Kekere Otitoloju

Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Soil Biology, 2014, Vol. 5, No. 7   doi: 10.5376/msb.2014.05.0007
Received: 31 May, 2014    Accepted: 29 Jun., 2014    Published: 08 Aug., 2014

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Kekere, 2014, Effect of Integrated Use of Soil Conditioner with Fertilizers on Growth, Chlorophyll Content and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.), Molecular Soil Biology, Vol.5, No.7, 1-9 (doi: 10.5376/msb.2014.05.0007)

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction effect of soil conditioner with organic and inorganic fertilizers on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production. Treatments include: T₀ (no soil amendment), T₁ (100% inorganic NPK fertilizer), T₂ (100% organic NPK fertilizer), T₃ (100% organic soil conditioner), T₄ (50% inorganic NPK + 50% organic soil conditioner) and T₅ (50% organic NPK + 50% organic soil conditioner). T₁-T₅ did not affect stem girth, leaf area and root length. T₁ and T₂ significantly increased stem length, number of leaves and branches. T₄ and T₅ had the best growth, which differed significantly from T₀-T₃. Root number and nodules increased significantly in amended soils. T₁ and T₂ increased relative growth rate and root/shoot ratio non-significantly, but T₄ and T₅ increased them significantly. Leaf total chlorophyll and root mass was not affected by T₁-T₅, while leaf mass increased significantly. Stem mass and total biomass increased significantly under T₁ and T₂, while T₄ and T₅ further increased them remarkably above T₀-T₃. T₁ and T₂ significantly improved pods/plant, pod yield, number of seeds/plant and seed yield, while T₄ and T₅ further enhanced yield. T₁-T₅ significantly increased 100-seed mass while shelling percentage increase was significant only in T₄ and T₅. Growth and yield generally increased in T₃ but non-significant level. Sole application of soil conditioner, organic or inorganic fertilizers though increased yield, none could provide soil conditions and nutrients for groundnut production. Combination of soil conditioner with organic or inorganic fertilizer can greatly increase yield of groundnut for sustainable production.

Soil amendment; Fertilizers; Soil conditioner; Arachis hypogaea; Growth