EFFICACY OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER RATES ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea L.) CULTIVARS ON JOS PLATEAU, NIGERIA

Abstract

This experimental research was conducted in 2018 and 2019 seasons at Federal College of Forestry demonstration farm Jos, Plateau State to determine the efficacy of phosphorus fertilizer rates on the growth and yield, and yield components of groundnut cultivars. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising of four treatments (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅ha^-1) and four groundnut cultivars (Samnut 10, 14, 17 and 18) that were replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, number of branches and pods/plant, harvest index, shelling percentage, total yield and biomass weight and data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of probability with XLSTAT 2018 statistical package. Tukey’s method was used to separate the means where significance was declared. The result showed that the application of 40 kg P₂O₅ha^-1 produced the highest plant height (73.96 cm and 73.92 cm), number of leaves (173.42 and 175.00), stem girth (4.02 and 3.92 cm), number of branches (43.33 and 43.50), number of pods or plant (25.67 and 26.58), harvest index (24.17% and 24.92%), total yield (2516.25 and 2574.58 kg/ha) and biomass weight (3551.58 and 3524.17 kg/ha). Samnut 14 recorded the highest plant height (72.19 cm and 72.54 cm), number of leaves (168.33 and 167.17), number of branches (42.25 and 41.67), number of pods or plant (23.83 and 24.08), harvest index (21.47 and 22.22%), total yield (2297.17 and 2361.33 kg/ha) and biomass weight (3267.58 and 3295.75 kg/ha). It was concluded that application of 40 kg P ha^-1 to Samnut 14 produced the highest growth, yield and yield characteristics of groundnut. It was therefore recommended that farmers in the experimental area be encouraged to apply 40 kg P ha^-1 to Samnut 14 for optimum productivity of groundnut.