Effects of Some Indigenous Ectomycorhyza and Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. moench) in Bauchi State Nigeria
1Shuaibu, Y. M. & 2Buba, T.
1Department of Crop Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
2Department of Ecology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria
Email: ymshuaibu@atbu.edu.ng
ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen fertilizer and ectomycorhiza on the growth and yield of sorghum at the teaching and research farm of the Faculty of agriculture and agricultural technology,
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (10o22′ N and 9o47’E). The treatments consisted of two species of mycorhiza (Glomus and Gigaspora spp.) and three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 30 and 60 kg/ha). These
were factorially combined to give six treatments combination and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. Data was collected on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem
girth, number of prop root and panicle length. Others are number of spikes per panicle, 1000 grain weight and grain yield. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was adopted during the analysis to separate significantly different treatments means.The result of the experiment revealed a significant (P=0.05) difference among the various treatments used
throughout the study period. The result further indicated that, application of 30 and 60 kg N/ha produced statistically (P=0.05) similar result but significantly (P=0.05) better than the control in promoting growth
and yield of sorghum. The result also showed that, among the two species of mycorhiza used, Glomus spp. was found to be statistically (P=0.05) better than Gigaspora spp. in promoting growth and yield of sorghum.
Study on the interaction revealed that, application of 60 kg N/ha to sorghum inoculated with Glomus spp.gave significantly (P=0.05) higher growth and yield of sorghum than the other treatments combination and
all the treatments were better than the control. Based on the result of this findings, application of 30 kg N/ha to sorghum inoculated with Glomus spp. can be adopted by farmers in the study area for sorghum production.
Keywords: sorghum, nitrogen, mycorhiza, inoculation, growth and yield
