ASSESSMENT OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) PERFORMANCE SUCCEEDING INOCULATED AND UN-INOCULATED SOYBEAN (Glycine max. L.) CULTIVARS AT KANO, SUDAN SAVANNA NIGERIA

The production of maize in Nigeria is restricted by many factors most particularly nitrogen. Nitrogen (N) is the most important mineral nutrient limiting maize (Zea mays L.) production in the Nigerian Savanna. Integration of legumes such as soybean into the cropping systems of the Savanna soils of Nigeria and the use of environmentally friendly rhizobium inoculation has been considered as an important resource management technology for reduction of energy use, cost, pollution potential of inorganic fertilizer usage and improving Nitrogen status of the soil. Field trials were conducted in the year 2011 and 2012 rainy season at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Teaching and Research Farm (latitude 12° 58’ N, longitude 8° 25’ E) in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecology. In 2011 wet season nine (9) improved soybean varieties viz.: TGX 1835-10E, TGX 1904-6F, TGX 1935-3F, TGX 1951-3E, TGX 1448-2E, TGX 1955-4E, TGX 1485-1D, TGX 1987-62F, TGX 1945-3E, one (1) local variety SC SAGA, natural fallow and maize were grown under two levels of bradyrhizobium  inoculation conditions (inoculated and un-inoculated). In 2012 wet season, maize (EVDT-W-2009-STR) was planted on the plots previously grown to the soybean varieties, natural fallow and maize to study the residual effect. The treatments were laid out in a split plot design in four replications, with inoculation in the main plots and varieties in the sub plots. The data collected was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using statistix 9.0. Where the F-ratios were found to be significant, treatment means were separated using the Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) at P=.05. Generally, grain yield (kg ha-1) obtained under plots preceding inoculated soybean varieties were significantly P=.05 higher than the un-inoculated ones. Both soybean cultivars had different effects on the measured attribute and grain yield of succeeding maize. Maize after local soybean variety SC-SAGA gave lower yield compared to the nine improved soybean varieties. The percentage increase over the local soybean variety ranged from 2% to 10% while that of inoculation over un-inoculation averaged to be 7% increase. The interaction effect between preceding inoculation and variety on grain yield of succeeding maize is significantly P=.05 different. Therefore, based on the findings it could be recommended to rotate maize after improved soybean varieties for increase maize yield irrespective of inoculation considering the percentage increase of variety type was higher than that of inoculation condition.