Growth, Nodulation, and Yield Responses of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as Influenced by Combined Application of Rhizobium Inoculant and Phosphorus in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

Abstract

Groundnut yields obtained by farmers in northern Ghana are generally low due to low soil fertility resulting from continuous cropping coupled with low use of external inputs. There is therefore the need to use systems’ internal resources such as biological nitrogen fixation efficiently to enhance crop production. This on-station experiment investigated nodulation and pod yield responses of three groundnut varieties, namely Obolo, Oboshie and Samnut 22 to inoculation with rhizobium inoculants of exotic strains, namely Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense (BR 3267) and USDA 3456 in combination with 0 kg P ha−1, 15 kg P ha−1 and 30 kg P ha−1. Combined application of 30 kg P ha−1 and BR 3267 increased the nodule numbers in Obolo, Oboshie and Samnut 22 by 144%, 188% and 56%, respectively compared to their uninoculated counterparts. Inoculation with BR 3267 produced the highest pod yield in all the three varieties with yields increasing from 13 to 40% over that of the uninoculated treatments, with BR 3267-inoculated Samnut 22 giving the highest yield of 2013 kg ha−1. P fertilizer and rhizobium inoculant also had a significant interactive influence on the pod yield of groundnut. Combined application of 30 kg P ha−1 and rhizobium inoculation increased the groundnut yield by 64 to 68%. The study observed a positive interaction between the rhizobium strains and P fertilizer.

Supplementing Nitrogen in Combination with Rhizobium Inoculation and Soil Mulch in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Production System: Part II. Effect on Phenology, Growth, Yield Attributes, Pod Quality, Profitability and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

“…The favorable soil structure under polythene mulch also improved the soil total porosity, capillary porosity and aeration porosity, which in turn may have improved pegging and pod formation in the soil [42]. Similar results, including higher pod dry weights, improved peg to pod conversion and shelling percentages were also reported under seed inoculated with Rh than under noninoculated peanut seed [43,44].…”

Response of Peanut Varieties to Phosphorus and Rhizobium Inoculant Rates on Haplic Lixisols of Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

“…Similarly, Boddey et al (2017) reported a higher nodule number in Northern Ghana due to the application of the Bradyrhizobium inoculant with P fertilizer. The study of Asante et al (2020) on yield response of groundnut to inoculation and P application also supports this conclusion. In the on-station experiment, nodule and effective nodule formation did not differ significantly among IR, PR, and V interactions.…”

“…Therefore, P deficiency can negatively affect access to atmospheric N by legumes (Adjei-Nsiah et al, 2018). In confirming this, Asante et al (2020) indicated that rhizobium activity and N2 fixation are negatively affected when the system lacks phosphorus (P) since P serves as an energy source for the rhizobia. Similarly, the requirement of P in nodulating legumes is higher compared to non-nodulating crops as it contributes significantly to root development (Tang et al, 2001), root nodulation (Nwaga and Ngo Nkot, 1998), and shoot uptake of N, P, and K (Ramesh et al, 1997) in legumes.…”

“…It has been reported that leguminous plants with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria are able to fix about 15-210 kg/ha of nitrogen per season (Dakora and Keya, 1997). However, the effective functioning of rhizobia can be influenced by the availability of other soil nutrients, especially P. In confirming this, Asante et al (2020) stated that rhizobium activity is reduced when the soil lacks phosphorus (P). Thus, in the presence of P, the inoculation of peanut with the appropriate rate of rhizobium inoculant can be a beneficial strategy to improve productivity.…”

Assessment of soil microbial population dynamics and their correlation with pod yield in herbicidal treated groundnut

“…This could be due to the availability of more nutrients to the microbes due to weed free condition. [1] . The study of Effiong et al, 2019) [4] showed that inoculation of fungi Glomus clarum contributes towards higher pod yield in groundnut.…”