TY - JOUR AU - Omoregie, A U AU - Omueti, J A I PY - 2022/09/25 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Initial and residual responses of Verano Stylo [Stylosanthes hamata (L.)] and Centro [Centrosema pascuorum (Benth.)] to phosphorus in ungrazed swards JF - Journal of Current Opinion in Crop Science JA - J. Current Opinion Crop Sci., VL - 3 IS - 3 SE - Research Article DO - 10.62773/jcocs.v3i3.182 UR - https://jcocs.com/index.php/ej/article/view/182 SP - 161-167 AB - <p>A field study was carried out to investigate the responses of <em>Stylosanthes hamata</em> and <em>Centrosema pascuorum</em>. (Benth.) to the initial and residual effects of phosphorus (P) application in 1989 and 1990 at Kurmin Biri and Kontagora in the guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Five levels of P: 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>, were applied to each legume. The experiment was carried out over two years, without further P additions, to determine P's residual effects on the test crops. The responses to applied P depended on forage species and location. The P increased dry matter (DM) yield significantly in both legumes and years except <em>C. pascuorum</em> in which P application did not substantially influence the DM in the second year of establishment. Apart from the <em>C. pascuorum</em> grown at Kontagora (second year), yield increases over the first-year trials were observed in the levels of DM produced in the second year. The application of P significantly improved seed production from forages. Judging from the low P values of 4.50 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> and 5.35 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> of the soils, very high response to applied P was expected. The applied P at 80 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> to <em>C. pascuorum</em> at Kumin Biri gave the highest seed yield (1564.00 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>) while unfertilized <em>S. hamata</em> at Katongora had the least (403.00 kg ha<sup>-1</sup>). The relatively low but significant response of forage species to P was attributed to the high level of P fixation and the abundance of inactive P forms in these soils.</p> ER -