LEAF YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUE OF BUNGU (Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl.) and BLACK SESAME (Sesamum radiatum Linn.) AS INFLUENCED BY AGE AT HARVEST IN THE SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Overall yield and the nutritive value of harvested leaves of bungu and black
sesame at weekly interval were determined. The objective was to provide
useful information for market gardeners and consumers. Field experimental
plots, each 1 x 2 m in size, were laid out using 2 x 4 factorial structure in
split-plot design with four replications and data collected at 7, 8, 9, and 10
weeks after planting (WAP). Detached plant leaves were subjected to
proximate analysis in the laboratory. Means of two years’ results indicated
that leaf and shoot yields per plant, and leaf-to-shoot ratio in the crop species
were similar, but leaf and shoot yields per unit area of land were higher in
black sesame (1.64kg and 5.35kg, respectively) than in bungu (0.97kg and
3.38kg, respectively). Generally, as age increased from 7 to 9 weeks, number
and total length of branches, as well as number of leaves per plant also
increased, and thereafter the increases were no longer significant. Leaf area
per plant and leaf area index in the two crop species were similar between 7
and 9 weeks of age and thereafter declined. Based on the average of two
years’ results, the highest leaf and shoot yields per plant (5.48g and 18.73g,
respectively) and per m2
of land (1.49kg and 5.16kg, respectively) were
obtained at 9 weeks of age. In terms of the nutritive value of the leaves, the
levels of crude protein and total ash in black sesame and bungu leaves,
respectively, were significantly higher at 7 weeks after planting (protein:
33.68%, 34.65%; ash: 10.75%, 13.00%) than at 8 weeks (protein: 28.55%,
28.50%; ash: 8.88%, 10.88%), 9 weeks (protein: 28.33%, 28.18%; ash:
8.88%, 10.00%), and 10 weeks (protein: 28.83%, 26.08%; ash: 9.00%,
10.63%). Considering both the quantity and nutritive value of leaf yield, 8 - 9
weeks after planting the crop appears to be the optimum age to harvest the
leaves of the crop species for culinary use.