Impact of Tithonia diversifolia Formulations on Morpho-Physiology, Yield and Nutritional Content of Telfairia occidentalis.

Abstract

Intensive agriculture in tropical rainforest regions relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers, which degrade soil health, create environmental issues, and compromise food security. This study aimed to identify sustainable, locally sourced organic amendments as viable alternatives for cultivating fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis), thereby reducing reliance on environmentally damaging synthetic inputs. The efficacy of conventional inorganic NPK fertilizer, poultry manure (PM), and five preparations derived from the tropical plant Tithonia diversifolia were compared: fresh shoot tea (TdT), blend (TdB), extract (TdE), shoot biochar (Biochar), and ash (Ash), alongside an unamended control. Solid amendments were applied in split doses (10 t ha-1 PM, 3.75 t ha-1 Biochar, 5 t ha-1 Ash), while liquid formulations (500 ml) were applied regularly between 2 and 8 weeks after sowing. Most treatments significantly improved growth metrics, yield components, and the nutritional content of the produce compared to control group. Crucially, the efficacy of the Tithonia blend and tea on nutritional/mineral quality of the fluted pumpkin seeds surpassed those of conventional NPK and poultry manure. Vine length, count, fresh and dry biomass, leaf count and area, pod count, seed weight, photosynthetic pigments, and relative water content were statistically similar across NPK, PM, TdB, and TdT treatments. The overall performance trend was TdB >> TdT >> Biochar >> Ash >> TdE. The superior performance of green biomass formulations (TdB and TdT) is attributed to rapid nutrient mineralization, which enhances nutrient uptake efficiency comparable to synthetic NPK. These organic amendments, by improving the soil, optimize nutrient allocation dynamics within the plant. T. diversifolia demonstrates significant potential as a sustainable, on-farm organic fertilizer, offering a practical solution for closed-loop farming systems. The TdB and TdT formulations are particularly effective, matching or exceeding NPK and PM in both yield components and nutritional quality of the produce, confirming their viability as sustainable alternatives

Keywords

• Orgnic Maure
• Mineral Uptake
• Nutrient Allocation Dynamics
• Photosynthetic Pigment
• Proximal Content
• Caloric Value

Tithonia diversifolia Formülasyonlarının Telfairia occidentalis'in Morfo-Fizyolojisi, Verimi ve Besin İçeriği Üzerindeki Etkisi.

Abstract

Tropikal yağmur ormanı bölgelerindeki yoğun tarım, toprak sağlığını bozan, çevresel sorunlar yaratan ve gıda güvenliğini tehlikeye atan sentetik gübrelere büyük ölçüde bağımlıdır. Bu çalışma, çevreye zarar veren sentetik girdilere olan bağımlılığı azaltmak amacıyla, kabak (Telfairia occidentalis) yetiştiriciliğinde uygulanabilir alternatifler olarak sürdürülebilir, yerel kaynaklı organik iyileştirici maddeleri belirlemeyi amaçlamıştır. Geleneksel inorganik NPK gübresi, kümes hayvanı gübresi (PM) ve tropikal bitki Tithonia diversifolia'dan elde edilen beş preparatın (taze sürgün çayı (TdT), karışım (TdB), özüt (TdE), sürgün biyokömürü (Biyokömür) ve kül (Kül)) etkinliği, iyileştirici madde uygulanmamış bir kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırılmıştır. Katı iyileştirici maddeler bölünmüş dozlarda (10 t ha-1 PM, 3,75 t ha-1 Biyokömür, 5 t ha-1 Kül) uygulanırken, sıvı formülasyonlar (500 ml) ekimden 2 ila 8 hafta sonra düzenli olarak uygulanmıştır. Çoğu uygulama, kontrol grubuna kıyasla büyüme ölçütlerini, verim bileşenlerini ve ürünün besin içeriğini önemli ölçüde iyileştirdi. En önemlisi, Tithonia karışımı ve çayının kabak çekirdeğinin besin/mineral kalitesi üzerindeki etkinliği, geleneksel NPK ve kümes hayvanı gübresininkini aştı. Asma uzunluğu, sayısı, taze ve kuru biyokütle, yaprak sayısı ve alanı, bakla sayısı, tohum ağırlığı, fotosentetik pigmentler ve nispi su içeriği, NPK, PM, TdB ve TdT uygulamaları arasında istatistiksel olarak benzerdi. Genel performans eğilimi TdB >> TdT >> Biyokömür >> Kül >> TdE şeklindeydi. Yeşil biyokütle formülasyonlarının (TdB ve TdT) üstün performansı, sentetik NPK'ya benzer besin alım verimliliğini artıran hızlı besin mineralizasyonuna atfedilir. Bu organik iyileştiriciler, toprağı iyileştirerek bitki içindeki besin dağılım dinamiklerini optimize eder. T. diversifolia, kapalı döngü tarım sistemleri için pratik bir çözüm sunan, sürdürülebilir, çiftlik içi organik bir gübre olarak önemli bir potansiyel göstermektedir. TdB ve TdT formülasyonları özellikle etkilidir ve hem verim bileşenleri hem de ürünün besin kalitesi açısından NPK ve PM'ye eşdeğer veya onlardan daha iyi performans göstererek sürdürülebilir alternatifler olarak uygunluklarını teyit etmektedir.

Keywords

• Organik gübre
• mineral alımı
• besin dağılımı dinamikleri
• fotosentetik pigment
• yakın içerik
• kalori değeri

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