Comparative Effects of Traditional Compost, Cattle Manure, and Mineral Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Solanum nigrum L. in the Peri-Urban Area of Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso

Research Article

Abstract

Solanum nigrum L., commonly known as black nightshade, is a leafy vegetable with high nutritional and medicinal value, widely consumed in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, it contributes to food security and traditional medicine, but its production remains constrained by low soil fertility and suboptimal cultural practices. The use of organic and mineral amendments appears as a promising strategy to sustainably enhance productivity. A field trial was conducted in the peri-urban area of Ouagadougou on sandy-clay soils with slightly acidic pH. Three types of amendments (compost, cattle manure, and NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer) were applied at three different doses representative of local practices. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. Measured parameters included plant height, leaf number, fresh biomass, and dry biomass. Statistical analyses were performed using R software with a two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test for mean separation. The results revealed significant differences among morphotypes and treatments. The black-fruited morphotype exhibited the best performance in terms of growth and biomass, particularly under manure and NPK fertilization. Compost improved growth but with less pronounced effects. The green-fruited morphotype recorded the lowest values, while the purple-fruited morphotype showed intermediate performance. Increasing amendment doses enhanced growth parameters up to a threshold, beyond which a plateau effect was observed. This study highlights the effectiveness of manure and NPK at medium doses (200 kg/ha) as the most suitable options to optimize the yield of S. nigrum. These findings provide a basis for developing recommendations adapted to peri-urban farming systems in Burkina Faso.