THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS ON EARLY GROWTH AND NODULE FORMATION (NODULATION) OF Leucaena leucocephala

ABSTRACT

Leucaena leucocephala plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture through their ability to improve soil fertility and health. Leucaena leucocephala, with a mutual symbiotic relationship with some bacteria in soil, can improve nitrogen (N) amount through biological N-fixation (BNF). But to maximize such functions, legumes need more phosphorus (P) as it is required for energy transformation in nodules. Besides, P also plays a significant role to root development, nutrient uptake, and growth of legume crops. But most of the agricultural soils have inadequate amounts of P to support efficient BNF as it exists in stable chemical compounds which are least available to plants. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of phosphorus on early growth and nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala at the Department of Horticulture’s Demonstration Farm (6.40o N, 1.37o W), located in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. The experimental design was laid in Completely Randomized Design with four (4) treatments namely; T1 – Without P (control), T2 – 13.95mg (0.0139g) of P 0.6kg-1 soil (46.5kgP/ha), T3 – 27.90mg (0.0279g) of P 0.6kg-1 soil (93kgP/ha) and T4 – 41.85mg (0.0418g) of P 0.6kg-1 soil (139.5kgP/ha) replicated three (3) times. From the study, the treatments had significant effect on the root to shoot ratio and the number of nodules produced by Leucaena Leucocephala. T4recorded significantly higher root to shoot ratio and the number of nodules produced as compared to T3, T2 and T1 (control).  The study concluded that, phosphorus at a rate of 139.5kgP/hashould be applied to Leucaena leucocephala to yield positive results in terms of morphological growth (plant height, diameter, number of leaves and root to shoot ratio) and 46.5kgP/ha should be applied to yield a positive result on the number of nodules to be produced. Therefore, the application of phosphorus at a rate of 139.5kgP/ha and 46.5kg/ha is recommended for adoption by farmers to improve the morphological growth and the number of nodules produced by Leucaena leucocephala.

TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT

DECLARATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENT

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background to the study

1.2   Problem Statement

1.3   Justification

1.4   Hypotheses

1.5   Aim and Specific Objectives

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIIEW

2.1   Brief History and Description of Leucaena leucocephala

2.2   Environmental Adaptation of Leucaena leucocephala

2.3   Distribution of Leucaena leucocephala

2.4   Propagation and germination requirements of Leucaena leucocephala

2.5   Nodulation of Leucaena leucocephala

2.6   Nutritive value of Leucaena leucocephala

2.7   Uses of Leucaena leucocephala

2.8   Pests and Diseases of Leucaena leucocephala

2.9   Phosphorus

2.10   Importance of Phosphorus in Leguminous (Leucaena leucocephala)

2.11   Impact of Phosphorus Deficiency in Leucaena leucocephala

2.12   Sources of available Phosphorus for Leguminous species (Leucaena leucocephala)

2.13   Role of Phosphorus in Leguminous Species (Leucaena leucocephala)

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1   Study Site

3.2   Experimental Procedure

3.3   Experimental Design and Layout

3.4   Data Collection and Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS

4.1   Growth parameters of Leucaena leucocephala

4.2   Number of nodules of Leucaena leucocephala

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION

5.1   Effect of different levels of phosphorus on the growth parameters (height, stem diameter, number of leaves and root to shoot ratio) of Leucaena leucocephala.

5.2   Effect of different levels of phosphorus on the formation of nodules of Leucaena leucocephala.

CHAPTER SIX

6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1   CONCLUSIONS

6.2   RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

LIST OF PLATES