ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the effect of different nutrient sources on growth and yield of Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek in Umudikea humid forest zone of Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four treatments and four replicates. The treatments were (i) control, (ii) pig manure alone (6.3t/ha) (iii) NPK (35:44.8:89.7)kg/ha fertilizer alone, (iv) combined application (pig manure3. 1t/ha+NPK 17:22.4:45kg/ha fertilizer). These treatments were applied to Mungbean sown on the sandy loam soil of the Eastern Teaching and Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike from April to July 2007.There were improvements in the vegetative characters including number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers, number of shoots and number of nodules. A significant difference existed in the yield and yield components of the plants with combined application giving the highest yield of O.76t/ha. This was followed by those given pig manure alone (O.66t/ha), NPK fertilizer alone (O.43t/ha) and control O.26t/ha. The conclusion is that mungbean showed good responses in growth, yield and yield components with the combine & application. Therefore there is need to encourage more trials in various parts of Nigeria, so as to determine crop responses to other soil types and thereby enhance the diversity of crops in the farm and in the diet.