Impact of NPK on morphology and biomass of Tephrosia vogelii

A two-year field study investigated the effects of varying rates of fertilizer NPK 20.10.10 and timing of application on the vegetative growth and biomass yield of T. vogelii (Fish bean) at the study area in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons. Treatments consisted of three rates of N.P.K 20.10.10. (0, 100 and 200 kg/ha) and two fertilizer application periods (pre-anthesis and at pod commencement), giving a combination of 3 × 2 × 3 = 18 treatments. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was used to disperse all treatments in the field. Results showed that T. vogelii plants that were fertilized pre-anthesis with 200 kg/ha N.P.K. 20.10.10 in both years had higher growth and yield performance, outstripping plants that received 0 and 100 kg/ha NPK. Interactively, 200 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer at early pre-anthesis gave the best performance of the plant during the study. In this study, it is demonstrated that 200 kg/ha NPK showed the highest growth and yield within the tested range for T. vogelii.