Influence of combined application of P fertilizer and lime on Mucuna flagellipes nodulation, growth and yield

Field studies were carried out in the Teaching and Research farm of Cross River University of Technology, Obubra, Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons to determine the effects of lime and phosphorus on the nodulation of Mucuna flagellipes. The experimental design was a 3 × 4 factorial of three lime rates: 0, 1 and 2 t CaCO3/ha and four P rates: 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P/ha laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Lime at 2 t/ha significantly reduced soil acidity, improved growth and yield of M. flagllipes. The highest number of leaves and nodule per plant were obtained at phosphorus rate of 60 kg/ha. The combined used of 2 t/ha lime and 60 kg/ha P resulted in the highest leaf area index, dry matter of plant fractions (leaf, stem and nodule) per plant. A combination of 40 kg/ha and 1.0 t/ha lime produced the highest seed yield (3.768 and 3.567 t/ha) per hectare in 2016 and 2017. Results indicated improvement in soil nutrients after harvest. Farmers can use 2 t/ha lime, 40 kg/ha P or 1 t/ha lime combined with 40 kg/ha P to  cultivate M. flagellipes an indigenous legume readily available  in Nigeria in place of expensive nitrogenous commercial fertilizers for improved biological nitrogen fixation seed yield and  sustainable  soil fertility  management.   Key words: Mucuna flagellipes, nodulation, lime, P-fertilizer, nodulation, yield.