Productivity of buttercup (Tithonia diversifolia) with different doses and frequencies of nitrogen fertilization, Nueva Guinea, RACCS, 2023

Abstract

In Nicaragua, the scarcity of forage for livestock represents one of the main limitations in production, especially in the dry season. In this study, the productivity of the forage Tithonia diversifolia was evaluated under different doses and frequencies of nitrogen fertilization in the Nueva Guinea, Autonomous Region of the Southern Caribbean Coast, as a strategy to improve livestock feeding. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with ten treatments and four replications, in which three fertilization frequencies (every 30, 45, and 60 days) and three doses of nitrogen (292, 390, and 487 kg/ha/year) were evaluated. The study variables were plant height, number of stems, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter weight, and leaf:stem ratio. The results indicated that fertilization every 30 days with the highest dose of nitrogen (487 kg/ha/year) promoted overall plant growth, optimizing dry matter yield. However, in other growth variables, the differences between treatments were not statistically significant. It is concluded that the application of nitrogen every 30 days at 487 kg/ha/year is the most efficient combination to maximize the productivity of Tithonia diversifolia, suggesting its implementation in livestock systems in Nueva Guinea to improve food sustainability in the dry season.