The Impact of Various Fertilizer Inputs on the Growth, Nodulation and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max) Cultivated on an Alfisol in Minna, Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Abstract

Growth and yield response of soybean variety TGX 1448-2E to various fertilizer inputs was evaluated in a field experiment at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology Minna during the 2010 cropping season. Treatment consist of five fertilizer combinations as follows: Zero fertilizer application at 0 kg P ha-1, Rock phosphate at 30 kg P ha-1, single super phosphate at 30 kg P ha-1, combination of single super phosphate at 30 kg P ha-1 and Urea at 20 kg N ha-1 and a combination of single super phosphate at 30 kg P ha-1 and Agrolyzer at 900g ha-1 The experimental layout was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Result revealed that plants supplied with P fertilizer either in sole or combined form had significant growth improvement compared with their unfertilized counterparts. SSP in water. Obviously, TGX 1448-2E grew better when SSP was supplied at the rate of 30 kg P ha-1 than when Rock phosphate was applied at the same rate.. To obtain a yield of 2104kg ha-1, TGX 1448-2E will need a fertilizer combination of SSP at the rate of 30 kg P ha-1 and Urea at the rate of 20 kg N ha-1.