Abstract

There is shortage of characterized facts on the influence of plant-located fertilizer on the growth of Citrus tangelo.Research was carried out on the effects of leaf litters of selected nitrogen-fixing trees and watering regimes on the early growth of Citrus tangelo. The experiment selected a 6×5 factorial duplicated five times and laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design to assess the effect of different leaves of nitrogen-fixing tree species (Prosopis africana, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Vitex doniana, Enterelobium cyclocarpum and Casuarina equisetifolia) and watering regimes (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5days’ interval)  on the growth of Citrus tangelo.  The experiment involved a total of one hundred and fifty seedlings. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed on the outcome of C. tangelo seedlings cautiously transplanted into pots with and without 10g of leaf litters of nitrogen-fixing trees. The leaf litters of nitrogen-fixing trees and watering regimes significantly (P<0.05) embellished the growth of C. tangelo. Result revealed that highest height (7.64cm), significant leaf area (12.21cm²), significant leaf area index(1.40), significant total fresh weight (3.37g) and significant total dry weight (0.96g) were recorded from seedlings cultivated in the soil corrected with leaf litter of J. mimosifolia at 12 WAT. The result of interaction showed significant parameters from seedlings planted in the soil improved with leaf litters of J. mimosifolia and subjected to daily watering at 12 WAT. Highest nitrogen (1.92 %), phosphorus (36.7mg/100g) and potassium (618.36 mg/100g) uptake were recorded from seedlings cultivated in J. mimosifolia, P. africana and C. equisetifolia, sequentially. The use of leaf litter of J. mimosifolia improves the early growth and nutrient uptake of C. tangelo.

Key Words: Fruit trees, Slow growth, Soil restoration, Fertilizer trees, Watering Regime