Wasiu Lamidi - Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
Janet Dada - Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Ejigbo Campus, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

Purpose: Research investigated oil mill decanter cake (OPDC) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) from oil palm in varying forms as soil media for growth performances of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and citrus (Citrus sp.) seeds during germination and growth.Method: Factorial design with ۴ levels of bio-organic: oil palm decanter cake (OPDC) treated with hot water at ۷۰ oC, OPDC treated with hot water at ۸۰ oC, OPDC raw and EFB; ۲ levels of crops: citrus and cocoa seedlings were investigated. Each treatment was replicated thrice (۴ × ۲ × ۳). A control experiment with normal sandy clay loam soil (NSCLS) medium, was also replicated thrice. Plant height; stem girth, number of leaves, days to seeds' emergence, leaf area, and biomass were measured.Results: Days to emergence, number of leaves, and stem girth of cocoa seedlings were significantly different (p≤۰.۰۵) with different forms of OPDC media and EFB. Maximum growth performance was obtained for EFB, the highest number of leaves was ۱۷.۳۳, stem girth, ۱.۳۲. EFB has the least number of days of emergence. OPDC has high moisture and nutrient content.  OPDC and EFB have lesser bulk density compared with soil medium. Biomass gains from using bio-organic wastes as soil media for the cocoa and citrus seedlings were as high as ۲۶۳.۵ g (citrus), ۲۳۷.۵ g (cocoa) for EFB and they were the highest.Conclusion: Incorporation of OPDC and EFB as bio-organic media would boost nursery growth of permanent crops.

citrus, cocoa, leaf area, medium, Stem girth