Plant density and variety effect on yield, leaf spot disease, weed species richness and diversity of groundnut production in northern Ghana

Abstract

Low plant density and weed infestation are major challenges for groundnut production in northern Ghana. A two-year on-farm study was conducted to determine the effect of plant density and variety on grain and fodder yields, incidence of leaf spot disease, weed species diversity and biomass. A factorial treatment combination of 6 varieties and 4 plant densities laid in strip plot design with 4 replications was used. The varieties were (early maturity type: Chinese, Yenyewoso, Samnut 23 and late maturity type: Azivivi, Manipinta, Samnut 22). The plants density included 9, 11, 15 and 22 plants/m2. The late maturity varieties recorded higher (p