Comparative Effects of Different Levels of Kolgrace Organic Fertilizer on the Growth and Yield Attributes of Greengram (Vigna radiata (L) Wilczek) in the Screenhouse

Abstract

Aim: To investigate growth and yield response of greengram to different levels of Kolgrace organic fertilizer with a view to determining the most favorable application rate for greengram production.
 Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD) with treatments replicated five (5) times.
 Place and Duration of Study: Screenhouse of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, between July to November 2016.
 Methodology: Six levels of kolgrace organic fertilizer were used (0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 4.00 and 8.00 t ha-1). Top soil (0 -15 cm) was collected from the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, and leached of nutrients by soaking and washing in water for 24 hours. 2 kg of air-dry soil was mixed with the appropriate fertilizer rate and filled in each pot. 3 seeds were sown per pot and thinned to 1 seed at 2 weeks after sowing (WAS). Chemical analysis of air-dry soil sample and Kolgrace fertilizer were done at the soil chemistry laboratory of the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, to ascertain their elemental composition. Soil particle size distribution [1], Soil pH [2], exchangeable K and Na [3], exchangeable Mg and Ca [4], exchangeable acidity [5], organic matter and organic carbon [6], available P [7], Nitrogen [8] and micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) [4] were determined.
 Results: Application rates were significant (p<0.05) for all the traits measured. 0.5 t ha-1 was significantly higher in plant height (39.5), number of pods (7.0) and dry pod weight (4.98). Application rate of 1 t ha-1 was higher in number of leaves (18.0) although was comparable to application rate of 0.5 t ha-1.
 Conclusion: Application rate of 0.5 t ha-1 was best for three of the five traits measured and is hereby recommended.

Determination of Kolgrace bio-fertilizer rate for optimum greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) production in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

“…The biofertilizer is affordable and readily available. Earlier report by Ihejiofor et al (2020) indicated that 0.5 t ha -1 of Kolgrace bio-fertilizer gave best results for growth and yield traits of greengram evaluated in the screenhouse. This research was therefore carried out to investigate the best rate of Kolgrace bio-fertilizer for greengram production under field conditions in Ibadan, Nigeria, a derived savanna agro-ecological zone.…”

“…Each block was sub-divided into plots on which seedbeds were made, with each plot measuring 1.0 × 1.8 m. The treatments comprised five application rates of an indigenous bio-fertilizer (Kolgrace); 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 t ha -1 arranged in a randomized complete block design, and replicated four times. The selected treatment rates were informed by a preceding screenhouse study by Ihejiofor et al (2020), where six Kolgrace rates (0.00, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 4.00 and 8.00 t ha -1 ) were evaluated for growth and yield attributes, with 0.5 t ha -1 emerging as the best while 4 and 8 t ha -1 seemed wasteful, and repressed growth and yield. Rates above 0.5 t ha -1 were seen to have suppressed growth and yield, hence the inclusion of 0.25 t ha -1 in the current study.…”

“…Mungbean starch is an essential ingredient in making noodles while its paste is an integral component of sweets. As the search for cheap, alternative and accessible sources of affordable food nutrients intensifies in Nigeria and other regions of the world (Ihejiofor, 2020), mungbean is fast taking the lead as an emerging source of easily digestible protein, carbohydrate, amino acids and fibre that can help diversify food production in the country, adding new species to our diets and providing better supply of essential nutrients. Although, yet to gain full acceptance as a food source in Nigeria, and some parts of Africa, its prospective roles in therapeutic medicine, soil fertility management, environmental conservation, food security and sustainable agriculture cannot be underestimated as the growing hunger persist.…”

“…In some cases, they are available in limited supply. Kolgrace biofertilizer, a novel commercial product of the Association of Organic Agricultural Practitioners, contains over twice as much the concentration of most essential nutrient elements (Table 1) reported for conventional sources of manure including poultry, cow dung, pig slurry, rabbit droppings and compost (Agbede et al, 2008;Adeniyan et al, 2011;Akinmutimi and Amaechi, 2015;Al-Jawhara, 2016;Ihejiofor et al, 2020). The biofertilizer is affordable and readily available.…”

Comparative Effects of Two Manure Types and Their Combinations on Growth and Yield of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb) Matsum and Nakai) in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria

“…Soil pH was determined following [19], exchangeable K [20], organic carbon [21] and thereafter multiplied by 1.724 to obtain soil organic matter, available P [22], and Total Nitrogen by macro Kjeldahl method [23]. Chemical analyses of the manures were determined following the procedures of [24].…”