Effect of plant population and N fertilizer on the growth and yield of bambara groundnut (&lt;i&gt;Vigna subterranean&lt;/i&gt; (L.) Verdc.)

Cp Uchhara,Cc Onyeonagu,Je Asiegbu

doi:10.4314/as.v12i3.4

Abstract

Responses of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) to 3 levels of fertilizer N (0, 50, and 100 kg N/ha) and seven plant populations (55555, 63492, 74074, 88888, 111111, 148148 and 222222 plants/ha) were studied under field conditions in Nsukka, Nigeria. The experimental design was a randomized complete block and there were three replications. Seed yield progressively increased with increasing plant population, being significantly highest at 222,222 plants/ha. The application of 100 kg N/ha increased the total dry matter per plant compared with no application or with 50 kg N/ha, although seed yield benefits were not readily apparent. Nodulation was not statistically influenced by N treatment although zero or- low N application showed a slight increase in nodulation, suggesting a lack of adequate population of the effective rhizobium in the location. Innoculation of bambara groundnut seeds with effective rhizobium strain before planting becomes necessary for good nodulation and production of the crop under Nsukka agro-ecological conditions.Key words: Vigna subterranea, nodulation, N-fertilizer, plant population, seed yield, drymatter yield.

Highlights

The world population is increasing at alarming rate and majority of this populous world is suffering due to insufficient and imbalance diet (Rasul et al, 2012)
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION In the present study, the plant population of 111,111 plants/ha gave the best individual plant development while vertical ground cover was high with 63,492 plants/ha
Seed yield increased progressively as plant population increased from the lowest population to the highest population and the highest plant population of 222,222 plants/ha gave significantly the highest seed yield of 2195.1 kg/ha

Summary

Introduction

The world population is increasing at alarming rate and majority of this populous world is suffering due to insufficient and imbalance diet (Rasul et al, 2012). It has been estimated that about 790 million people are chronically under-nourished in the developing regions of the world (FAO, 1992). In these regions, the daily food consumption consists mainly of cereals, roots, tubers and fruits. This low protein content of food predisposes the people to infections and such diseases as diabetes, typhoid fever and some heart and kidney diseases due to poor body defense mechanism. These regions as a result witness increased death rates and high infant mortality due to malnutrition

Results

Discussion

Conclusion