Response of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) to Mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae) Inoculation in an Ultisol. Pot Experiment.

A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the potentials of mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae) in the growth performance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The study examined the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation on some soil properties, plant nutrient uptake, number of mycorrhizal spores, arbuscules, vessicles and some growth parameters of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). The pots were filled with 5kg sterilized soil. Seven treatments were applied including, control, mycorrhiza, NPK 15:15:15, poultry droppings, mycorrhiza + NPK 15:15:15, mycorrhiza + poultry droppings, mycorrhiza + poultry droppings + NPK 15:15:15. Each of these treatments was replicated six times and laid out in a Completely Randomised Design. Vine length, number of leaves and number of pods were measured and soil samples were analysed before and after the experiment. Results obtained showed that thirteen weeks after sowing (13WAS), vine lenght was increased with mycorrhizal inoculation (13.72cm) and was significantly different (P? 0.05) from that with NPK fertilization (10.33cm). Number of leaves (35.00), was also increased with mycorrhizal inoculation. There were also increases in pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen of the soil with mycorrhizal inoculation. Available phosphorus also increased significantly with mycorrhizal inoculation. Keywords; biofertilizer, cowpea, pot experiment, poultry droppings, NPK.