Effects of phosphorus fertilizer on cowpea(vigna unguiculata(L)Walp.) growth, nodulation, yield and colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under screen condition.
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2024
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Department Of Soil Science And Land Resources Management, Faculty Of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University.
Abstract
The study evaluated the influence of different rates of phosphorus (P) fertilizer on nitrogen fixation by two cowpea varieties; assessed the effect of phosphorus fertilizer on yields of the cowpea varieties; and determined cowpea varietal and fertilizer effects on root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This was with the view to providing information on appropriate nutrient phosphorus management for improved cowpea production in phosphorus deficient tropical soils performance. The soil used for the study was collected from 0-15 cm depth of an ultisol, classified as Iwo series, at the Teaching and Research Farm, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Seeds of cowpea
[Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], var. TVX 113 and TVX 3236, were obtained from the Department of crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Three kilogramme (3 kg) of soil was amended with P fertilizer (as single super phosphate) at the rates of 0, 20, 40, 60 kg P ha-1 as SP0, SP1, SP2 and SP3 respectively. The amended soils were poured into plastic buckets and planted with three cowpea seeds, thinned to two, 2 weeks after planting. There were two consecutive 8-week plantings of cowpea in order to assess the immediate and residual effects of the treatments on cowpea nitrogen fixation, growth and colonization by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). A second experiment was set up for two consecutive 10 weeks to determine the immediate and residual effects of the treatments on cowpea yield. At the end of
each planting, agronomic and yield parameters were taken. In the first experiment, plant heights, number of leaves per plant, number of nodules per plant and dry matter yield were taken. The oven-dried plant tissues were ground and analyzed for total N, total P, tissue contents of cations (K, Ca and Mg), N2 fixed (using Ureide method) and percent AMF colonization. In the second experiment, the number of pods per plant and pod weights, number of grain and grain weights were taken. The soil in each pot after harvesting, was sub-sampled and analyzed for pH, soil organic matter, available P and exchangeable cations. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance, and the means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 95% confidence interval. The results showed that P fertilizer significantly enhanced soil exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, Na, and K), with SP1, SP2 and SP3 performing better than the control. Increase in plant’s height, number of branches and number of leaves were obtainedwith SP2 and SP3 in the first cropping and SP1 and SP3 in the second cropping. Application of SP3 only enhanced shoot dry weight, Ca, K and Na intake. The SP2 and SP1 increased Mg uptake, while SP2 boosted N and P uptake. In the first planting of the second experiment, SP2 enhanced pod number, pod weight, while SP3
improved grain number and grain weight. However, in the second planting of the second experiment, pod number, pod weight, grain number, grain weight and percentage of root colonized by AMF compared to control were improved by application of SP1. Variety TVX 113 performed better than TVX 3236 in all the measured agronomic parameters, exchangeable cations, N and P uptake and yield. while SP1 positively influenced the root colonization by AMF. The application of 40 kg and 60 kg P ha-1 boosted most of the measured cowpea agronomic parameters, regardless of the variety, and improved yield of cowpea compared to the control (0 kg ha-1).
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OLUFADE,A.M(2024)This study described the socio-economic characteristics of the farm household members; assessed the rural land market situation in Osun State; estimated the farm and non-farm income of the farm households; and determined the influence of rural land markets on intra-household resource allocation, with a view to improving the land market situation, and ensuring effective and efficient allocation of resources among the cocoa-based farming households. Multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents for this study. At the first stage, Ife-Ijesa zone was purposively selected because of the concentration of cocoa farming households in the zone. At the second stage, the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the zone were stratified into two groups i.e. rural and urban, from the rural LGAs, 4 LGAs out of 10 were purposively selected based on the availability of tenants farming households in the LGA. From the selected LGAs, 5 villages were selected at random; within each village, farming households were stratified into landlords and tenants; 5 landlord and 5 tenant farming households were selected at random from each of the villages, making a total of 200 farming households. The primary data were collected from the respondents with the aid of a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, two stage least square (2SLS) and quadratic almost ideal demand systems (QUAIDS) model were used to analyse the data collected. The findings of the study showed that about 77% of the cocoa farmers were male; the largest proportion (52.5% and 55.29%) of the cocoa farming household heads and their spouses respectively were about 50 years of age; majority (95.88% and 84.07%) of the household heads and their spouses respectively had some form of formal education; and larger proportion (74.2% and 53.19%) of the household heads and xv spouses respectively had been into the production of cocoa for more than 31 years. The result of the sources of farm and non-farm income revealed that on the average, cocoa farming households earned about ₦362,468.35 from cocoa production, which accounted for about 49% of their annual total income. The 2SLS regression model for land market situation showed that age of the household head, household income and formal education of household heads and their spouses positively influenced the demand while household income, non-farm employment and membership of cooperative society positively influence the supply of land under outright purchase market among the cocoa farming households in the study. The QUAIDS model revealed that farming households that demanded for land under rental and outright purchase markets increased allocation of resources to clothing and health of the farming households and increase in education of the household heads and spouses increased the allocation of resources to education and health of the farming households in the study area. The study concluded that farming households that demanded for land under rental and outright purchase markets allocated more resources to household members which implies improved livelihood for household members. 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study Before the exportation of crude oil started gaining prominence in Nigeria,Department Of Soil Science And Land Resources Management, Faculty Of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University.