2025/07/02 by Okee, J. L., Baiyeri, K. P., Odiaka, N. I.
#Derived Savannah #Fertiliser Sources #Nutrient Management #Passion Fruit #Phytochemical Composition
paper · doi:10.82552/njhs.v29i2.1-13
An experiment was carried out using randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates at Prince Abubakar Audu University Research Farm and Biochemistry Laboratory, Anyigba, to investigate the impact of organic, inorganic and fertiliser combinations on phytochemical properties of Passiflora edulis during the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons in the derived savannah ecology of Nigeria. Results revealed significant effects (p<0.05) of genotype, fertiliser types and their interactions on phytochemical contents. Yellow passion fruit variety consistently exhibited higher levels of vitamin C (59.94 mg/100g), vitamin A (561.22 µg/100g), vitamin B3 (0.89 mg/100g), total phenols (59.458 mg/g), flavonoids (4.41 mg/g), and alkaloids (0.0692 mg/g). Conversely, the hybrid variety had superior tannins (3.999 mg/g) and saponins (4.762mg/g). Fertiliser application significantly enhanced phytochemical concentrations. Poultry manure (20t/ha) produced the highest vitamin A (844.22 µg/100g) and flavonoid content (7.462mg/g), while NPK 20:10:10 (450 kg/ha) resulted in the highest vitamin C (69.77 mg/100g), vitamin B3 (1.048mg/100g), vitamin B1 (0.8333 mg/100g), total phenols (85.568 mg/g), saponins (4.905 mg/g) and alkaloids (0.1192 mg/g). Fertiliser combination such as pig slurry (10 t/ha) + NPK 15:15:15 (200 kg/ha), yielded the highest tannins (5.168 mg/g), alkaloids (0.0915 mg/g) and cardiac glycosides (3.487 mg/g), while poultry manure (5t/ha) + pig slurry (5 t/ha) + NPK 20:10:10 (100 kg/ha) + NPK 15:15:15 (100 kg/ha) produced peak vitamin C (55.6mg/100g) and saponin levels (4.643 mg/g). Significant genotype × fertiliser interactions highlighted varietal-dependent response to fertiliser inputs. These findings show the importance of integrated nutrient management practices to optimise the nutritional and therapeutic quality of passion fruit