Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) also known as Japanese sunflower, is a tropical herb or shrub cultivated in many countries of Africa, Asia, and South America for its multipurpose value. As fodder, it is rich in protein, valuable for ruminants and rabbits, but less for poultry and pigs, probably due to the presence of fiber and anti-nutritional factors.
Mexican sunflower is used for a variety of purposes: ornamental, fuel, compost, land demarcation, soil erosion control, soil remediation, building materials and shelter for poultry. It is considered to be a weed in some areas. Mexican sunflower is commonly used as fodder for ruminants and rabbits, who can eat the leaves, soft branches and flowers. Its potential has been tested in pigs and poultry.
An advantage of using tithonia as liquid fertilizer is that it has a high concentration of dissolved nutrients, which are readily available for the plant unlike in the mineral fertilizer where these nutrients are bound in fertilizer filler materials.
It is native to Mexico and Central America but has a near pantropical distribution as an introduced species. Depending on the area, they may be either annual or perennial.
It is most commonly found in areas with an altitude of between 550m and 1,950m. Most of the time it is scattered along riverbeds and roadsides.
This plant is a weed that grows quickly and has become an option as an affordable alternative to expensive synthetic fertilizers.
Potential in soil fertility: According to a 2000 research by Jama, and others, green biomass of tithonia has been recognised as an effective source of nutrients for lowland rice (Oryza sativa) in Asia and more recently for maize (Zea mays) and vegetables in eastern and southern Africa.
Chemical composition of tithonia: Tithonia green manure has proved to be a reliable source of Nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and phosphorous (P) for plant growth.
It is, therefore, used as an organic fertilizer. The percentage composition of the major organic mineral elements abundantly found in tithonia plant include: Nitrogen (3.2—5.5 per cent), potassium (2.3—5.5 per cent), phosphorous (0.2—0.5 per cent), calcium (1.8—2.0 per cent) and magnesium (0.3—0.4 per cent).
In addition to providing nutrients, tithonia incorporated at five tonnes dry matter per hectare can reduce P absorption and increase soil microbial biomass. Fahrurrozi and others in 2015 also did a research on carrot using tithonia in organic vegetable production. They made liquid organic fertilizer using Tithonia diversifolia to improve organically growing of carrots.
Propagation of tithonia: This shrub can naturally exist as a weed on farms or planted using either cuttings or seeds. When using seeds, they are scattered in narrow furrows and covered with a thin layer of sand. When using cuttings, 20cm stems with two nodes below the ground and three nodes above the ground are planted at an angle of 450.
Use of tithonia plant as organic pesticide and fertilizer: The organic fertilizer is mined from mineral deposits from synthetic compounds and contains N, P and K. Tithonia helps curb reliance of chemical fertilizers that have impoverished soils. It is, therefore, used as an organic fertilizer.
The fertilizer can be used in the growing of sukuma wiki, sorghum, cowpeas, beans, maize and tomatoes. Tithonia has been mixed with bio slurry from biogas to increase the amount of NPK in the fertilizer for carrot production. Some training is also required on the process.
Advantages of using tithonia as liquid fertilizer: It has a high concentration of dissolved nutrients, which are readily available for the plant unlike in the mineral fertilizer where these nutrients are bound in fertilizer filler materials.
Presence of micro-organisms in this fertilizer breaks down the organic matter in the soil enhancing the activity of the soil, and increasing nutrient availability to the plant.
T. diversiforlia acts as an insect repellent, hence controls insects when used to make the liquid fertilizer. It provides organic elements like N, P and K in amounts excess to what mineral fertilizer provides. It is also used in demarcation of different plots on the farm and screen hedges. The plant can further be used as fodder and it improves soil aeration.
Biological pesticide: To make the pesticide, harvest leaves and twigs and crush them in a mortar and pestle. Add water to the Tithonia diversiforlia crushed paste and sieve to get a clear liquid.
Five litres of water are used to dilute 17kg of concentrated T. diversiforlia paste to form a clear liquid pesticide. This pesticide has been used in controlling pests in vegetables.
The advantage is that it is effective, cuts the cost of production and the vegetables are free from chemicals. That is our field observation, however, as an Egerton University, we are in continuous investigation process for the compound (active principles) that control these pest and diseases.
With information from: https://bit.ly/2ZwESbj and https://bit.ly/2MHuHL8