Varieties and Soil Amendments (Poultry Manure) effect on growth and yield of Bambara Groundnut in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria
Abstract
Bambara groundnut is an underutilize legume with poor yield because of inadequate knowledge about high yielding varieties and soil amendment rates. This experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, to determine the growth and yield potentials of five varieties and different poultry manure rates of Bambara groundnut. The five varieties used were TVSU 1482, TVSU 688, TVSU 921, Black local and White local, while the soil amendment rates were 0kg/ha, 4000kg/ha, 6000kg/ha, and 8000kg/ha of poultry manure. The experiment was set up in a split block using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Data collected include plant height, 50% flowering, days to 50 % maturity, pod per ha and Seed yield per hectare. The data collected were analyzed using the GLM SAS software while the means were separated using the Duncan’smultiple range testas described. Result showed that variety TVSU 688 had higher performance than other varieties but not significantly better (P<0.05). The manure rates were also significantly better than control (0kg/ha) ingrowth and yield parameters. The experiment revealed that TVSU 688 has the highest growth and yield traits in Owerri, while poultry manure applied at 4000 kg/ha is also the most effective poultry manure rate to be considered in Bambara groundnut cultivation.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
The Bambara groundnut (Vigna subtarranea (L) Verdc) belongs to the family Fabaceae, subfamily Papilionoidea. It is an indigenous African legume (10) which originated in the Sahel region of present day West Africa. Its name originated from the Bambara tribe who now live mainly in Mali (6). Bambara groundnut is the third most important grain legume after groundnut. Although considerably less popular throughout the world, cultivation of Bambara groundnut has remained common in all of West Africa. It is has also been established that the crop is one of the most underutilized in the developing world (6). The micronutrients and amino acids in Bambara groundnut is comparable to that of soybean. Seeds and nuts can be eaten raw or cooked while the protein extracts can be used in making cosmetic formulations. Bambara groundnut is a good source of human protein. It also contain high amount of phosphorus and potassium. It helps in bone development and proper functioning of kidney (4, 11). They also playa role innutrition of many people in Africa where they can be processed into flour, akara, okpa, moin-moin, milk, tubani, and dawadawa, which provide nutrients to fight malnutrition across the continent (12). As having access to proper balanced diet continues to be a challenge across Africa continent as a result of the rapid growth in population, migration crisis, depletion of soil nutrients and effects of climate change (13). There is a need for diversification of diet and Agricultural production system in other to fully maximize crop output. This also underscores the importance of using different approach in improving the growth and yield of underutilized crops like Bambara groundnut. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of poultry manure rates assoil amendment on selected growth and yield parameters of Bambara groundnut varieties.
Conclusion
This experiment showed that variety TVSU 688 is the most superior Bambara variety for maximum growth and yield in Imo State Southeastern Nigeria. Result also showed the application of poultry manure increase growth and yield of Bambara groundnut.
We therefore recommend the cultivation of TVSU 688 in the state. However, in places where the variety is not available, local Black variety should be cultivated. We also recommend the application of poultry manure at the rate of 4000 kg/ha to maximize yield.