Germination, Growth and Yield Responses of Eggplant and Okra Grown on Anthill and Termite Mound Soils

Abstract

Determining the physicochemical properties of anthill and termite mound soils and their combinations with ordinary top soil and the assessment of their effects on the germination, growth and yield performance of eggplant and okra under screenhouse conditions, were the goals of this study. The six soil treatments used are as follows: (I) pure anthill soil (AHS), (II) pure termite mound soil (TMS), (III) top soil (control) (TS), (IV) anthill +top soil (AHS + TS), (V) termite mound +top soil (TMS + TS), and (VI) anthill + termite mound soils (AHS + TMS). The physicochemical properties of these treatments were analyzed. A standard seed-germination experiment arranged in a completely randomized block design (30 seeds per treatment per tested crop) was carried out in a screenhouse. For the growth experiment, a pot experiment arranged on top of tables using a completely randomized design (CRD) was carried out in the screenhouse and the growth and yield were determined at seven (eggplant) and eight (okra) weeks. The results show that all treatments are acidic with pH, ranging from 3.3 to 4.5. The treatment containing anthill and anthill soils had higher EC (µS/CM), organic carbon (%), nitrogen (%), and phosphorus (%) compared to the control (top soil). Treatment had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the germination indices of eggplant and okra. Enhanced seed germination was obtained with eggplant and okra seeds sown in ordinary top soil amended with anthill soil compared to the control. The growth and yield of eggplant and okra were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by treatment. Generally, eggplant and okra grown using anthill soils (alone or mixed) had taller plants, bigger stem girth and leaf area, and a higher number of leaves per plant compared to those grown on top soil. Eggplant and okra grown on anthill and termite mound soils and their combinations with ordinary top soils had heavier fresh whole plant and root biomass compared to the control. It can be concluded that these results indicate that anthill and termite mound soils can serve as cheap alternative sources of nutrients for the cultivation of common vegetables by smallholder farmers in southern Sierra Leone.