Declining soil fertility particularly phosphorus deficiency, low organic carbon, moisture stress and high cost of input are factors limiting soybean yield in the Nigeria savanna. Supplementary irrigation, nutrient application and inoculation with Bradyrhizobium could increase the grain yield of soybean. We evaluated the effects of Rhizobia inoculant, phosphorus fertilization, manure, and supplementary irrigation on the nodulation and productivity of a tropical soybean variety in two locations in northern Nigeria in the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. The treatments consisted of five input bundles: Supplementary irrigation +17.5 kg P ha−1 + 4 t ha−1 poultry manure + nodumax inoculant (S + P + M + I); 17.5 kg P ha−1 + 4 t ha−1 poultry manure + nodumax inoculant (P + M + I); 17.5 kg P ha−1 + nodumax inoculant (P + I); 17.5 kg PP ha−1 (P); and nodumax inoculant (I). Economic analysis was done to determine the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for each input bundle. In Kano, the input bundle S + P + M + I produced mean number of nodules that were 38, 102, 200 and 352% higher than that of input bundles P + M + I, P + I, P and I, respectively. At Lere, the application of input bundle S + P + M + I increased mean number of nodules by 33, 81, 93 and 182% over that of input bundles P + M + I, P + I, P and I, respectively. Mean grain yield in Kano was greater for input bundle S + P + M + I over P + M + I, P + I, P and I bundles by 31, 50, 64 and 223%, respectively. In Lere, grain yield for input bundle S + P + M + I was higher than that of input bundles P + M + I, P + I, P and I only, by 27, 47, 41 and 184% respectively. The input bundle P + M + I produced the highest BCR (1.4) in Kano and application only of P produced the highest BCR (1.3) in Lere. Supplementary irrigation was not found to be profitable due to the high cost of supplementary irrigation.The application of P with or without manure/inoculant is recommeded for profitable soybean production in the savannas of Nigeria.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28749

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Alpha Kamarahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1844-2574

Abdullahi Ibrahim Tofahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7617-4395

Kamaihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7030-338X

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28749

Plant Production and Health

Agronomy; Food Security; Grain Legumes; Plant Breeding; Plant Health; Plant Production; Soybean

Agroecology; Bradyrhizobium; Phosphorus; Soil Moisture; Soybeans

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria

Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Heliyon