ABSTRACT
A study to assess the effect of Mucuna pruriens mulch on the growth and yield of maize was
conducted at the Crop Science Department, University of Ghana, Legon from October 1994 to
June 1998. Treatments comprised maize plants in Mucuna pruriens mulch plots and no-mulch
plots superimposed with nitrogen rates of 0, 50, 100 and 200kg/ha arranged in a split plot design,
with three replications. Maize plants in the mulch plots grew faster and yielded more than maize
plants in plots without the mulch. However, the addition of 50kg/ha of inorganic nitrogen
fertilizer to mulch plots gave the highest grain yield. The decomposition rate of the Mucuna
forage was moderate compared to values stated for other legumes elsewhere. Mulching with the
Mucuna led to higher soil moisture content, lower soil temperature, lower weed growth, lower
bulk density, lower acidity and higher levels of soil organic matter and nitrogen.
Second season maize grown on the residual mulch plots yielded significantly higher compared to
those grown on the no-mulch plots. However, the yield was lower than that obtained from the
first season mulched plot. The result clearly indicates that Mucuna pruriens is a good source of
mulch material for planting maize in the first season followed by another one in the second
season.
MINTAH, P (2021). Effect Of Mucuna Pruriens Mulch On The Growth And Yield Of Maize (Zea Mays L.). Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/effect-of-mucuna-pruriens-mulch-on-the-growth-and-yield-of-maize-zea-mays-l
MINTAH, PAUL "Effect Of Mucuna Pruriens Mulch On The Growth And Yield Of Maize (Zea Mays L.)" Afribary. Afribary, 08 Apr. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/effect-of-mucuna-pruriens-mulch-on-the-growth-and-yield-of-maize-zea-mays-l. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
MINTAH, PAUL . "Effect Of Mucuna Pruriens Mulch On The Growth And Yield Of Maize (Zea Mays L.)". Afribary, Afribary, 08 Apr. 2021. Web. 27 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/effect-of-mucuna-pruriens-mulch-on-the-growth-and-yield-of-maize-zea-mays-l >.
MINTAH, PAUL . "Effect Of Mucuna Pruriens Mulch On The Growth And Yield Of Maize (Zea Mays L.)" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 27, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/effect-of-mucuna-pruriens-mulch-on-the-growth-and-yield-of-maize-zea-mays-l