Tillage Effects on Growth and Pod Yield of Bambara (Vigna Subterranea (l.) Verdc.) in Badeggi, Southern Guinea Groundnut Savannah Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the tillage effect on growth and pod yield of Bambara groundnut at Badegi, Southern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria. Four seedbed types: Zero tillage, flat tilled, ridges and mounds were used to cultivate bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.). The crop was sown for two seasons in June, 2024 and 2025. The plant population was 166,666 plants/ha on unit plots measuring 9.0 m². The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block (RCB) design in four replications. The tillage effects on growth parameters such as plant height, leaves/plant, root depth and nodule/plant and yield indices were evaluated while pods/plant, seeds/pod, seed diameter, 100 seed weight and seed yield per hectare were also estimated. Results obtained showed that mounds exhibited vigorous growth and were significantly (P≤0.05) taller (25.5 cm) with prolific nodulation capacity (13.8), high seed weight (88.3 g) per plant and produced correspondingly highest seed yield (1361 kg/ha). Sowing bambara groundnut on mounds is beneficial and is advocated as a strategy of boosting bambara groundnut crop in Badeggi, Niger State, Nigeria. It could be concluded that sowing of the Bambara groundnut on mounds promoted the growth of the crop and enhanced more pod development compared to other tillage operations.