The effect of cement as lime on rosette disease and cercospora leaf spot on groundnut grain yield

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the world’s major food legume crops that is severely affected by early leaf spot and groundnut rosette disease in Sierra Leone. The recent decline in yields of groundnut in Sierra Leone has been associated with the low calcium application. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the potential of cement as lime in ameliorating rosette disease problem and low yield of groundnut in Sierra Leone. This experiment was conducted under field conditions at Njala, Kori chiefdom. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five (5) treatment of cement application (0, 50, 100, 200 & 400 kg/ha). Disease severity for the rosette leaf spot was assessed based on a 1-3 scale while cercospora leaf spot was 1-9 scale for 39 high yielding groundnut lines. The application of cement at 0, 50, 100, 200, & 400 kg/ha did not have any significant influence on the incidence and severity of rosette or cercospora diseases. However, the improved lines ICGV 1954, ICGV 7445, ICGV UGA 2, ICGV 10900, ICGV 6284, ICGV 7437, and ICGV 9407 produced significantly higher yields and good resistance to cercospora leaf spot and groundnut rosette disease and were selected as potential candidates for release and future breeding programs. This study showed that cement could not be used as a control for early leaf spot and rosette disease. Therefore, farmers should plant groundnut varieties that are resistant to cercospora leaf spot and rosette disease for higher yields.