Measuring the benefits of biological nitrogen fixation of soybean (Glycine max (l.) Merrill) in cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) and soybean intercrop
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: The measurement of the benefits of biological nitrogen (N) fixing properties of soybean in cassava and soybeanintercrop was conducted at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 2000, 2001 and 2002. Changes in soil nutrientconcentration were measured at 0 – 30 cm. The effects of N- fertilization on cassava tuber yield and soil-N weremonitored for the three seasons using factorial in randomized complete block design. There was no apparentshading effect during the growth of the two crops. Soybean was harvested 110 days after planting, while cassavawas harvested at 4, 8 and 12 months after planting in each year. Cassava tuber yield was highest at intercrop X 60and intercrop X 45 kg N ha-1(30.0 and 29.9 t. ha-1) x tuber yield of intercrop X 45 kg N ha-1. The result indicates that60 kg (90 – 30) of applied nitrogen could be spared per hectare by intercropping cassava with soybean due tosoybean nitrogen fixation. Grain yield of soybean may not be compromised by intercropping with cassava. Soil - Nincreased from 0.042 mg kg-1before the experiment to 0.168 mg kg-1in sole soybean system and 0.086 mg kg-1inintercrop system at 8 months after planting and 0.150 mg kg-1in the sole soybean and 0.085 kg mg-1in intercropsystem in 12 months after planting. The highest land equivalent ratio (LER) of 2.3 and area × time equivalent ratio(ATER) of 1.8 were obtained at 45 kg N ha-1in the intercrop system
DOI: 10.5897/ajar.9000484
Authors: S. I. Umeh, B. N. Mbah
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2102225175