Effect of Mucuna Pruriens Mulch on the Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea Mays L.)

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.