Effect of Groundnut (arachis Hypogea )residues on Soil Chemical Properties in the Sub - Humid Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

This study was conducted at the University of Agriculture Makurdi Research Farm in the Sub- Humid Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria during 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons to determine the effect of groundnut (Arachus hypogea) residues on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays). Five treatments (0.4, 6.8 and 10 t ha-1) groundnut biomass were laid in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The biomass was obtained after 90 days of planting from cultivated groundnuts on the same piece of land. The residue has a significant effect on the growth and yield of maize. The tallest plants (166.67 cm) were obtained from plots treated with 8 t ha -1 of the residues followed by plots treated with 10 t ha-1 (163.88 cm). The shortest plants (124.67 cm) were obtained from control plots in the two cropping seasons. Maize grain yield, number of seeds per cob and weight of 100 seeds followed the same trend except that the grain yield was highest in plots treated with 10 t ha-1 biomass. It is recommend that 8.10 t ha-1 of groundnut residues be used for maize production in the study area.