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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences - Vol. 11, No. 4
Publication Date: August 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/dafs.114.14970.
Madu, A. I., Mohammed, I. B., Sarkin, F. M., & Muhammad, A. (2023). Effect of Foliar Applied Kaolin on Leaves Transpiration Loss
of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Under Irrigation in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences,
11(4). 14-27.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Effect of Foliar Applied Kaolin on Leaves Transpiration Loss of
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Under Irrigation in Sudan
Savanna of Nigeria
Madu, A. I.
Department of Crop Production,
Faculty of Agriculture Food Scienc and Technology,
Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Nigeria
Mohammed, I. B.
Department of Agronomy,
Faculty Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
Sarkin, Fulani M.
Department of Crop Production,
Faculty of Agriculture Food Scienc and Technology,
Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Nigeria
Muhammad, A.
Department of Crop Production,
Faculty of Agriculture Food Scienc and Technology,
Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
A trial was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of
Agriculture Bayero University, Kano (11̊97ʹ 98.6ʺ N, 8̊42ʹ 03.7ʺ E) 475 m elevation
and Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa under Institute for Agricultural Research
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna (11̊ 38'.40.3" N 8̊ 25' 53.9" E) 498 m
elevation during the hot of dry season of 2019 in the Sudan savanna of Nigeria to
evaluate the effect of foliar applied kaolin (antitranspirant) on leaves water loss
(transpiration) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] under irrigations. The
treatments consisted of two varieties of soybean (TGX1835-10E and TGX1955-4F),
three growth stages for the application of kaolin (node initiation, flower initiation
and pod initiation) and application rates (0%, 3%, 6% and 9% w/v %). The factors
were factorially combined and laid out in a split-split-plot design and replicated
three times. Varieties were allocated to main plots, growth stages for the
application of kaolin in sub plots and kaolin rates in sub-sub plots. Data collected
included plant height (cm), leaf area index plant-1 at 6, 9 and 12WAS, dry matter (g),
transpiration loss (mls), hundred seed weight (g) and grain yield (kgha-1) were
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistix-10 and significant means
of treatments were separated using Tukey HSD at 5% level of probability. Variety
and application at growth stage recorded non-significant effect due to kaolin
application. Application of 9% kaolin indicated lowest water loss through leaves
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Madu, A. I., Mohammed, I. B., Sarkin, F. M., & Muhammad, A. (2023). Effect of Foliar Applied Kaolin on Leaves Transpiration Loss of Soybean
[Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Under Irrigation in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(4). 14-27.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.114.14970
transpiration and highest from the control rate. Application of 3 % kaolin could be
recommended for soybean production in area with low heat load (low temperature)
on leaf surfaces within the growing cycle of the crop and 6% rate in area with higher
heat load (higher temperature) on leaf surfaces.
Keywords: Hot dry season, variety, growth stage, kaolin rate and transpiration loss.
INTRODUCTION
Transpiration in growing plant is a way of water escape from leaves through the stomatal
opening under which higher rate is a stress which need control measures without which can
affect crop performance and final yield depending on the severity, stage of crop development it
occurs and time taken. This assertion was in line with one made by Shah Fahad et al. (2017)
who reported that drought and heat stress cause significant reduction in growth and yield of
several important crops; however, the extent of damage depend upon crop growth stage and
severity of the stress. It can result in water scarcity that can damage the plant due to desiccation
or loss of turgor and many other physiological abnormalities. It also causes wilting of the leaves
and results in stunted growth of the plants. This assertion was in line with the report of (Fathi
and Tari, 2016) that higher transpiration affects plant growth and development; decreases
water potential, cell division, net photosynthesis, and protein synthesis; changes hormonal
balance of the main plant tissue and also leads to a loss in yield by reducing total biomass,
relative water content, and chlorophyll content. During the process of transpiration, water
molecules in the plant tissues are removed from the aerial parts of the plant (Taiz and Zeiger,
2002).
However higher transpiration rate can cause cell flaccid and is a stress which has something to
do with the development of plants and is enough to cause adverse effects on soybean growth
and final yield under hot dry season of Sudan savanna of Nigeria which support better crop
performances. Although plant through various mechanisms increases resistance to drought and
various other artificial means to increase resistance to drought and manage transpiration rate
may be employed. Reducing crop luxury transpiration is important in improving water
productivity (Kang et al., 2017). Antitranspirant (kaolin) spray on plant leaves was found to
decrease leaf temperature by increasing leaf reflectance and reduce transpiration rate more
than photosynthesis in many plant species grown at high solar radiation levels (Nakano and
Uehara, 1996). It in view of effect of higher transpiration rate on soybean which has a greater
number of leaves and kaolin when applied on the leaves mitigate the impact was used to
evaluate its impact on water loss through transpiration in soybean production under irrigation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted during the hot dry seasons of 2019 in the Teaching and
Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture Bayero University, Kano (11̊97ʹ 98.6ʺ N, 8̊42ʹ 03.7ʺ
E) 475 m elevation and Irrigation Research Station of Institute for Agricultural Research,
Ahmadu Bello University situated at Kadawa, Kano (11̊ 38'.40.3" N 8̊ 25' 53.9" E) 498 m
elevation; representing the two locations used within the Sudan savannah ecological zone of
Nigeria.
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 4, August- 2023
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Soil Sampling and Analysis
Soil samples from each of the locations were collected randomly from 0-30cm depth using soil
auger. It involved five sampling units from each of the three replications making total of fifteen
units. It was then mixed thoroughly to have a uniform mixture in each of the location from
which a composite sample was collected and analyzed to determine the physical and chemical
properties using procedure described by through Black (1965).
Treatments and Experimental Design
Treatments consisted of two varieties of soybean (TGX1835-10E and TGX1955-4F), three
growth stages (node initiations, flower initiations and pod initiation) and four rates of kaolin
(0%, 3%, 6% and 9% w/v %). The factors were factorially combined and laid out in a split-split- plot design and replicated three times. Varieties were allocated to main plots, growth stages of
foliar applied kaolin in sub plots and kaolin rates in sub-sub plots.
Meteorological Data
Meteorological data were collected from the nearest meteorological data station (Soil Science
Department, Bayero University, Kano).
Planting Materials
The seeds of the two varieties, TGX1835-10E and TGX1955-4F were obtained from the Institute
for Agricultural Research, Kano Station. They are varieties good for Sudan savannah zone,
brown in color with grain size of 6-7mm. They are early maturing (85- 100 day), high yielding,
low shattering and resistance to pest and diseases. Previous crops grown, roaming animals,
water-logging, water source and others were considered during site selection. The sites were
cropped with maize in the last two years and are flat. All unwanted materials were cleared and
removed. Fields were watered, ploughed, ridged and prepared into fine tilth with deep loose
soil for good seed-soil contact and better development. The field of each of the experimental
site was marked out in to total size of 1150.5m2. It was divided in to three replications with an
alley of 2m between. Replications were transformed in to main, sub and sub-sub plots of 3m by
5m with an alley of 0.75m between each. Main plot, sub-plot and sub-sub plot consisted of 4
ridges of 5m by 0.75m (15m2) and net plot sizes (two inner rows) 4.5m2.Before sowing, seeds
were treated with soybean nitrogen fixing bacteria (Brady rhizobium Japonicum) and seeds
treatment with fungicides (Captan, Apron Plus at the rate of 1 sachet/8 kg of seeds before
planting for protection against soil borne fungal diseases. Through surface flooding, irrigation
water was conveyed in to basin of research plots. Interval of four days between irrigation was
maintained in BUK and 7day in Kadawa due to variation in water table and withdrew at pods
maturity. Four to five seeds per hole were sown at a depth of about 4cm at inter and intra-row
spacing of 0.75 and 10cm respectively, it was then thinned down to 4 plants per stand at 3WAS
and supplying was done at 10 DAS. Weeding was manually done using hoe at 4 and 8WAS.
Fertilizer was applied at recommended rate of phosphorus 30 kgha-1 in the form of single super
phosphate fertilizer (SUPA) (3 × 50 kg bags) in addition to 21⁄2 × 50 kg bags of compound
fertilizer were applied. At maturity the pod is straw colored, outer rows were harvested first
by cutting the plant from the ground level fallowed by sample plant and net plots for data
collections. Properly dried sampled and net plot yield were manually threshed through putting