Effect of Inorganic and Organic Based Fertilizers on Growth Performance of Tea and Cost Implications in Kusuku, Nigeria

A plot of 24 m × 10 m under fallow management after several years of cultivation to maize (Zea mays) was planted to tea (Camellia sinensis) cuttings at 1.0 m × 0.6 m and treated with or without fertilizer. The tea cuttings were applied NPK 25:5:5 (reference fertilizer), cocoa husk, cow-dung, tea fluff and poultry droppings as manures, mixtures of the manures with urea in 3:1 ratio of N contents as organomineral and the control (no fertilizer), monitored for growth performance for two years at Kusuku (6°50'N; 11°07'E), Nigeria. The organic based fertilizers generally outperformed NPK 25:5:5 and control in all the growth parameters. Organominerals resulted in an overall higher plant height, girth, number of leaves and branches compared to the manures in the first year of establishment, while the values were higher for manure treated plants in the second year. This trend was attributed to quicker release of nutrient by the organominerals in the first year, while the manures had undergone adequate decomposition for sufficient nutrient release to the advantage of the tea plants in the second year. However, comparative cost analysis showed that organominerals were more economical to achieve optimum tea production at minimum cost in the locality.