Influence of cattle manure with Togo rock phosphate soil amendment on growth and yield of soybean (Glycine Max (L) Merrill)

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.