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Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine growth and yield response of Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) to various levels of cow manure application. Malabar spinach seedlings were transplanted in plots containing three rows 5.0 m long. Spacing was 1.0 m between rows and 0.5 m between plants in the row. Dehydrated cow manure (2%N, 1%P, 2%K) was soil-incorporated before planting at rates of 0, 10, 20, and 40 t.ha'1. The trial used a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data on number of stems harvested, length of longest stem, total plant fresh and dry weights, leaf and stem fresh and dry weights, and leaf area index (LAI) were collected from each of the five harvests. All data were taken from a sample of five plants at each harvest. Results indicated significant response to levels of cow manure in terms of all measured parameters. Highly significant (PO.OOOl) linear and quadratic responses to cow manure levels were observed in stem number and length, total plant, leaf, and stem fresh and dry weights. LAI response was both linear (P<0.001) and quadratic (P<0.01). Edible leaf fresh yield increased from 110.4 g planf1 at 0 t ha"1 to 306.8 g plant1 at 40 t ha"1 cow manure application. Optimum cow manure application rate for leaf yield is between 10 to 201 ha"1.

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