Biological Nitrogen Fixation and Soil Property Changes under Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. Kuntze) Intercropping with Maize (Zea mays L.) – Egusi melon (Colocynthis citrullus L. Schrad) in Benin City, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1012-5599Keywords:
Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Intercropping, Soil Parameters, Crop YieldAbstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Farm, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, to evaluate the influence of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on selected soil properties in a maize (Zea mays L.)–egusi melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) intercropping system and to estimate the amount of nitrogen fixed by kidney bean under intercropping. Seven cropping systems comprising sole maize, sole egusi melon, sole kidney bean, maize + kidney bean, egusi melon + kidney bean, maize + egusi melon, and maize + egusi melon + kidney bean were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected before planting and after harvest for analysis of selected physical and chemical properties, while crop growth, yield, and nutrient concentrations were also determined. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and means were separated at the 5% probability level. The soils were acidic and classified as loamy sand. Soil total nitrogen increased in plots containing kidney bean after harvest but declined in plots without the legume. Sole kidney bean recorded the highest soil total nitrogen (0.75 g kg⁻¹), significantly exceeding sole maize (0.57 g/kg), sole egusi-melon (0.59 g/kg), pre-plant soil (0.63 g/kg), and maize + egusi-melon (0.61 g/kg). Potassium, calcium, and magnesium declined after harvest across treatments. Kidney bean accumulated more nutrients and produced superior growth and yield when intercropped with maize than in the three-crop intercrop.
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