Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungal and Rhizobia on plant growth of cowpeas CB2

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an important grain legume widely grown in sub Saharan Africa for it’s nutritional and economic value. However, low soil fertility particularly nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency limits the productivity of the crop. This study evaluated the effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal and Rhizobia on the growth and development of cowpea. The experiment was conducted using eight treatments, growth parameters included plant height, root length and mass , nodule weight and number and accumulated biomass were assessed at different growth stages. The results indicated that inoculated treatments significantly improved cowpea growth compared to control. The study concludes that co-inoculation of AMF and Rhizobia has a significant potential to enhance cowpea growth and could be recommended as an effective biofertilizerztion strategy for sustainable crop production.