THE EESPONSE OF SOYBEAN {Glycine max (L. ) Merr) TO SULPHUR FERTILIZATION ON SELECTED SOILS OF THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA
THE EESPONSE OF SOYBEAN {Glycine max (L. ) Merr) TO SULPHUR FERTILIZATION ON SELECTED SOILS OF THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA
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Date
1990-01
Authors
AMAPU, ISHAKU YO'ILA
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Abstract
The soils of the Nigerian savanna are generally low in
sulphur and the production of leguminous crops such as soybean
is therefore dependent on adequate sulphur fertilisation.
This study was carried out to evaluate the response of
soybean to sulphur under greenhouse conditions and on the
field.
For the greenhouse study, five representative soils were
taken from the soybean-growing zone of the country and
cropped to soybean for six weeks. The treatments consisted of
four levels of sulphur (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1). The
shoots were cut at the end of the six weeks, oven-dried to
constant weight, milled and analysed for nutrient uptake.
The field trial was conducted at Samaru and consisted of four
sulphur treatments vis; 0, 10, 20, and 40 kg ha"1, and the
crop was grown to full maturity and harvested when the pods
were dry, just at the commencement of shattering.
Under greenhouse conditions, sulphur applied at 10 mg
kg-l significantly increased dry matter yield and plant
height on two of the soils but leaf number was not affected
by the treatments. In the field, nodulation and grain yield
were marginally increased by sulphur application. However,
applying 40 kg S ha-1 slightly depressed grain yield and led
to a significant reduction in nodule number. Sulphur
fertilisation generally enhanced the uptake of both macro
and mieronutrients in the greenhouse with treatment effects
on the uptake of N, P, S, Fe, and Mn attaining statistical
significance on some of the soils. Sulphur application had no
significant effect on the nutrient concentration in soybean
index leaves under field conditions.
The results of this study suggest that where the
available sulphur level is about 4 mg kg-l or more, crop
response is unlikely under field conditions at Samaru and
possibly at other areas with similar soil characteristics
within the savanna Zone.
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,1990
Keywords
EESPONSE,, SOYBEAN,, Glycine,, SULPHUR,, FERTILIZATION,, SAVANNA,, SOILS