COMPARISON OF SOIL FERTILITY IMPROVEMENT ABILITY OF VOANDZEIA SUBTERRANEA AND ARACHIS HYPOGEA

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Department of Range and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Renewable Resources, University of Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana during 2013 to determine the soil fertility improvement potentials of Voandzeia subterranea and Arachis hypogea. Three soil samples were taken from two plots grown under V. subterranea and A. hypogea at flowering stage and after incorporation plant material using grid method. The soil samples were then analyzed for some selected nutrients in the laboratory using standard methods. The results showed that mean values of samples taken after incorporation plant material were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those collected at flowering stage for A. hypogea with regards to nitrogen (31.6%), potassium (20.47 mg/kg), organic carbon (8.6%) and pH levels (7.0). However, other nutrients i.e. magnesium (0.57 mg/kg), calcium (1.43 mg/kg) and phosphorus (5.35 mg/kg) were not improved significantly. Also mean values of soil samples recorded after incorporation were significantly higher (P<0.05) than at flowering stage for V. subterranea with regards to nitrogen (30.53%), potassium (21.73 mg/kg), organic carbon (9.67%) and pH levels (7.22), but magnesium (0.5 mg/kg), calcium (1.40 mg/kg) and phosphorus (3.07 mg/kg) were not improved significantly. It is recommended that any of these two legumes can be incorporated into the soil to improve soil fertility of rangelands for pasture growth ensuring nutritious and sustainable feed for animals.