Abstract
PurposeAn investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of the integrated application of organic and inorganic fertilizer effect on Bradyrhizobium effectiveness on nodulation and yield of peanut at the major growing areas of Eastern Ethiopia, Babillae and Fedis sites.MethodsSystemic combination of compost, manure, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and NP application was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications.ResultsThe result showed that Bradyrhizobium integrated with organic inputs significantly improved the nodule number at Babillae while Bradyrhizobium when applied with DAP resulted in a significant increase of nodulation at Fedis site. The highest total biomass and total pods weight at both sites were found to record when Bradyrhizobium integrated with manure and compost. Integration of Bradyrhizobium, manure and compost at Fedis and Bradyrhizobium with manure at Babillae was found to increase the kernel yield by 44 and 66.6% over the control check, respectively. Integration of Bradyrhizobium, manure and compost at Babillae and Bradyrhizobium with starter N at Fedis significantly increased plant N accumulation. The effect of organic and inorganic application on soil N and organic carbon content was not significant at Fedis, but the slight increase was observed in Babillae site. A significant increase in the soil available P by organic and/or DAP application was found in either of the experimental sites.ConclusionOrganic fertilizer when integrated with Starter N and DAP is better in improving the effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium, nodulation and yield of peanut in either of the sites.
Highlights
Most of the research system in Africa emphasizes on managing the three macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (Kang and Balasubramanian 1990; Smaling et al 1993; Smaling and Braun 1996)
The nodulation and yield of peanut showed a significant response to organic and inorganic fertilizer (Urea and DAP) integrated with Bradyrhizobium inoculation (Tables 2, 3, 4)
Alone and in combination with Bradyrhizobium over the control check. The result from this experiment showed that Bradyrhizobium inoculation in conjunction with organic (Compost and manure) and inorganic fertilizer (NP) significantly increased the nodulation and yield of peanut at both experimental sites
Summary
Most of the research system in Africa emphasizes on managing the three macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (Kang and Balasubramanian 1990; Smaling et al 1993; Smaling and Braun 1996) In this region, crop production is critically dependent on suboptimum nutrient application, especially N and P which are very low in amount with less than 8 kg ha/year (Crawford and Jayne 2010; Morris et al 2007; Smaling 2006). In Ethiopia, the nutrient depletion has been 41, 6, and 26 kg/ha/year for N, P, and K, respectively (Stoorvogel and Smaling 1990) This problem is aggravated by the inherent poor fertility in most tropical soils (Okalebo et al 2003). Farmers became reluctant to apply inputs, besides the cost of fertilizer is increasing
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