Examining beneficial inorganic and organic fertilizer interaction in soybean cultivation in the Northern region of Ghana.

Abstract

The need for fertilizer in soybean cultivation is inevitable, especially in Northern region of Ghana where soils are inherently low in soil fertility. It will be worthwhile to establish if a synergy will result from the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizer resulting in the optimization of soybean nodulation, growth and yield. An experiment was conducted to investigate the response of soybean to Fertisoil (composted organic manure made from sawdust, neem plant and poultry waste) and NPK fertilizer. 3 ton ha-1 of Fertisoil and 25 kg N ha-1, 30 kg P205 ha-1 and 30 kg k20 were applied as sole and combined treatments. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Parameters determined were nodule number, nodule dry weight, biomass accumulation, grain yield, haulm and husk weight and shoot biomass N and P concentration and uptake (at 50% flowering) . The nodule number was not significantly (P=0.05) enhanced, but the biomass dry weight accumulation was significantly influenced leading to 152, 100 and 118% increase by FS, P30 and FS+NPK over the control, respectively. Also 14, 22, and 30% increase in grain yield was produced relative to control (FS, P30, and FS+NPK), respectively. The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus at flowering were also significantly increased. This study shows that the application of organic (Fertisoil 3 ton ha-1) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK) increased soybean biomass yield, pod weight, grain yield and hundred seed weight (HSW) in the study area.