EFFECT OF VARYING FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON FODDER YIELD AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF COWPEA PLANT AS FEED FOR SAHELIAN GOAT

A. M. Gumel; A. S. Suleiman; A. S. Muhammad; A. Abdul’aziz; K. Yunusa; B. Babandi; M. S. Ya’u; I. Mamuda; M. Dahiru; U. Abdulkadir; U. U. Sulaiman

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.7203

Authors

A. M. Gumel Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
A. S. Suleiman Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
A. S. Muhammad Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
A. Abdul’aziz Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
K. Yunusa Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
B. Babandi Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
M. S. Ya’u Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
I. Mamuda Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
M. Dahiru Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
U. Abdulkadir Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State
U. U. Sulaiman Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic PMB 013 Hadejia, Jigawa State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7203

Keywords:

Cowpea, effect, fertilizer, fodder, mineral

Abstract

In jigawa state, pasture farmers do not use any form of potassium and phosphorus source fertilizer, they entirely rely on the natural available soil potassium and phosphorus and this has resulted in lower yields of legumes pasture. Therefore, a study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) with combination ratio (1:1) in a completely randomized design (CRD), consisting of four treatments replicated four times. The combinations were applied after two and five weeks of planting. Fertilizer was weighed and applied evenly to individual
treatments(T1 0.3kg, T2 0.5kg, T3 0.7kg and T4 0.9kg). Experimental plants were harvested at age of seven weeks. Plants were harvested by uprooting completely. Parameters observed were fresh fodder weight, dried fodder weight and mineral analysis. The result showed significant (p < 0.05) difference on fresh and dried fodder on root weight (RW) of the experimental plants, whereas no significant (p >0.05) difference was observed in (SW, LW, WPW and MC). The result on minerals analysis also shows significance (p < 0.05) difference in some minerals (Mg and Zn), whereas no significant (p >0.05) difference was observed on (Ca, K, P). This study revealed that, there is a little disparity on the varying level of fertilizer (Mop & Tsp combination) on cowpea pasture plant, in which there is no significance difference (p>0.05) on stem weight, leaves weight, whole plant weight, moisture content, calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and phosphorous (P). The study show significance difference (p<0.05) on root weight, magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn). Treatment (T3) with 0.7kg MOP & TSP combination (1:1) will be recommended for both fodder yield and mineral composition as observed in the study.