EFFECT OF LIME, RHIZOBIUM AND FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SOYBEAN (GLYCIN MAX) IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out at the teaching and Research farm, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, AkanuIbiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, to investigate the integrated effects of lime, Inoculum, single superphosphate and muriate of potash on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The input o mission trial was composed of 16 treatment combinations of phosphorus (75kg/ha), potassium (88kg/ha), lime(1500kg/ha), and inoculums (400g/100kg seed). Each set of16 treatments were randomized and replicated 3 times. The soybean variety “TGX1951-3F” was plantedin0.5m by1m plots with a seed spacingof5cm. Data on number of nodules and nodule viability at 45 days after planting, plant height at 90 days after planting, number and weight of 100 seeds per plot and yield per plot at harvest were collected and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in R using the package “car” to test the main treatment effects, 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way treatment interactions in the omission trial. Results showed highly significant effects of treatments on the growth, nodulation and yield of soybean. The no input treatment generally had the most appreciable improvement in plant height, nodule viability, weight of 100 seeds and yield. Inoculated seeds had the highest number of nodules and percent nodule viability (5 and 69% respectively). . 2.12ton/ha yield generated by the no input treatment shows the potential for future higher yield especially when climatic and good agronomic strategies are employed.