EVALUATION OF LAND PREPARATION METHODS ON PERFORMANCE OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT IN AN ULTISOL

A field experiment was conducted in 2022 at the Teaching and Research Farm of Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, to evaluate the effects of different land preparation methods on the growth and yield of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea). The study was arranged in a randomized complete block design with five treatments: surface hoeing, flat, ridge, mound, and no-till (control) and replicated three times. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance, and significant means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) at a 5% probability level. The results revealed that the mound treatment produced significantly higher numbers of leaves per plant, with values of 57.40, 93.82, 130.33, and 148.14 at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting (WAP), respectively. In contrast, the no-till treatment recorded the lowest number of leaves per plant, with 29.40, 59.77, 80.50, and 99.03 at the same intervals. Similarly, the mound treatment yielded the highest number of pods per plant (28.18), followed by ridges (23.42), while the no-till treatment recorded the lowest (8.40). Seed yield was also highest in the mound treatment (6.25 t/ha), followed by ridges (5.44 t/ha), and surface hoeing (5.10 t/ha). The lowest seed yield (2.19 t/ha) was observed in the no-till treatment. Planting Bambara groundnut on mounds significantly enhances growth and yield and is recommended for farmers in Obio Akpa.