EFFECT OF MOLYBDENUM FERTILIZATION ON SEED MOLYBDENUM CONTENT, NODULATION AND YIELD OF GROUNDNUT AND COWPEA GENOTYPES IN A SAVANNA ALFISOL

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Date
2011-08
Authors
ADEOGUN, Tinuke Tawa Adebola
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Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Mo treatments (Mo levels and methods of application) on seed Mo content, nodulation and yield of cowpea and groundnut genotypes. The supply of Mo to planted grain legumes can be soil or foliar applied. A third possible supply option, the Mo content of the seed (grain), has not been exploited. This third option is expected to provide a more economically viable prospect of the available options. The study had the following objectives: to determine the effects of Mo fertilization and methods of application on the seed Mo content and on nodulation of groundnut and cowpea genotypes. To achieve these, one greenhouse experiment and one field trial were conducted. Treatments consisted of five levels of Mo soil applied (0, 100, 200, 300 and 500g Mo/ha) and one level of Mo applied foliar (200g Mo/ha). The test crops were two groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 23 and SAMNUT 14) and two cowpea varieties (IAR 48 and IT95K-499-35). Agronomic and soil parameters were measured. Results of the study showed that the rate of 200g Mo/ha was optimal for growth, nodulation and good yield of groundnut and cowpea genotypes, though suitable rates for some parameters may range from 100 to 300g Mo/ha. Soil application was generally superior to foliar application, but foliar application seemed to stimulate more root development and Mo accumulation in the seeds of the planted grain legumes. Efficiency of the foliar method or soil method of application varied within genotypes of the crop species. Maximum grain yield of the groundnut genotypes were 700 kg/ha for SAMNUT 23 at 100g Mo/ha and 726 kg/ha for SAMNUT 14 at 300g Mo/ha. For the cowpea genotypes, yield levels were 1218 kg/ha for IAR 48 at 200g Mo/ha soil applied and 1150 kg/ha for IT95K-499-35 at 200g Mo/ha soil applied. Mo application was found to enhance organic carbon accretion in the soil by 6% under field conditions and 24% in greenhouse situations and the cowpea crop was more efficient in this case. The significance of P and K as well as Cu and Mo for good nodulation and yield of grain legumes were derived from correlation relationship in this study. Soil Mo content enhanced Mo accumulation in the grain. For 200g Mo/ha, the average seed Mo content of the crops were found to be 6.96 mg/kg for groundnut and 6.20 mg/kg for cowpea. Therefore, for good growth, nutrition, nodulation and yield of groundnut and cowpea genotypes, the Mo content of the planted seed should be about 7.00mg/kg and above and this level can be considered adequate for the crops without soil or foliar applied Mo in the management of the planted grain legumes.
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A Thesis Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria In Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Master of Science Degree in Soil Science Department of Soil Science Faculty of Agriculture Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria
Keywords
MOLYBDENUM FERTILIZATION,, MOLYBDENUM CONTENT,,, NODULATION,, YIELD OF GROUNDNUT AND COWPEA GENOTYPES IN A SAVANNA, ALFISOL.
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