Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 15(2): 2147 - 216. Published September, 2012.
Effect
of Rhizobium inoculation and nitrogen
fertilizer application on growth, nodulation and yield of two garden pea genotypes.
* Ngeno
Jonah1, Chemining’wa George N2., Muthomi James W. 2
and Shibairo Solomon I. 2
1School
of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Kabianga University College, a constituent college
of Moi University, Kenya; 2Department of Plant Science and Crop
Protection, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding
author’s full address and e-mail address: Dr. George N. Chemining’wa,
Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O.
Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya; Email address- umchemin@hotmail.com/george.cheminingwa@uonbi.ac.ke
SUMMARY
Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in smallholder garden
pea farms in Kenya and can be corrected by application of inorganic fertilizers
and Rhizobium inoculation. A study
was conducted to compare the effects of Rhizobium inoculation and nitrogen fertilizer
application on nodulation and yield of two garden pea varieties grown for local
(variety Plum) and export (variety Ambassador) markets. Field experiments were conducted at University of Nairobi’s Field
Station in 2007 short and long rains. Varieties Plum and Ambassador were either
inoculated with a commercial strain of Rhizobium
leguminosarum bv. viciae,
supplied with 30 or 60 kg N ha-1 or without any treatment.
Inoculation and N-fertilizer enhanced shoot dry matter, but had no effect on
grain yield. Plots receiving 60 kg N ha-1
intercepted more photosynthetically active radiation than non-treated control
plots. Rhizobium inoculation
increased number of active nodules and nodule dry matter. Plum variety
accumulated more nodule and shoot biomass than Ambassador. Variety
Ambassador had longer and more seeds per pod than Plum while the converse was
the case in number of pods plant-1. Nodulation observed in control plots indicated
that native pea rhizobia in Kabete soils are compatible with Plum and
Ambassador garden pea varieties. Rhizobia inoculation of garden pea can yield
similar shoot biomass as nitrogen application. Nitrogen fertilizer increased
shoot dry matter, leaf area index and PAR interception by garden pea. Increases in above ground biomass and
nodulation due to rhizobia inoculation and nitrogen fertilizer application were
not translated into increased pod and grain yield. Growth and nodulation
responses to inoculation and nitrogen fertilization were dependent on the
garden pea genotype, hence the need to investigate the differential response of
Plum and Ambassador It is suggested that a study be conducted to determine the
effect of Rhizobium inoculation and
nitrogen fertilization on a broad range of locally grown garden pea genotypes.
