Effects of Lime on Growth and Yield of Mucuna flagellipes (Vogel ex Hook) in an Acid Tropical Ultisol

The effects of lime (calcium carbonate) on the growth and yield of Mucuna flagellipes were studied in 2012 and 2013 cropping season respectively at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Agronomy, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Nigeria. The experiment had six rates of calcium carbonate (0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 4 0 t ha-1) laid out in randomized complete block design with six replications. Calcium carbonate significantly (p < 0.05) increased the number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, nodules, vine length, leaf area index and dry matter of plant fractions. Soils amended with calcium carbonate shortened the period to anthesis, pod set, and increased the number of inflorescences, flowers and pod yield per plant. Calcium carbonate at the rate of 2.5 t ha-1 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pod abortion, number of pods without seeds and produced the highest seed yield of 2.82 t ha-1 and 2.80 t ha-1 in 2012 and 2013 cropping season respectively. Farmers should cultivate Mucuna flagellipes with the application of 2.0 t ha-1or 2.5 t ha-1 of calcium carbonate under an acid tropical ultisol as obtained in Obubra condition.