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Field trials were conducted during the 2017 dry season at the Irrigation Research farms of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru and Kadawa to study the influence of phosphorus fertilizer and mulching materials on the performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.).The treatments consisted of two mulching materials and a control i.e. polythene mulch, rice straw mulch and no mulch respectively, two varieties of groundnut (SAMNUT 24, and 25) and three rate of phosphorus (0, 30 and 60 kgha-1 per P205 respectively) factorially combined and laid in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data were collected on plant height, leaf area index and harvest index. All data collected were analyzed statistically and treatments means were compared using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). Although it was noted that no statistical difference was observed with the application of phosphorous fertilizer in plant height across sampling periods except in leaf area index where a significant difference was observed at 6 weeks after sowing in both locations. Where the application of 60 kg ha-1 P205  at 6 weeks after sowing produced higher leaf area index and harvest index. However, application of rice straw mulch produced taller plants, high leaf area index at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing and higher harvest index in both locations. The interactions between mulching materials and phosphorus fertilizer was significant on plant height at 3 WAS in Samaru with the application of 30 kg P205 with rice straw mulch resulted in taller plants. Samnut 25 produced higher harvest index in both locations. Based on the results obtained from this trail, the application of 60 kg P205, rice straw mulch on Samnut 25 variety resulted in better growth and higher harvest index of groundnut in both locations and this could be recommended for use by farmers in the Northern guinea and Sudan savannah agroecological zones.

should be encouraged to use field trip instructional strategy in the teaching of Ecological concepts.