Effect of lime and different forms of phosphorus on the growth

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the College of Agriculture, Vellayanl on a sandy clay loam soil (Alfisol) of pH 4.9 to study the effect of three levels of lime,0, 500 and 1000 kg per hectare and three levels of phosphorus, 50, 100 and 150 kg Pg°5 Per hectare in two different forms, on the growth, yield and chemical composition of cowpea. The field trial was laid out as a (3x7) factorial RBD with two replications. The study revealed that lime application significantly increased some of the- growth characters of cowpea. Application of lime at 1000 kg per hectare significantly increased the number of branches on the 60th day of sowing. The highest application rate of 1000 kg per hectare increased the length and dry weight of root on the 30th day, fresh weight of nodules on the 60th day and the number of leaves at all the stages of growth. Liming at 500 kg per hectare increased the yield and yield components of cowpea significantly, such as the dry weight of the pods per plot, weight of seeds per plot and the hundred seed weight. The highest grain yield of 408.3 g per plot (1418.0 kg per hectare) v/as obtained for lime applied at this rate as compared to the control (1172.0 kg per hectare). Lime application at 500 kg per hectare significantly increased the phosphorus content of the plant on the 60th day and the calcium content on the 30th day. The calcium content was Increased on the 45th day also by the highest level of lime application. Lime application at 1000 kg per hectare significantly reduced the potassium content of the plant on the 30th day. Application of lime at 500 kg per hectare significantly increased the phosphorus and calcium contents of the seed. But the magnesium content of the seed was reduced significantly by lime at both levels.