Effect of Wood Ash-Amended Soil on Some Nutritional and Non-Nutritional Constituents of Telfairia occidentalis
Chima-Ezika, O. R *
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Ibegbulem, C.O
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Nwaogu, L. A
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Iheme, C. I.
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Effect of wood ash (WA)-amended soil on some nutritional and non-nutritional constituents of Telfairia occidentalis (pumpkin) was evaluated. WA obtained from Dialiumguineense(velvet tamarind) tree was used to amend the soil samples. Pumpkin seeds were planted on the soils after allowing for soil mineralization. Results obtained after the pumpkin plants were harvested and processed for analysis showed that cyanogenic glycosides and tannins increased against the control. Moisture and crude fats reduced against the control while carbohydrate increased when compared to the control. Pumpkin grown on WA amended soil samples had reduced vitamin A but increased vitamins C and D. Potassium and calcium minerals increased in pumpkin grown on WA amended soil samples. These observations could be related to the ability of WA to stimulate mineralization which may have influenced some non-nutritional composition such as phytochemicals and nutritional compositions such as proximate contents and minerals. In conclusion, WA amended soil had effect on some nutritional and non-nutritional constituents of Telfairia occidentalis (pumpkin).
Keywords: Amended soil, nutritional, non-nutritional constituents, pumpkin, wood ash