Effects of commercial microbial inoculants and foliar fertilizers on soybean nodulation and yield in northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria
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Date
2013
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Publisher
IJAAR
Abstract
The use of microbial inoculants and less expensive sources of plant nutrients
such as foliar fertilizers are ways to practice low-input agriculture, especially in
sub-Saharan Africa where smallholder farmers’ soil nutrients are depleted.
However, the application of microbial inoculants and foliar fertilizers are
influenced by agroecological specific factors. Here we show the effects of
microbial inoculants and foliar fertilizers application on soybean, under
smallholder farmers’ conditions in northern Guinea savannah. Three microbial
inoculants; Bradyrhizobium spp. (RACA 6), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
(Rhizatech) and Trichoderma harzianum (Eco-T) and two foliar fertilizers;
Agroleaf high P and Agrolyser were evaluated. The trial was carried out during
2011 cropping season in randomized complete block design with 12 treatments
and 4 replicates. The shoot dry weight was increased separately by the
Reference treatment with N, P chemical fertilizers, Rhizatech and RACA 6 + triple
superphosphate (TSP) over 21% compared to the control. Significant effect
existed among treatments for soybean nodulation and shoot phosphorus
concentration. Grain yield was relatively increased by the application of RACA 6
+ TSP, RACA 6 + Eco-T + Agrolyser and RACA 6 + Rhizatech + Agrolyser
compared to the control. The experiment suggested that soybean co-inoculation
with rhizobial and fungal inoculants and application of foliar fertilizers in
northern Guinea savannah could lead to improved grain yield.
Description
This article is Published by IJAAR 2013,
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Citation
IJAAR 1 (2013) 66-73