Agronomic Performance Of Soybeans As Impacted By Soil- And Foliar- Applied Organic Fertilizers In The Tropics

Summary

Organically produced soybean is <0.1% of total world production despite its increasing demand in the world market. Therefore, field trails were carried out in southwestern Nigeria during the late cropping seasons (July – Nov.) of 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the agronomic performance of three improved soybean varieties: TGx 1448-2E, TGx 1835-10E and TGx 1989-19F as affected by foliar: Arati Baja (1.01% N), Arati Nawoz (2.01% N), D I Grow (3.19% N and 1.49% N) and soil applied organic fertilizers: (Aleshinloye Grade B, O.56% N and 1.48% N), and control (no fertilizer). The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement in three replicates. Fertilizer application and varietal effects were significant (p<0.05) on nodulation at 10 weeks after sowing, weight of pods and seeds per plant, and grain yield in both years. It was concluded that the soil organic fertilizer or any of the foliar fertilizers can enhance soybean cultivation in the tropics.