Influence of Phosphorus Sources on the Yield and Yield Components of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties in Sokoto, Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), is a valuable source of edible oil, cakes and livestock feeds (haulm) produced throughout the tropics. However, its production is constrained by high cost of water soluble P fertilizers that are beyond the reach of most tropical poor farmers and hence, the need to study alternative sources of P that could provide information on how to increase the yield of the crop. Thus the present study was undertaken to study the influence of phosphorus sources on the yield and yield components of groundnut varieties in the region. Two field experiments were conducted during 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at the Dryland Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Treatments consisted of factorial combination of two groundnut varieties and three phosphorus sources [Sokoto rock phosphate, single super phosphate and a control (the crop relying on soil residual P from the preceding crop's fertilizer application)]. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The results revealed that number of pods per plant, pod yield, kernel yield, shelling percentage and harvest index were higher in Ex-Dakar variety. The performance of the crop was not influenced by direct application of phosphorus on the crop. Thus, from the findings of this study Ex-Dakar variety could be suggested for increased groundnut production in the study area. The crop could be grown with or without direct application of phosphorus.