| dc.description.abstract | Response of sesame to varying rates of nitrogen (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg
ha"), phosphorous (0, 50, 100 and 200 kg ha') and farmyard manure (0, 3, 6
and 9 Tonnes ha') was studied in a series of experiments conducted at
University of Nairobi's Kibwezi dryland field station and at Siaya Farmers
Training Centre (F. T. C.) during the short rains of November 1993 to
February 1994 and the long rains of April 1994 to July 1994.
In a glasshouse at University of Nairobi's Kabete field station, the
influence of soil-borne mycorrhizal infection on sesame response to Nand P
was examined in pot experiments. Varying levels of N (0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.07 and
0.14 g/I) and P (0, 0.13, 0.25, 0.51 and 1.01 g/I) in Hoagland solution were
applied to sesame plants grown in different media namely unsterilised field
soil, acid washed sand and steam sterilised field soil. The field soils were
obtained from plough layer at Siaya F.T.C.
The white seeded unimproved sesame landrace cultivated in Western
Kenya was used in all experiments.
The results showed that Nand P fertilizers and similarly farmyard
manure applied in the field, did not significantly affect the yield of sesame.
Nitrogen and phosphorous application to the potted plants did not significantly
affect growth and biomass in the unsterilised field soil but did significantly
enhance growth in the sterilised field soil and acid washed sand. Roots of
plants grown in the unsterilised field soil were highly infected with
mycorrhizal fungi but roots from the sterilised field soil and acid washed sand
were barely infected by mycorrhizal fungi, when assessed at eight weeks after
emergence.
It was concl uded that the local white seeded land race was not
responsive to nitrogen and phosphorous application nor to farmyard manure
under field conditions due to mycorrhizal infection. | en |
