Survey on Indigenous Population of Peanut Rhizobia under Different Cropping Systems

Abstract

Response of peanut to inoculation depends on the number of rhizobia in soil. therefore the objective of this study was to determine the population of penut rhizobia in soil under diffterent cropping systems so that the proper recommendation for the use of inqculant could be made. To determine rhizobial population, soil samples were collected from 55 sittes in the North, East, Northeast, Central and West under different cropping systems. It was found that cropping system had influence on peanut rhizobial population. In the areas where peanut were continuously planted or in rotation planted with peanut, mungbean and cowpea the population of rhizobia were very low in uncultivated area without any legumes existed, or in areas continuous clutivation with pineapple, cassava, corn and sugar cane. It is therefore recommended that peanut seeds should be inoculated whenever they will be planted in these areas.