EFFECT OF FORAGE LEGUMES ON SOIL IMPROVEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
EFFECT OF FORAGE LEGUMES ON SOIL IMPROVEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA
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Date
1999-01
Authors
TANIMU, JOSEPH
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Abstract
Greenhouse and field studies were conducted over a twoyear
period (1995 - 1996) at Samaru (11°11"N, 7°38"E) in the
Northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria to evaluate the effect
of legume incorporation on some soil properties and the
performance of maize (Zea mays L.). In the greenhouse the
treatments consisted of six forage legume species and maize
stover applied at two rates (2.5 and 5.0t ha-1) and a control
of no amendment. The design was randomised complete block
(RCBD) replicated three times. In the field, two experiments
were conducted. In the first one, five legume species and a
fallow control as treatments were incorporated after two years
of growth, while in the second experiment, six legume species
and control were incorporated only after one year of growth.
The Design in the two experiments were split plot with legume
species and fallow plots as main treatments and fertilizer
rates (0, 40, 80 and 120kg N ha"1) as sub-treatments.
The incorporation of legumes in the greenhouse generally
increased shoot dry matter yield (DMY), plant height, maize
shoot nutrient concentration, soil organic carbon and pH. At
2 . 5t ha-1 Centrosema. pascuorum (CP) and at 5 . Ot ha-1 Chaemacrista
rotundifolia (CR) generally gave better results than the other
treatments. Where legume was incorporated after one year of
growth, CR gave maize grain yield, 1000-grain weight, plant
and ear heights that were significantly (P<0.05) higher than
the other treatments. Increase in grain yield as a result of
legume incorporation after one year of growth ranged from
0.18 to 0.61t ha-1 (38.3 to 129.8%) more than the control.
Where incorporation was done after two years of growth, legume
incorporation gave yield increases over the control which
ranged from 0.13 to 1.03t ha'1 (15.5 to 122.6%) and 0.16 to
1.30t ha-1 (11.7 to 51.1%) for the first and second seasons
respectively. The pooled data for the two seasons was compared
with the control, legumes gave 0.14 to 0.83t ha-1 (12.6 to
74.8%) increased in grain yield than the control. Interaction
between legume and N fertilizer showed that at 40kg N ha"1,
incorporating CP in the first experiment and CR in the second
experiment gave maize grain yield that were comparable to the
recommended dose of 120kg N ha-1. This implies that with legume
incorporation N requirement could be reduce by at least 80kg
N ha"1.
Grain yield and yield related parameters significantly
responded to N fertilizer in the two experiments. In the
first experiment, strong residual effect was observed. Yield
increases in the second year of cropping ranged from 0.14 to
0.65t ha"1 higher than in the first year. Legume incorporation
generally improves soil pH, SOM, exchangeable cations and CEC.
Description
A THESIS
Submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science.
Department of Soil Science,
Faculty of Agriculture,
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria.
January, 19 99.
Keywords
FORAGE LEGUMES,, MAIZE,, NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA, (Zea mays L.),