Effects of NPK fertilizer on the shoot growth of Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn

This study examined the effects of different levels of NPK fertilizer on the growth of Vitellaria paradoxa . Shoot height, collar diameter and leaf productions were assessed fortnightly up to the sixteenth week after transplanting. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) among the treatments in shoot height, collar diameter and leaf production. It was observed that shoot height of Vitellaria paradoxa exhibited close values ranging from 8.49 to 10.64 cm. The leaf production ranged from 6 to 10 at the end of sixteenth week of study. Different levels of NPK fertilizer applied did not have effect on collar diameter of seedlings of V. paradoxa during the period of study. The study has shown that application of NPK fertilizer did not have significant effects on the growth of seedlings of V. paradoxa. In conclusion, more effort should be employed in determining optimum quantity of mineral fertilizers required to promote the growth of V. paradoxa seedlings in the nurseries.   Key words: Vitellaria paradoxa, NPK fertilizer, growth, seedlings.