| dc.description.abstract | The research was focused on an ecologically sound and highly production of legumes particularly
green gram through the application of Rhizobium and rock phosphate fertilizer. Therefore, biomass
production, nutrient use efficiency and yield parameters were determined for two growing seasons
(November 2019 - January 2020 and February - April 2020), at Chuka university horticultural
research farm. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in green grams can improve sustainable soil
fertility management and increased production. In Kenya, green gram is a major source of food
security particularly in Tharaka Nithi County. However, green gram yields are usually low due to
low phosphorous and nitrogen levels of the soil. A factorial experiment of 2 x 2 x 2 was laid out in a
randomized complete block design. There were three factors, varieties (N26-nylon and KS20-
uncle), phosphate rock (0 and 30 kg P ha-1
) and Rhizobium MEA 716 (0 and 100 g ha-1
) making a
total of eight treatments which were replicated three times. Soil sampling and analyses were done
before planting and after harvesting of green grams. Data on grain yield, total dry biomass, shoot
and root dry weights. Phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were
done. Data was analysed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). Significant means were
separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at probability level of 5 %. Results for both wet
and dry seasons indicated that variety KS20 under Rhizobium inoculation and phosphate rock
fertilizer (R1P1V2) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher increase in shoot dry biomass (52.01 gplant-1
), root dry biomass (7.60 g plant-1
), total dry biomass (146.4 g plant-1
), number of pods (84
plant-1
) and yield (2158 kg ha-1
). Also, there was significant (P<0.05) higher phosphorous use
efficiency of 279.32 Kg/ha and nitrogen use efficiency of 1732 kg/ha in treatment R1P1V2 over
other treatments. From these results it was concluded that variety KS20 (V2) performed better
compared to N26 (V1) under combined application of Rhizobium and phosphate rock fertilizer.
Hence, based on the findings, for sustainable and improved green gram production farmers in
Tharaka Nithi County. | en_US |
