Growth, Yield Attributes and Metabolite Components of Thickhead (Ebolo) (Crassocephalum crepidioides Benth.) as Affected by Soil Amendment

A screenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the growth, yield attributes and bioactive components of thickhead (ebolo) as affected by soil amendments. Treatments were soil type (fertile soil and degraded land respectively amended with NPK @300kg/ha (F1), NPK@150kg/ha (F2), Poultry Manure@10t/ha (F3), Poultry Manure @5t/ha (F4), NPK @ 150kg/ha + Poultry Manure @5000t/ha, (F5), NPK @ 75kg/ha + Poultry Manure @ 2500t/ha (F6) and unamended control.  Data were collected on soil properties, growth and biomass yields of thickhead and chemical, proximate and bioactive components of leaves. Results showed that soil type and amendment significantly affected growth, yield and bioactive components of thickhead. Growth of thickhead improved significantly for soil collected under fallow vegetation (S1) while application of NPK and poultry manure combination at 0.375g + 12.5g per plant significantly enhanced most of the measured variables of thickhead. Fertilizer amendment of soils enhanced leaf sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents, poultry manure amendment improved moisture content and crude protein, while NPK increased significantly leaf ash and fat contents. Post-cropping chemical analysis of treated soils showed increases in pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, organic matter, available P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg of fertilizer-amended soils compare with the unamended. Thickhead (ebolo) can be grown both on fertile and degraded soils, soil amendment using NPK-poultry manure combinations enhanced the growth, yield and nutrition of thickhead and is recommended for its production.