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ABSTRACT
The growth of Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc., commonly called Bambara groundnut in soils amended with different amount of ground dry leaves of Moringa oleifera was studied. The aim of the study was to ascertain the response of plants physiologically, biochemically and agronomically to these treatments. Fresh leaves of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) were dried under shade for one week followed by sun drying for two days and reduced to powdered form by dry milling. Different amount of the powdered leaves; 10 g, 20 g and 35 g was added to 4 kg of soil and allowed to decay for one month before planting. The study was carried out as a potted field experiment. Seven accessions of Bambara groundnut obtained from IITA (Ibadan) were engaged in the study; accession A(TVSU-466), B (TVSU-562), C (TVSU-1416), D (TVSU-1155), E(TVSU-75), F (TVSU-1496), and G (TVSU-303). The growth parameters were percent germination, vine length, number of leaves produced, number of branches per plant and stem girth. Reproductive parameters were number of days to flower bud and flower formation, number of flower buds formed and number of flower formation. Yield parameters recorded were number of pod produced per plant and 100-pod weight. Other parameters analyzed were leaf chlorophyll content, acid phosphate, nitrate reductase and proximate analysis of harvested pods. Varietal differences was marginally noticed in all the accessions of Bambara groundnut grown on the Moringa oleifera amendment. One hundred percent germination was recorded in the treatments with Moringa oleifera in all accessions studied although this was observed to differ with accession and treatments used. The vine length of Bambara groundnut was significantly improved by the Moringa oleifera amendment in the accession TVSU-562 on 28 days after planting (28DAP) at 20g and 35g Moringa oleifera treatment but this effect was not expressed in all accessions studied. No significant differences was observed in the days to flower bud production and flower production among the treatments in all the accessions studied. One hundred fresh and dry weight of pods had no significant difference among the treatments in all the accessions studied. Higher number of pods were recorded in the treatments with the Moringa oleifera amendment and the accession TVSU-1416. Besides the accession TVSU-75 which had significantly lower values of acid phosphatase activity (µmol/min/g), all other accessions had no significant differences among the treatments. Higher values of nitrate reductase activity (µmol/min/g) was observed in treatments with the Moringa oleifera amendment in the accessions studied. Total chlorophyll content (mg\g FW) of leaves was observed to follow no particular trend as both increments and decrease were observed among the treatments in the accessions studied. Moringa oleifera proved itself a potential growth promoter with the ability to modify chlorophyll and enzymatic activities. More research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanism behind its effect to maximize its positive role.
