Groth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merrill) as Influenced by Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

Summary

A pot experiment was conducted in the Screen House of the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano to determine the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of three Soybean varieties (TGX1835-10E, TGX1987-62F, and TGX1740-2E) and five levels of fertilizers (control, 244.44 kg ha-1 NPK, 10 t ha-1 poultry manure, 5 t ha-1 poultry manure + 244.44 kg ha-1 NPK, and 2.5 t ha-1 poultry manure + 355.55 kg ha-1 NPK). This was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated three times. Vegetative traits were taken at 5, 7 and 9 weeks after sowing and reproductive traits were measured at maturity stage. Variety effect was significant on plant height, number of branches plant-1, leaf area, number of pods plant-1, weight of grains plant-1 and 100 seed weight. Variety TGX 1835-10E proved superior to TGX 1987-62F and TGX 1740-2E. Combination of 2.5 t ha-1 + 355.55 kg ha-1 NPK recorded tallest plant, highest number of branches plant-1, widest leaf area and higher number of pods plant-1. Applying 5 t ha-1 poultry manure + 244.44 kg ha-1 of NPK to TGX1740-2E recorded heavier seed weight than other treatment combinations. Variety TGX1835-10E out yielded other varieties tested while combination of 2.5 t ha-1of poultry manure and 355.5 kg ha-1 of NPK proved to be superior to other rates and combinations of fertilizers.