Assessing the use of termite mound material as medium for growing cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L) Walp)

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted at the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong - Ashanti campus now Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development to assess the use of termite mound material as a medium for crop production. Three soil types namely top, sub and termite mound soils were considered as the treatments for the study. These soil types were collected in 2018 and 2019 from the multi-purpose nursery of the college of Agriculture. Soil physical, hydrological and chemical characteristics, and growth and yield of cowpea were determined in both major and minor seasons. Soil nutrients such as N, P and K, organic matter and pH values were higher in the top soil. SOC in top soil was 45 and 105 % more than the termite mound and sub soils respectively in the major season. The top soil again recorded total N which was about 33 and 122 % more than the termite mound and sub soils, respectively. TEB, ECEC and base saturation were higher in the top and termite mound soils than in the sub soil, while exchangeable acidity was higher in the sub soil than the top and termite mound soils. Similarly, soil physical and hydrological characteristic such as bulk density, moisture and porosity were favourable for crop production in the top soil. In both seasons, the top soil improved the growth and yield of cowpea better as compared to the sub soil, and the termite mound soil. In the major season, the top soil recorded a total grain yield of 390.0 kg/ha which was about 16 and 62 % more than the amount produced in the termite mound soil and the sub soil respectively. Total grain yield of cowpea correlated positively with organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K, ECEC and pH (r= 0.725, 0.793, 0.686, 0.749, 0.646 and 0.740 respectively). The order of preference for crop production should be top soil > termite mound soil > sub soil.