Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Phosphorus-Zinc Interaction for Soybean Production in Soil Developed on Charnockite in Ekiti State
by Shittu, O.S. and Ogunwale, J.A

Abstract:
The soils derived from charnockite in Ekiti State Nigeria were found to be low in zinc and phosphorus. There is little or no information on quantitative data about the P and Zn interactions on soybean grown in charnockitic soil of Ekiti. Attaining the goal of having quantitative data on Zn and P interactions necessitated the initiation of studies conducted on soil at Ikere where charnockites are located. This study was therefore conducted during the rainy seasons of 2006 and 2007 to evaluate growth and yield response of soybean TGX-1440LE from the direct effect and interaction of phosphorus and zinc. Treatments consisted of factorial combination of two levels of P(0,and 30kgPha-1 ),three levels of Zn(0,2,and 4kg Zns04ha-1) in a randomized complete block design in a soil developed in charnockite in Ekiti State The growth data were collected at 2 weekly intervals while yield components were taken at harvest. Stem girth, number of nodules and nodule weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased with 2kg Zn ha-1 application, which gave 111.2% yield advantage over the control treatment (0kgZn ha-1). Fertilizer rate above 2kgZn ha-1 significantly (p<0.05) decreased P uptake. The 30kgP ha-1 rate produced better growth, which was not significantly different from 0 kgP ha-1 while increase in P and Zn uptake was significant. The P x Zn interaction was significant for grain yield and Zn uptake. The treatment combination that gave the highest yield was 30kgP ha-1 and 2kgZn ha-1

Keywords: soybean, phosphorus, zinc, interaction, charnockite.

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