The aim of my study is to explore the use of rhizobia inoculation in order to increase yield and biological nitrogen fixation of the selected groundnut genotypes in the Sudan and northern Guinea savannas of Nigeria. Last year, I have already started the field work with two experiments. The first experiment included the following treatments; six groundnut varieties and six different inoculants treatments (NC 92, SBG 234, MJR 518, WDL 129, +N (20 kg N ha -1), and -N (0 kg N ha-1)). The second experiment included sixteen groundnut varieties and three inoculant treatments (NC 92, +N (20 kg N ha-1), and –N (0 kg N ha-1)).
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Left: Picture 1. From left to right: Dr Kamai, my project coordinator, Dr Abdelaziz, my IITA adviser, Dr Babu from ICRISAT and myself during one of their visit to my field in Bayero University Nigeria Right: Picture 2. Showing my visitors round in the groundnut fields in Bayero University, Nigeria |
Results of the first experiment showed that variety significantly influenced the growth and yield of groundnut in the two locations. Inoculant was only significant on shoot dry weight with SBG 234 (281.4 kg ha-1) showing the highest recorded weight and followed by MJR 518 (281.1 kg ha-1) in northern Guinea savanna +N (209.0 kg ha-1) had the highest recorded weight in Sudan savanna. SAMNUT 25 resulted in the highest pod yield (1,152.78 kg ha-1) in the northern Guinea savanna and KWANKWASO (2,575.62 kg ha-1) in the Sudan savanna (details are presented in the N2Africa Annual Review and Planning Meeting Abuja 2016 Report). The results of second experiment followed similar trends, as I presented in the poster during Joint Pan-African Grain Legume and World Cowpea Conference in Zambia, 2016. I have started repeating the first experiment in order to confirm my previous observations.
Faruk Galadanchi Umar, Bayero University, Nigeria.
(Click here for his 2015 update)