Comparative Effects of Soil Nutrient Status and Texture on Mycorrhiza – Legume Base Cropping System in Two Soil Types of Nigeria

Abstract

Soil nutrients and texture determine the rate of response of crops to mycorrhizal colonization. A two-year field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of mycorrhiza – legume base cropping systems at Ekpoma and Uzeba, both in Edo State, Nigeria. The experiment was a factorial, fitted into a RCBD with three replicates. The treatments consist of two levels of mycorrhiza and three planting systems. The descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data, and the Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to separate means (p<0.05). Ekpoma soil is moderately suitable while Uzeba soils are low in nutrient with loamy sand and sand texture respectively. The interaction of the mycorrhiza with pigeon pea significantly (p<0.05) increased the soil nutrient and nitrogen fixation in Ekpoma compared to the Uzeba location. The growth and yield of maize in Ekpoma were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to that of Uzeba with or without mycorrhiza inoculation, with an average yield of 2.24 t ha-1 in Ekpoma and 1.51 t ha-1 in Uzeba. The inoculation of Glomus clarum increased the grain yield of pigeon pea by 48 % and 37 % compared to non-mycorrhizal pigeon pea for both sole and intercrop in both locations. The residual effect of Glomus clarum and pigeon pea on maize yield was 53% higher in Ekpoma than found in Uzeba. The loamy sand texture of Ekpoma soil enhanced the efficiency of mycorrhiza utilisation compared to the sandy texture of Uzeba.