Response of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) to Inorganic Fertiliser Use in Smallholder Farming of Makonde District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

A study was carried out in Makonde district to evaluate the effect of using compound D and gypsum as basal dressings on growth, quality and yield of groundnuts (Arachis hypogea). A Randomised Complete Block design (RBCD) with three replicates per treatment was used in carrying out the study, where gypsum treated plots, compound D treated plots as well as unfertilised treatment. The treatments had gypsum and compound D applied as basal fertilizers at a rate of 300kg ha-1 each whilst the traditional way (control) received no fertilizers. The data was analysed using a non-parametric test, the Mann-Whitney U test at P<0.05, comparing samples using mean ranks and the sum of ranks. Compound D fertilized crop an average yield of 630kg ha^-1 as compared to gypsum fertilized plots and the traditional method yielded 550 and 510kg ha^-1 respectively.  The results of the study showed that both compound D and gypsum resulted in higher groundnut yield compared to unfertilised treatment though compound D out yielded gypsum treatment. Smallholder farmers are therefore recommended to grow groundnuts using basal fertilizers to maximise yields in the form of Compound D or gypsum.

Keywords: Arachis Hypogea, basal fertilisers, traditional method