Effect of Phosphorus-Based Fertilizer on Groundnut Yield and Incidence of Groundnut Rosette Disease in West Nile Region of Uganda

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish the effects of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer micro-dosing on yields and the incidence of groundnut rosette disease (GRD) on five groundnut varieties in West Nile region of Uganda. The field experimental design used in this study was 5x2 factorial laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates per location across 6 locations. The results indicated that there were significant (p = 0.05) differences in groundnuts yields across locations and varieties (0.554 – 1.742 tons per hectare) with or without micro-dosing with DAP fertilizer. The effects of DAP fertilizer micro-dosing in groundnut production were twofold: increase in yields across locations from 427.27kg/acre with no micro-dosing to 525.73kg/acre with micro-dosing (23.04% increment) and varieties from 420.46kg/acre with no micro-dosing to 529.71kg/acre with micro-dosing (13.77% increment); and a reduction of groundnut rosette virus disease incidence across locations from 15.13% with no micro-dosing to 11.20 with micro-dosing (27.76% reduction) and on varieties from 15.08% with no micro-dosing to 11.82% with micro-dosing (34.62% reduction). This is the first report of a prospective DAP fertilizer micro-dosing alongside other improved agronomic practices which can be integrated fully into groundnut production in West Nile region of Uganda. To manage yields and GRD incidences, micro-dosing of crops should be taken as a climate smart technology as identified by Food and Agricultural Organization.