Nutritional qualities of Kapok (Ceiba pentandra L. Gaertn.) in response to fertilizer management

Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn, is a leafy vegetable that is under-utilized due to lack of information about the nutritional potential and agronomic practices. Minerals, vitamins, and protein content of succulent leaves of C. pentandra plants grown under different fertilizer rates (Control (No fertilizer), 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure (PM) + 200 kg ha-1 of NPK, 10 t ha-1 of PM, 20 t ha-1 of PM, 450 kg ha-1 of NPK, and 20 t ha-1 of PM + 100 kg ha-1 of NPK) in the Department of Crop Science Garden, University of Nigeria, Nsukka were evaluated using standard analytical procedures in a replicated trial. Analysis of variance indicated a non-significant effect of fertilizer rates on vitamin contents assessed. Protein and the minerals evaluated showed non-significant response to fertilizer except zinc and calcium. Highest concentration of zinc (0.46 mg/100g) was attributed to 20 t ha-1 of PM which was statistically similar to 0.43 and 0.42 mg/100g obtained from leaves of plants grown without fertilizer and 5 t ha-1 of PM + 200 kg ha-1 of NPK, respectively. Soil amendment at 5 t ha-1 of PM + 200 kg ha-1 of NPK resulted in high accumulation of calcium (145.00 mg/100g). Conclusively, application of 20 t ha-1 of PM or 5 t ha-1 of PM + 200 kg ha-1 of NPK may be appropriate for growing C. pentandra. The study established that C. pentandra can be brought under regular cultivation culture without compromising the nutritional quality.