Agronomic characteristics of Bungu ( Cerototheca sesamoides Endl. ): effects of age at harvest on components of yield and the nutritive value of the leaves

Four different ages at harvest were tested to determine the effects of age on the leaf yield and the nutritive values of the tall and the dwarf cultivars of bungu ( Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl. ) in the southern Guinea savanna environment of Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. Means of two years results indicated that although leaf and shoot yields per plant and leaf to shoot ratio in the two cultivars were similar, leaf and shoot yields per m 2 of land were higher in the tall (1.64kg, 5.35kg) than in the dwarf cultivar (0.97kg, 3.38kg). Generally, as age increased from 7 to 9 weeks, number and total length of branches, and number of leaves per plant also increased, and thereafter the increases were no longer significant. Leaf area per plant and leaf area index in the two cultivars were similar between 7 and 9 weeks of age. The highest leaf and shoot yields per plant (5.48g, 18.73g) and per m 2 of land (1.49kg, 5.16kg) were obtained at 9 WAP. The levels of crude protein and total ash in the tall and the dwarfish cultivar, respectively, were significantly higher at 7WAP (protein: 33.68%, 34.65%; ash: 10.75%, 13.00%) than at 8 9,and 10WAP. Keywords : bungu, age at harvest, leaf yield, nutritive value Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science Vol. 9 2005: 2-6