October, 2011 Pp. 469-477.

Wiley EO (1981) Phylogenetics: Theory and Practice of Phylogenetics and Systematics. John Wiley, New York U.S.A.

Yada B, Tuamuhabwa P, Alajo A, Mwanga ROM (2010) Morphological characterization of Ugandan sweet potatogermplasm. Crop Science 50: 2364-2371.

Editorial Board
Indexed & Listed In
Scimago Journal Rank
Track manuscript
Manuscript Statistics
Articles Statistics
Publication Statistics