YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE RATES, MOISTURE REGIME, AND INOCULATION IN NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in dry season of 2021/2022 to investigate the influence of poultry manure rate, soil moisture regime and inoculation on the yield and yield components of Bambara groundnut at irrigation farm of Institute for Agricultural Research IAR, A.B.U., Samaru- Zaria and College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Irrigation Farm Mando, Kaduna both located in the Northern Guinea Savannah Ecological Zone of Nigeria respectively. Treatments consisted of four levels of poultry manure rates (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 tons ha-1), four levels of soil moisture regimes (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%), and two levels of inoculation: no inoculation and inoculation. Treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Significant increment was observed due to the poultry manure rate application of 6 tons ha^-1 on yield parameters like number of pod plant^-1, number of kernels pod^-1, 100 kernels weight (g), number of pods plot^-1, number of pod ha^-1, number of kernels (g) plot^-1, kernel yield kg ha^-1 and harvest index over other rates evaluated, while application of 100% moisture regime had a significant effect on parameters like number of pod plant^-1, number of kernels pod^-1, 100 kernels weight (g),  of pods plot^-1, number of pod ha^-1, number of kernels (g) plot^-1, harvest index and kernel yield kg ha^-1 over other moisture regimes evaluated. Also, Bambara groundnut treated with rhizobium inoculant produced better yield and yield parameters, well over non-inoculated plants. From the result obtained, the combination of 6 tons ha^-1and 100% moisture regime produced highest Bambara groundnut kernel yield (kg/ha) and other yield components at both location.