Effect of plant population density on seed yield attributes of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa, Hochst. ex. a. Rich.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of plant population density on seed yield attributes of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. In this experiment the effect of three plant populations (55,555, 24,975 and 10,000 plants ha-1) were evaluated in a factorial arrangement laid out in 3 x 18 using Randomized Complete Block Design in three replicates with 18 genotypes and plant population as factors in 2013 and 2014 cropping years. Data were collected on (seed weight/plant (g), number of pods/plant (g), seed weight/pod(g), pod weight/plant(g), SPE%, number of seed/plant). Data collected from the experiment were subjected to analysis of variance, mean separation. In the experiment, plant population and genotype significantly influenced all seed yield characters in both cropping years. Significantly (p? 0.05) higher seed weight/plant (70.31 g), number of pods/plant (18.70), seed weight/pod (5.01 g) and pod weight/plant (98.66 g) was obtained under 10,000 plants ha-1. Genotypes TSs86 (91.37 g) and TSs50 (85.87 g) had highest seed weight/plant across plant population and cropping year. Seed weight/plant positively correlated with other seed yield characters across plant population and years. In conclusion, Genotypes TSs86, TSs50, TSs331, TSs83 and TSs311 were the top yielding with over 65.87 g/plant across year and plant population. Plant population of 10,000 plants ha-1 (100 x 100 cm) is recommended for superior seed yield components in African yam bean crop