Responses of Utasi (Gongronema latifolium) to NPK 15:15:15 Fertilizer Rates in a Utisol South-South Nigeria

Gongronema latifolium (Benth) called Utasi by Igbos and Arokeke by Yorubas belongs to Ascepiadaceae family. It is an herbaceous climbing plant found in the tropical region. The leaves are used for food, culinary, medicinal and other domestic purposes. The plant is found among the wild and is not cultivated in regular farms. It is one of the endanger species that stands the risk of been extinct. Therefore, the study was carried out to determine the responses of Gongronema latifolium to seven rates of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, Agronomy Department, Cross River University of Technology Obubra, Cross River State, Nigeria. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Treatments were seven rates; 0kg/ha, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300kg/ha of NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer replicated four times. Results showed that application of 300kg/ha of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer gave a higher number of leaves, branches per plant and tallest plants than the other rates of NPK fertilizer. The highest leaf yields in hectares were obtained in plots treated with 200kg/ha in 2014 and 2015 seasons respectively. Based on these findings, farmers are advice to domesticate and cultivate Gongronema latifolium with the application of 200kg/ha NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer for optimum growth and leaf yield.