Abstract

A study was conducted at the Agriculture Research Station, Anwomaso during the 2008 major growing season to evaluate the effect of organic (poultry manure) and inorganic (chemical) fertilizers on the growth and yield of Artemisia annua. The experiment also examined the effects of variation in the stage of harvest on artemisinin yield. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications and six treatments. The treatments were 0, 45 and 90 kg N/ha compound fertilizer and poultry manure at 2, 4 and 6 tons/ha. Data were collected on: plant height, canopy spread, stem width, number of branches per plant, fresh and dry leaf yield (kg/ha), crude extract weight (g), artemisinin content (%) and artemisinin yield (kg/ha). The results showed that 4 t/ha poultry manure treatment was effective and gave the highest fresh and dry leaf yield. The results indicated that the treatments significantly affected most of the parameters when compared to the control. Application of 4 t/ha poultry manure gave the highest artemisinin yield of 9.57 and 37.24 kg/ha at both stages of harvest respectively. Leaf yield positively correlated with artemisinin yield. Artemisinin content recorded at preflowering was higher than values recorded at full bloom. From the results, it is recommended that application of 4 t/ha poultry manure can enhance artemisinin production.

Key words: Medicinal plants, Artemisia annua L., Asteracea, Artemisinin, poultry manure, chemical fertilizers.