The response of Bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranea) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) to applications of lime, P and K

Abstract

Voandzeia subterranea and Cajanus cajan are important pulse crops in tropical and subtropical Africa and their drought hardiness and ability to utilize poor soils are inter alia reasons for this popularity. Both species hold considerable promise as crops in South Africa. The results of a pot trial and a field trial in which the responses of these two species to lime, phosphorus and potassium applications were compared with those of Vigna unguiculata, V. radiata and Arachis hypogaea are re ported. The generally held belief that C. cajan is able to produce well with a minimum of fertilizer was confirmed in this investigation, particularly in the field trial where no yield responses to applications of lime, phosphorus and potassium could be measured on a rather poor soil. V. subterranea, on the other hand, responded better, particularly to lime application. Contrary to what is generally claimed in the literature, there was no indication that V. subterranea is able to produce better than the common ground nut (A. hypogaea) at low levels of soil fertility. In fact, it has to be concluded from the results that this species is not as tolerant to acid soils as the common groundnut.

Comparative response of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) to applications of P, K and lime

“…However, there has been renewed interest in it over the last two decades (Ditterline & Cooper, 1975;Doyle, Thompson & Sheehy, 1984), mainly because of its excellent nutritional properties and because it is non-bloating (Wilman & Asiedu, 1983). Interest in this legume has also spread to South Africa and it appears to have considerable potential as a dryland crop for the relatively cool Highveld areas of the summer rainfall region, particularly with regard to alleviating problems with winter feeding in these areas (Wassermann, 1984).…”

“…In the South African situation sainfoin could be considered an alternative to dryland lucerne in certain parts of the summer rainfall region (Wassermann, 1984), and the present study was undertaken to obtain information on the relative P, K and lime requirements of these two legumes.…”

“…In view of possible micro-element deficiences, standard applications of Cu, Mo, Zn, Band S (Wassermann, Kruger & Heyns, 1984) were added when the lime, P and K were mixed into the soil of the individual pots.…”