Jayeoba, O.J.Chude, V.O.Amana, Sani Mathew2023-12-112023-12-112012-08-18Amana, S.M. et al. (2012) YIELD RESPONSE OF COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP) RESPONSE TO BIO–FERTILIZER (IFE BRADYRHIZOBIUM) IN THE DRY SUB–HUMID AND SUB –HUMID AGROECOLOGICAL ZONES OF NIGERIAhttps://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/2992Leguminous crops such as cowpea, groundnut and soybean have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in association with rhizobia bacteria, thereby increasing soil fertility and consequently improved crop yield. On– farm evaluation of the response of cowpea to Ife Bradyrhizobium strain 9 inoculant was established at Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) sites in five cowpea–growing states of Northern Nigeria (Kogi, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger and Bauchi) during the 2004 cropping season. The demonstration consisted of two treatments T1 (Zero Bradyrhizobium inoculant) and T2 (Bradyrhizobium inoculant at the rate of one cupful for 25 kg seed). The treatment effect was evaluated on a 0.25 ha gross plot size and 35 x 35 m sub–plot with an improved cowpea variety (IT93K–277–2) as the test crop. Single Super Phosphate fertilizer was applied to both plots basally at the rate of 40 kg P2O5 ha–1. Average of ten (10) farmers participated per state. The results obtained showed that crop response to the Bradyrhizobium inoculant was positive and highly significant (P < 0.001) in three sites (Osara, Aricha and Doma), positive but not significant in three sites (Karmo, Aiyetoro and Boto) and negative in three sites (Agbaduma, Piro and Wabu). The average percentage yield increase between inoculated and un–inoculated plots was about 25 % in the four statesenBradyrhizobium innoculum, cowpea, Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)Article