SEED YIELD AND ECONOMIC RETURNS OF SOYBEAN (Glycine max. L. Merill) AS INFLUENCED BY PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER RATES AND VARIETIES AT LAFIA, NASARAWA STATE
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Abstract
Field trials were conducted during the wet seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture Shabu, Lafia Campus, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria (08.33°N and 08.33°E) to study the yield and economic returns of soybean as influenced by phosphorus fertilizer rates and variety. The experiment consisted of four levels of phosphorus in the form of single super phosphate (0, 13, 26 and 39 kg P ha-1) and six varieties of soybean (TGX 1985-10F, TGX 1987-10F, TGX 1448-2E, TGX 1987-62F, TGX 1989-19F and TGX 1835-10E). The twenty four treatment combinations were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications to form seventy two (72) plots. The results of this study showed that each increase in the rate of applied phosphorus significantly (P<0.05) increased seed yield per hectare of soybean in both years. The results also indicated that the application of 39 kg P ha-1 produced significantly (P<0.05) the highest seed yield (kg ha-1) and gross margin of N 147,850 compared to other rates of applied phosphorus. The results further revealed that TGX 1989-19F variety produced significantly (P<0.05) the highest seed yield (kg ha'1) and higher economic returns of soybean compared to other varieties evaluated. In view of the results, this study therefore recommended phosphorus fertilizer at 39 kg ha'1 and TGX 1989-19F variety for higher yield and better economic returns to soybean farmers at Lafia, Nasarawa State.