THE EFFECTS OF MEXICAN SUNFLOWER (
TITHONIA DIVERSFOLIA) EXTRACTS APPLIED AS
LIQUID MANURE ON THE EMERGENCE AND
GROWTH OF SPIDER PLANT (CLEOME GYNANDRA).
BY
MBUTHIA JOHN W.
A22/0056/2009
BSC. AGRICULTURE (CROP SCIENCE MAJOR)
SUPERVISED BY.
DR. CECILIA ONYANGO.
INTRODUCTION.
Mexican sunflower ( Tithonia diversfolia)
 It is an annual aggressive weed growing to a height of 2.5m
and is well adapted to most soils though it originated from
Mexico.
 In Kenya it is used on a wide variety of purposes that include
fodder, compost, land demarcation and ornamental purposes.
 It is known to accumulate huge amounts of biomass over a
short period of time that is 2.0 to 3.9 t dry matter ha–1 for
eight-month-old pure stands(King’ara 1998). This biomass has
relatively high nutrient concentrations that is N (3.5%),
P(0.37) and K(4.1%) hence has a great potential as an organic
fertilizer. Research work in Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe has
reported it as a major nutrient source in maize and rice
farming. (Gachenco et al.1999).
 Research work by Olabode et al., (2000) concluded that
Mexican sunflower with its high nutrient status is a potential
soil improver for productivity and recommended it as a green
manure or as a major component of compost manure.
Spider plant ( cleome gynandra)
 It is an erect herbaceous annual herb, which is
branched and rather stout. It is grouped among the
Afrcan leafy vegetables and its consumption has lead
to commercialization in its production. (Chweya J.A
1990)
 Its propagated by seed with viable seeds germinating
within 4-5 days. Seed germination is however erratic
occurring over an extended period. (Chweya and
Mnzava, 1997).
 Nutrition analysis has found it to be high in certain
nutrients including amino acids, vitamins and
minerals; as a result it forms an important part of
diets.
PROBLEM STATEMENT.
The high cost of fertilizers inhibits agricultural
production systems.
 Resource poor farmers.
 Environmental conservation.
 the prolonged and irregular germination pattern of
spider plant hinders synchronized harvesting of the
spider plant vegetable.

JUSTIFICATION.
Application of readily available environmental
friendly organic fertilizers such as mexican
sunflower liquid extracts in farming systems will
reduce the cost of production hence increased
returns to the farmer.
 Uniform germination(emergence) of spider plant
is important in target market farming.

Objective.
To evaluate the effect of Mexican sunflower extracts
applied as liquid manure on the germination
(emergence) and growth of spider plant
 Hypothesis.
Application of Mexican sunflower extracts as liquid
manure will not influence the germination and growth
of spider plant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS.


The experiment will be carried out in a greenhouse
where the spider plants will be grown in pots filled
with analyzed soil obtained from the Kabete field
station. A soil test will be carried out to determine the
pH level, available phosphorous and total nitrogen in
the soil.
Di-ammonium Phosphate fertilizer (DAP-18:46:0),
Cow manure and Mexican sunflower liquid manure
will be used to determine their effects on the spider
plant germination and growth. DAP will be applied at
the rate of 200 kg/ha, cow manure will be applied at
the rate of 20 t/ha (Kimani and Chweya, 1997) while
Mexican sunflower liquid manure will be applied at
the rate of 500ml/pot (KARI report,2011).




The spider plant will be grown in 2kg pots and the
experiment will be laid out as complete randomized design
(CRD), with three treatments including a control replicated
eight times.
Eight seeds will be planted per pot.
Weeds will be controlled by hand weeding as needed.
Data to be collected will be on:







number of days to germination (emergence),
percentage germination,
number of leaves per plant
plant height.
root average length and number.
Root and shoot fresh and dry weights.
The data will be subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
using Genstat statistical software (Layne and Payne, 2006)
and means will be compared using Fischer’s least
significant test (LSD)



Preparation of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia
diversfolia) liquid manure:
The liquid manure will be prepared by fermenting the
tithonia diversfolia in water for 4-6 days. Three (3) kgs
of fresh tithonia diversfolia, will be fermented in 50
litres of water for a period of 4 days (Musyimi et al.
2012) and then the solid biomass will be discarded
while the water will be used during planting.
Cow manure: Will be collected from the Kabete Field
Station in the livestock section.
Chemical fertilizer: Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP18:46:0) will be purchased from a local agrovet at
Ndumboine.
Experimental design:
The experiment will involve three treatments that is:
 Td :-Tithonia diversfolia liquid manure (500ml/pot)
 Cm :cow manure (600g/pot)
 F:- fertilizer (DAP: 18:46:0) (8g/pot)
 C:- the control

EXPERIMANTAL LAYOUT
The experiment will be laid in a completely
randomized design (CRD) with 32 pots such that 8 pots
will carry each treatment.
Td8
Cm3
Td3
C7
Td5
F4
Td7
Cm4
Cm1
Td4
Cm8
C1
Cm5
F1
Cm7
F2
C3
Td2
F3
C5
F5
C2
F7
Cm2
F8
F6
Td1
C4
Cm6
C6
Td6
C8
BUDGET
PARTICULARS
UNITS
COST
Spider plant seeds
100g packet
Ksh. 200
DAP Fertilizer
250g
Ksh. 80
Cow manure
Half a bucket
Ksh. 30
Fresh Tithonia diversfolia (transport)
5kgs of plant materials
Ksh. 50
Labour
1 man at 1hour work time per day for
Ksh. 1200
entire project period.
Pots
35 pots.
Ksh. 100
Printing and binding
Project proposal.
Ksh. 800
Project report.
Miscellaneous
Ksh. 200
TOTAL
Ksh. 2660
WORKPLAN
ACTIVITY
FEBRUARY
Purchase of inputs
preparation
of
Tithonia
diversfolia
liquid manure
Pots preparation and
planting
Data collection
Data analysis
report writing
Report submission
and
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
References
 Jama, B.C.A, R.J Buresh, A. Niang, C.N Gachenco, G.
Nziguheba and B.Amadalo, 2000. Tithoniadiversfolia as
green manure for soil fertility improvement in western
Kenya . A. Rev. Agroforest. Sys. 49: 201-221.
 Chweya, James A. and MnzavaNameusA.. (1997) Cat’s
whiskers. Cleome gynandraL. Promoting the conservation
and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 11. Institute
of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research,
Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources
Institute, Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-9043-303-5
 FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 107.
Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) A Tropical leafy vegetable . Its
cultivation and Utilization by Kimani Waithaka Ph.D. and
J.D Chweya Ph. D.
 Evaluation of Tithoniadiversfolia (Hemsl.) A Gray for soil
improvement. LandokheAkintola University of Technology,
Nigeria. World Journal of Sciences 3(4) : 503-507, 2007.
THANK YOU.