The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.)
Nutrient-poor savanna soils severely limit agricultural productivity in Africa, hindering crops and livestock intensification and threatening food security. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demands and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The exp...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Latoya Miranda Mthimunye Gudani Millicent Managa Lufuno Ethel Nemadodzi |
| author_facet | Latoya Miranda Mthimunye Gudani Millicent Managa Lufuno Ethel Nemadodzi |
| author_sort | Latoya Miranda Mthimunye |
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| description | Nutrient-poor savanna soils severely limit agricultural productivity in Africa, hindering crops and livestock intensification and threatening food security. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demands and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse laid in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments, namely: (T1) control, (T2) 45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T3) 60 kg/ha superphosphate, (T4) 75 kg/ha superphosphate, (T5) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant, (T6) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T7) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +60 kg/ha superphosphate, and (T8) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +75 kg/ha superphosphate. The findings showed that the highest plant height was noted when lablab was supplemented with T4 treatment at day 21, while T2 of superphosphate had the highest leaf area. Conversely, soil supplemented with superphosphate at different levels and/or lablab seeds treated with Bradyrhizobium inoculant did not have a significant effect on the number of leaves. Overall, the application of superphosphate to the soil at different levels and treating lablab seeds with <i>Bradyrhizobium</i> inoculant did not have any significant effect on the plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. On day 37, the highest leaf chlorophyll was recorded on T1 and became constant amongst all the treatments as the growth progressed. From the current study, it is concluded that growing lablab in a controlled environment would benefit subsistence farmers and rural communities for its leaves consumed as vegetables and ultimately ensure food security. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2037-0164 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | International Journal of Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9cb8607b3ce6407d85ef915103cd829c2025-08-20T01:48:50ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Plant Biology2037-01642025-01-01161310.3390/ijpb16010003The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.)Latoya Miranda Mthimunye0Gudani Millicent Managa1Lufuno Ethel Nemadodzi2Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Florida 1710, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Florida 1710, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Florida 1710, South AfricaNutrient-poor savanna soils severely limit agricultural productivity in Africa, hindering crops and livestock intensification and threatening food security. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demands and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse laid in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments, namely: (T1) control, (T2) 45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T3) 60 kg/ha superphosphate, (T4) 75 kg/ha superphosphate, (T5) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant, (T6) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T7) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +60 kg/ha superphosphate, and (T8) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +75 kg/ha superphosphate. The findings showed that the highest plant height was noted when lablab was supplemented with T4 treatment at day 21, while T2 of superphosphate had the highest leaf area. Conversely, soil supplemented with superphosphate at different levels and/or lablab seeds treated with Bradyrhizobium inoculant did not have a significant effect on the number of leaves. Overall, the application of superphosphate to the soil at different levels and treating lablab seeds with <i>Bradyrhizobium</i> inoculant did not have any significant effect on the plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. On day 37, the highest leaf chlorophyll was recorded on T1 and became constant amongst all the treatments as the growth progressed. From the current study, it is concluded that growing lablab in a controlled environment would benefit subsistence farmers and rural communities for its leaves consumed as vegetables and ultimately ensure food security.https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/1/3legumesbradyrhizobium inoculantsuperphosphatebacteriaphosphorus fertilizer |
| spellingShingle | Latoya Miranda Mthimunye Gudani Millicent Managa Lufuno Ethel Nemadodzi The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) International Journal of Plant Biology legumes bradyrhizobium inoculant superphosphate bacteria phosphorus fertilizer |
| title | The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) |
| title_full | The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) |
| title_short | The Effects of <i>Bradyrhizobium japonicum</i> Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i> L.) |
| title_sort | effects of i bradyrhizobium japonicum i inoculation and superphosphate fertilizer on the growth and development of lablab i lablab purpureus i l |
| topic | legumes bradyrhizobium inoculant superphosphate bacteria phosphorus fertilizer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/1/3 |
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