Browsing by Author "Nyoki, Daniel"

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    Influence of Rhizobia Inoculation and supplementation with phosphorus and potassium in soybean-maize intercropping system
    (NM-AIST, 2017-12) Nyoki, Daniel
    A field experiment was carried out at Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI) farm, for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of cropping systems, Rhizobium inoculation and fertilization with P and K on farm productivity of both soybean and maize. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with 2 x 4 x 7 factorial arrangements and replicated thrice. The main plots comprised two rhizobia inoculation treatments, while the sub plots were comprised of: Maize pure stand (75 x 60 cm); Soybean pure stand (75 x 40 cm); maize-soybean intercropping (75 x 60 cm and 75 x 20 cm), maize and soybean respectively; and the last cropping system was maize-soybean intercropped (75 x 60 cm and 75 x 40 cm), maize and soybean respectively. The sub-subplots were assigned the following fertilizer levels (kg ha-1 ): control (0 kg ha-1 ); 20 K; 40 K; 26 P; 52 P; 26 P + 20 K; 52 P + 40 K. The 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in factorial arrangement was performed. The STATISTICA software program was used. The fisher’s least significance difference (L.S.D.) was used to compare treatment means at p = 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated that rhizobia inoculation and fertilization of crops with P and K significantly improved mineral composition in the rhizosphere soil of soybean; nutrient uptake in soybean shoots; nitrogen fixation and chlorophyll concentration in soybean. Furthermore, rhizobia inoculation and P and K fertilization significantly improved plant growth and final yield of both soybean and maize. Cropping systems were also assessed and found that intercropping was advantageous since the values of land equivalent ratios (LER) were greater than one. In general, several parameters tested in this study have shown to perform better in combined lower rates (20 kg K ha-1 +26 kg P ha-1 ) of P and K. It is therefore recommended that the combined lower rates of these fertilizers should be adopted and be used by farmers in areas with similar characteristics as that of study area.
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    Intercropping System, Rhizobia Inoculation, Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization: A Strategy of Soil Replenishment for Improved Crop Yield
    (International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 2016-10) Nyoki, Daniel; Ndakidemi, Patrick
    The significant constraint to legumes and cereal crop production in most sub- Saharan Africa countries is the loss of soil fertility. The most limiting soil nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) which to the great extent cause low grain yields. The main reason for declining of these nutrients in the soil is the mining through continued cultivation without external input application. These nutrients are not usually applied by farmers because of their high prices leading to poor crop growth, development and finally poor yield. Leguminous crops have ability to form symbiotic relationship with rhizobia and fix atmospheric nitrogen. The fixed nitrogen can be used by legume plant themselves or might be transferred and be utilized by other plants growing nearby in intercropping systems or can be used by plants grown in the subsequent season. This review focus on understanding how rhizobia inoculation, intercropping system, and fertilization with P and K influences nitrogen fixation; mineral composition in the crop rhizosphere; nutrient uptake in plants; plant growth; photosynthesis and leaf chlorophyll formation; land equivalent ratio and ultimately yield performance of legumes and cereals. The results from different literatures cited showed that rhizobia inoculation and supplementation with phosphorus and potassium had positive significant effects on all parameters measured. Therefore, based on the findings reported, it can be recommended, to use rhizobia inoculants supplemented with optimum levels of phosphorus and potassium in intercropping systems as a strategy for improving crop production.