Growth and Yield Components of Groundnut (Arachis hypogeal L.) as Affected by Phosphorous Fertilizer Application on the Jos Plateau

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in Federal College of Forestry demonstration farm Jos, Plateau State to determine the growth and yield components groundnut as affected by phosphorous fertilizer application on the Jos plateau. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising of four treatments (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P ha-1) that were replicated four times on groundnut (SAMNUT 25). Data was collected on germination percentage, plant height, leaf count, number of branches, days to 50% flowering, number of pods/plant, 100 seeds weight, total yield and biomass weight which were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability with Minitab 23. Where significance was declared, Fisher LSD method was used to separate the means. The result reveals that no significant effect was recorded for germination percentage. Highly significant effect of phosphorous was observed on the growth and yield components of groundnut. The highest (34.63 cm) plant height, leaf (100.78) count, number (27.13) of branches, days (27.75 days) to 50% flowering, number (34.50) of pods/plant, 100 seeds (52.08 g) weight, total (2.26tha-1) yield and biomass (5.42 tha-1) weight at the application of 60 kg P ha-1. Thus, groundnut farmers are encouraged to engage in the application of 60kg P ha-1 for optimum growth and yield. Further research on other varieties should be conducted to ascertain the best variety and phosphorous rate for optimum groundnut production in the study area.