Abstract:
Glycine max plays vital role in diet, the economy of small holder farmers, Ghana and the
global world as a whole. Hence the need for increasing production through soil
amendment. Two field experiments were undertaken at different locations at the Multi –
purpose Nursery, at the Akenten Appiah – Menka University of Skills Training and
Enterpreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Mampong – Ashanti during the 2018
minor rainy season and 2019 major rainy season. The study objective was to determine
the effect of cattle manure and combination of cattle manure with Togo rock phosphate
on soybean production. The Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with
five treatments and three replications. The treatments were no amendment (control), 5
t/ha CM, (5 t/ha CM + 25 kg/ha RP), 10 t/ha CM and (10 t/ha CM + 25 kg/ha RP).
Results showed that application of cattle manure and combination of different rates of
cattle manure with rock phosphate increased Mg concentrations, available phosphorus,
and total phosphorus. Organic matter content and organic carbon were higher in the
amended plots than the control. Effective root nodules on soybean increased in cattle
manure with rock phosphate applied plots and recorded greater number than the control.
Plant height and canopy spread for (5 t/ha CM + 25 kg/ha RP) were significantly
(P≤0.05) higher among all the other treatments in both 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons.
All the amended plots showed higher increase in number of pods, number of seeds per
plant and grain yield than the control in 2018 and 2019 season. The control gave the
highest diseased seeds weight as compared to the amended plots in 2018 and 2019
seasons. The (5 t/ha CM + 25 kg/ha RP) produced significantly (P≤0.05) higher grain
yield than other amendments and control plots in 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The
net profit for all the amended plots increased above the control. The combinations of
cattle manure with rock phosphate are recommended for improving soil fertility and high
yield of soybean in the transition and other ecological zones in Ghana.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Education,
Faculty of Agriculture Education submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of
Master of Philosophy Agronomy
in the University of Education, Winneba
MAY, 2022