Effects of Five Different Leaf Mulches on Seedling Growth of Avocado Pear (Persea americana) in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study was carried out in 2022 and repeated in 2023 to investigate the effects of five different types of leaf mulch on seedling growth of Avocado pear in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. The mulches were: Zero mulch (Control), Terminalia catappa leaves, Pennisetum purpureum leaves, Panicum maximum leaves and Mangifera indica leaves. The growth parameters assessed to achieve the objectives of the study were; initial physico-chemical properties of the soil used for the study, the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of the leaf mulches, percentage germination, plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf area and collar diameter of Avocado pear seedlings. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the study showed that plants grown in poly pots containing P. purpureum leaf mulch were superior to their counterparts for all the seedling growth parameters of Avocado pear investigated, including percentage emergence of 92% in 2022 and 98% in 2023, plant height of 62cm in both 2022 and 2023. A similar trend was also observed in the 24th and 32nd week after planting where P. americana grown in poly pots containing P. purpureum had outstanding heights of 152cm in 2022 and 160cm in 2023 respectively as well as 338cm in 2022 and 342cm in 2023 respectively at 32 weeks after planting. Based on the study's findings, it was recommended that farmers adopt the application of P. purpureum leaf mulch in the study area for increased growth and yield P. americana.