Growth and yield of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) as influenced by tillage and phosphorus application

Eifediyi Ehiokhilen Kevin, Ahamefule Henry Emeka, Izuogu Betsy Nkechi, Ogedegbe Felix Omonkeke, Remison Samson Uduzei

Abstract: Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) is an indigenous leguminous crop grown in the savannah zones of Nigeria by peasant farmers who rely on low inputs for its growth and yield improvement. But the yield of the crop has remained very low due primarily to the use of unimproved cultivars, poor cultural practices and poor moisture conservation practices. A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons to investigate the effects of tillage methods and phosphorus application on the growth and yield of the crop. The experiment was laid out as a split plot arrangement which comprised of three tillage methods (zero, conventional and traditional); as the main plots and five rates of phosphorus application (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha-1) as the subplots. The treatments were fitted into a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The result of the study showed that the bulk density and total porosity of tillage plots were significantly different (p< 0.05) at all sampling periods. The result of the study further revealed that using the zero tillage gave the highest physiological growth and yield attributes in both years. The total dry matter increased up to the highest level of P applied (80 kgha-1) but seed weight was highest at 40 kg-1 P. The increase in seed weight at 40 kg-1 P in 2017 was 41.3% greater than control. In 2018, the increase in seed weight was at 40 kg-1 P with 35% greater than control. The proximate analyses of the seeds showed that the fat, ash, fibre, carbohydrate and protein contents had similar values which were not significantly affected by the treatments imposed. This therefore suggests that the nutrient composition is a function of genetic composition. The study further showed the presence of essential nutrients in adequate amount and proportion in the seeds and re-affirms its use as a complete food for people living in the rural areas in Nigeria who cannot afford fish, meat or other dietary supplements.

Keywords: Bambara groundnut; growth; phosphorus; tillage; yield

Date published: 2020-06-30