Growth and yield responses of rice, wheat and beans to Zn and Cu fertilizers in soils of Mbeya region, Tanzania
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Date
2015-11-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research
Abstract
Low crop production in most arable lands is associated with soils highly
depleted of nutrients. A study was conducted in selected physiographic units
of Mbeya Region Tanzania, to investigate the levels of soil macro- and
micronutrients effect on crops (rice, wheat and beans) performance. Soils
were analyzed in the laboratory. Screen-house experiments with three levels
of Zn (0, 7.5 and 15 mg kg -1 soil) and Cu (0, 5 and 10 mg kg -1 soil) in
combination with N and P treatment in completely randomized design with
three replications was conducted. The results showed that all soils were
deficient in N, P and Cu, while 46% of soils had low Ca. Zn was low in 46% of
the soils while K and Fe was sufficient in all soils. Application of 15 mg kg -1
Zn and 5 mg kg -1 Cu with N and P fertilizers gave significantly highest grain
yield of rice (9.05 g pot -1 ), beans (5.80 g pot -1 ) and wheat (5.58 g pot -1 ). The
control gave lowest grain yield in all crops. Zink rate of 15 mg kg -1 and Cu
rate of 5 mg kg -1 was sufficient to increase yields in these soils. Field
experiments are recommended to confirm Zn and Cu fertilizer
recommendations.
Description
Keywords
beans, rice, micronutrients, nutrients deficiency, wheat, yield responses
Citation
Vol.3 (11), pp. 402-411, November 2015