Phosphorus (P) is a vital element required for nodulation, stomatal regulation and photosynthesis in legume crops. P-deficiency in tropical soils limits the growth and productivity of Bambara groundnuts. The current study focused on determining the potential suitability of underutilized crops for food security using phosphorus fertilizer as soil amendment practice. A field trial was carried out at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), over two growing seasons to determine the optimum P rate for Bambara production. This trial was laid out in a split plot in a randomized block design with three replications. Bambara genotypes represented the main plots while four P fertilizer rates (0, 30, 45 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) were the sub-plots. The appropriate application rate of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 showed excellent performance based on growth and yield analysis, and the results indicate a positive significant interaction between landraces and phosphorus fertilizer rates. The biological suitability of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 increased the number of nodules per plant for Tiga Necuru, Kenya Capstone and Nav Red by 42.8%, 51.3% and 42.1% respectively, over control plots. The same for pod yield is 12%, 28% and 52% significantly higher than when P was applied at 45, 30 and 0 kg P2O5 ha-1 respectively. The results further revealed that on days to flowering and maturity, the plant height, the number of branches and dry matter increased significantly at each level of P fertilizer rate applied. Bambara production at 0 kg P fertilizer rate might not be sufficient to enhance Bambara productivity significantly. The outcome of this study reveals the suitability of phosphorus fertilizer application in enhancing the sustainability of Bambara groundnut productivity and the potential of Bambara in diversifying crop production to ensure food security.
References
[1]
Agba, O.A., Ikenganyia, E.E. and Asiegbu, J.E. (2016) Responses of Mucuna flagellipes to Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates in an Ultisol. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 9, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.9734/IJPSS/2016/20161
[2]
Adnan, M., Fahad, S., Zamin, M., Shah, S., Mian, I.A., Danish, S., Zafar-ul-Hye, M., Battaglia, M.L., Naz, R.M.M., Saeed, B., Saud, S., Ahmad, I., Yue, Z., Brtnicky, M., Holatko, J. and Datta, R. (2020) Coupling Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria with Phosphorus Supplements Improve Maize Phosphorus Acquisition and Growth under Lime Induced Salinity Stress. Plants, 9, Article No. 900. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070900
[3]
Ofori, P. (2016) Yield Response of Soybean and Cowpea to Rock Phosphate Fertilizer Blend and Rhizobial Inoculation on Two Benchmark Soils of Northern Ghana. PhD Thesis, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
[4]
Majola, N.G., Gerrano, A.S. and Shimelis, H. (2021) Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc.) Production, Utilization and Genetic Improvement in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agronomy, 11, Article No. 1345. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071345
[5]
Bashagaluke, J.B., Logah, V., Opoku, A., Sarkodie-Addo, J. and Quansah, C. (2018) Soil Nutrient Loss through Erosion: Impact of Different Cropping Systems and Soil Amendments in Ghana. PLOS ONE, 13, e0208250. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208250
[6]
Sanginga, N. and Woomer, P.L. (2009) Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Africa: Principles, Practices and Developmental Process. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, 263 p.
[7]
Ikenganyia, E.E., Anikwe, M.A.N. and Ngwu, O.E. (2017) Influence of Rhizobacteria Inoculant Application Methods and Phosphate Fertilizer Rates on Dry Matter Accumulation, Yield of Bambara Groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc] and Soil Total Nitrogen Content in a Degraded Ultisol in Southeast Nigeria. Agrotechnology, 6, Article ID: 1000165.
[8]
Effa, E.B., Nwagwu, F.A., Osai, E.O. and Shiyam, J.O. (2016) Growth and Yield Response of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) to Varying Densities and Phosphate Fertilizer Rates in Calabar, South Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 6, 14-20.
[9]
Aryal, A., Devkota, A.K., Aryal, K. and Mahato, M. (2021) Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Cowpea Varieties in Dang, Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4, 62-78. https://doi.org/10.3126/janr.v4i1.33228
[10]
Nelson, D.M. and Sommer, L.E. (1975) A Rapid and Accurate Method for Estimating Organic Carbon in Soil. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 84, 456-462.
[11]
Davidian, M. (2020) ST 732, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Lecture Notes. North Carolina State University, Raleigh. https://www4.stat.ncsu.edu/~davidian/st732/notes.html
[12]
Khan, M.M.H., Rafii, M.Y., Ramlee, S.I., Jusoh, M. and Al-Mamun, M. (2021) Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc): A Crop for the New Millennium, Its Genetic Diversity, and Improvements to Mitigate Future Food and Nutritional Challenges. Sustainability, 13, Article No. 5530. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105530
[13]
Landon, J.R. (2014) Booker Tropical Soil Manual: A Handbook for Soil Survey and Agricultural Land Evaluation in the Tropics and Subtropics. Routledge, New York.
[14]
Kwari, J.D. (2005) Soil Fertility Status in Some Communities in Southern, Borno. Final Report to PROSAB Project, IITA, Maiduguri, 21.
[15]
Aune, J.B. and Lai, R. (1995) Chapter 17. The Tropical Soil Productivity Calculator—A Model for Assessing Effects of Soil Management Ion Productivity. In: Lai, R. and Stewart, B.A., Eds., Soil Management Experimental Basis for Sustainability and Environmental Quality, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, 499-520.
[16]
Buah, S.S.J., Ibrahim, H., Derigubah, M., et al. (2017) Tillage and Fertilizer Effect on Maize and Soybean Yields in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana. Agriculture & Food Security, 6, Article No. 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0094-8
[17]
Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. (2002) Soil Phosphorus and Potassium. In: Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R., Eds., The Nature and Properties of Soils, 13th Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, 643-695.
[18]
Wondimu, W. and Tana, T. (2017) Yield Response of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties to Combined Application of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers at Mechara, Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Plant Biology & Soil Health, 4, Article No. 7. https://doi.org/10.13188/2331-8996.1000018
[19]
Sattari, Z.S. (2014) The Legacy of Phosphorus; Agriculture and Future Food Security. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen.
[20]
Singh, S.K., Reddy, V.R., Fleisher, D.H. and Timlin, D.J. (2018) Phosphorus Nutrition Affects Temperature Response of Soybean Growth and Canopy Photosynthesis. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, Article No. 1116. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01116
[21]
Kyei-Boahen, S., Savala, C.E.N., Chikoye, D. and Abaidoo, R. (2017) Growth and Yield Responses of Cowpea to Inoculation and Phosphorus Fertilization in Different Environments. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, Article No. 646. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00646
[22]
Razaq, M., Zhang, P., Shen, H.-L. and Salahuddin (2017) Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorous on the Growth and Root Morphology of Acer mono. PLOS ONE, 12, e0171321. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171321
[23]
Turuko, M. and Mohammed, A. (2014) Effect of Different Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates on Growth, Dry Matter Yield and Yield Components of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). World Journal of Agricultural Research, 2, 88-92. https://doi.org/10.12691/wjar-2-3-1
[24]
Oyiga, B.C. and Uguru, M.I. (2011) Interrelationship among Pod and Seed Yield Traits in Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) in Derived Savanna Agro-Ecology of South-Eastern Nigeria under Two Planting Dates. International Journal of Plant Breeding, 5, 106-111.
[25]
Mouri, S., Sarkar, M., Uddin, M., Sarker, U., Kaysar, M. and Hoque, M. (2018) Effect of Variety and Phosphorus on the Yield Components and Yield of Groundnut. Progressive Agriculture, 29, 117-126. https://doi.org/10.3329/pa.v29i2.38295
[26]
Ellah, M.M., Aondo, T.O., Ellah, J.N. and Obasi, M.O. (2018) Phosphorus Rates, Intra-Rowing Spacing and Variety of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranean (L.) Verdc) in Makurdi Ecological Zone. Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science, 1, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJRCS/2018/41683
[27]
Naz, S., Shen, Q., Lwalaba, J.L.W. and Zhang, G. (2021) Genotypic Difference in the Responses to Nitrogen Fertilizer Form in Tibetan Wild and Cultivated Barley. Plants, 10, Article No. 595. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030595
[28]
Mari, S.J., Sarker, M.A.R., Uddin, M.R., Sarker, U.K., Kaysar, M.S. and Hoque, M.M.I. (2018) Effect of Variety and Phosphorus on the Yield Components and Yield of Groundnut. Journal of Progressive Agriculture, 29, 117-126. https://doi.org/10.3329/pa.v29i2.38295
[29]
Berchie, J.N., Dapaah, H., Agyemang, A., Sarkodie, A., Addy, S., Addo, J. and Blankson, E. (2012) Effect of Sowing Date on the Performance of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) Landraces in the Transition and Forest Agro-Ecologies of Ghana. Acta Horticulturae, 936, 139-144. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.936.16
[30]
Karikari, B. and Arkorful, E. (2015) Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer on Dry Matter Production and Distribution in Three Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Varieties in Ghana. Journal of Plant Sciences, 10, 167-178. https://doi.org/10.3923/jps.2015.167.178
[31]
Oladiran, O., Fagbola, O., Abaidoo, R. and Nnenna, N. (2011) Phosphorus Response Efficiency in Cowpea Genotypes. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4, 81-90. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v4n1p81
[32]
Kasu-Bandi, B., Kidinda, L., Kasendue, G., Longanza, L., Lenge, M.E. and Lubobo, A. (2019) Correlations between Growth and Yield Parameters of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) under the Influence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum. American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 14, 86-94. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2019.86.94.
