ABSTRACT

The researchwasconducted to determinethe nutritional status of Hibiscus sabdariffa at

different growthconditions and stages. Three levels of fertilizer treatments; poultry manure

(M), 10 tons per hectare, mineral fertilizer (N.P.K. 15-15-15)at 75 kg (F75) and 100 kg

(F100) per hectare were used, and the field wasweedthree times within the sampling periods.

Field trials were conducted at Teaching and Research Farm of Kano University of Science

and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.The treatments were laid out in complete

randomizedblock design (CRBD) and poultry manure applied uniformly after land

preparation before sowing.Thesamplingwas carried out between July to November, 2014

during the rainy season. Standard methods were used for the plant and soil samples

collection, pre-treatment, digestion andanalysis.The results obtained for proximate

constituents revealed that at a vegetative stage (SI); the application of M gave the

highestcrude protein than the F75 and F100 with levels of 20.910±2.132, 15.322±5.568 and

18.426±0.704 %, respectively.Similarly, the levels of crude fiber recorded in the H.

sabdariffa (L) were: 12.047±0.684, 11.47±9.462 and 11.173±0.0542 % for the M, F75 and

F100 fertilizers at SI.Furthermore, oxalate content recorded in the H. sabdariffa (L) at SI

was: 9.978±2.359, 8.455±3.364 and 8.190±0.213 %, respectively. It was observedthat the

moisture content for M, F75 and F100were: 6.812±0.253, 6.989±1.053, and 6.504±0.354 %at

SI with F75 having the higher value.The carbohydrateand tannin content at SI when the plant

grown with these fertilizers was:32.366±5.555, 42.223±12.184 and 41.960±7.657 %, and

2.685±0.068, 2.756±0.114 and 2.736±0.454 %respectively and F75 obtained with h