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Comparative
growth and grain yield responses of soybean genotypes to
phosphorous fertilizer application
J. Mahamood,
Y. A. Abayomi* and M. O. Aduloju
Department of Agronomy, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515,
Ilorin, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
yabayomi2007@yahoo.com,
abiyomi@unilorin.edu.ng. Tel: +2348060553813.
Accepted 26 September, 2008 |
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A two-year field study was conducted in 2003 and 2004 at the
Teaching and Research Farm, Bolorunduro (8o 29’
N, 4o 35’E ) of the University of Ilorin,
Nigeria, to evaluate the growth and grain yield responses of
soybean genotypes to P fertilizer application. The trial was
designed as 12 x 2 factorial experiments in randomized
complete block and laid out in split-plots arrangements with
four replications. The main plots were twelve soybean
genotypes, while two P fertilizer levels constituted the
sub-plots. Plant height, leaf area and number of branches
per plant, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, net
assimilation rate and leaf area ratio were measured at full
flowering, while number of pods per plant and grain yield
were obtained at harvest. Plant height, leaf area, number
of branches, crop growth rate, relative growth rate varied
significantly (p < 0.001) among genotypes and increased
significantly (p < 0.01) with P fertilizer application in
both years of study. Similarly, number of pods per plant and
grain yield differed significantly among genotypes and
increased with P application in the two years of study, but
the differences were significant only in 2003. The results
also showed appreciable variations in grain yields of the
genotypes at 0 kg P ha-1, suggesting variations
in P use efficiency of the genotypes at low level of P. In
conclusion, results of this study showed significant
positive responses to P application.
Key words:
Growth, grain yield, phosphorus fertilizer, Glycine max. |
