Growth Response of Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) to Varying Rates of Wood Ash in Anambra State

Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare) is a fast-growing indigenous vegetable widely consumed across South East Nigeria for its nutritional content and culinary versatility. However, soil nutrient depletion in intensively cultivated homestead gardens limits vegetable productivity in Anambra State. Wood ash, a locally available soil amendment, is known to supply potassium, calcium, and other micronutrients that enhance plant growth. This study investigates the growth response of waterleaf to four rates of wood ash application (0, 1, 2, and 3 tonnes per hectare) in Awka, Anambra State. The experiment was conducted in pots under screenhouse conditions using a completely randomized design with four replications. Growth parameters including plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, fresh shoot weight, and dry shoot weight were measured at two and four weeks after transplanting. Results indicate that wood ash applied at 2 tonnes per hectare produced significantly greater fresh shoot weight and leaf area compared to the control, while the 3 tonnes per hectare treatment showed marginal improvement. Soil pH increased across all wood ash treatments, improving nutrient availability. The study recommends 2 tonnes per hectare as the optimal wood ash rate for waterleaf production in homestead gardens in Anambra State. Keywords: waterleaf, Talinum triangulare, wood ash, growth response, Anambra State