Impact of foliar nutrition on growth, yield attributes, yield, quality parameters and economics of groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)] under rainfed condition

Introduction

Groundnut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)] is an annual legume, which is also known as peanut, earthnut and monkey nut. Groundnut is known as poor man's almond. It is the 13th most important food crop and fourth most important oilseed crop of the world. Groundnut seed contain about 50 per cent edible oil. The remaining 50 per cent of the seed has high quality protein (21.4 to 36.4%), carbohydrates (6.0 to 24.9%), vitamin E, niacin, falacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, riboflavin, thiamine and potassium (Das, 1997) [7] . This contains about 20 per cent saturated and 80 per cent unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acid has two types i.e., oleic acid (40-50%) and linoleic acid (24-35%) (Mathur and Khan, 1997) [9] . These multiple uses of groundnut make it an excellent cash crop for domestic markets as well as for foreign trade in several developing and developed countries. Kernels are also being used as processed foods like sweets and dry powder. Groundnut haulm and oil cake are used as either cattle feed or organic manure. The shells of groundnut are also utilized as fuel in boilers and as filler material in many organic and biological products like activated charcoal, cork substitutes and hard boards. Being a legume, groundnut plant symbiotically fixes atmospheric nitrogen and improves the soil fertility status. In Gujarat, total groundnut area, production and productivity were 1.99 million hectare, 4.49 MT and 2262 kg/ha respectively, during the year of 2021-22 (Anon, 2022). In Gujarat groundnut is largely cultivated in Junagadh, Rajkot, Dwarka, Banaskantha, Amreli, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath and Kutch districts (Anon., 2022) [1] . Foliar application of nutrients is feasible, economically viable and eco-friendly approach of nutrient management.

It is often the most effective and economical way to 3 correct plant nutrient deficiencies at critical growth stages. Reports indicate that foliar application promoted root absorption of the same nutrient or other nutrients through improving root growth and increasing nutrients uptake. It has the advantage of low application rates, uniform distribution of fertilizer materials and quick response to applied nutrients. The effectiveness of foliar applied nutrients is determined by the type of formulation and the time of application. Yield increase to an extent of 5-10 per cent (Sonawane et al., 2010) [12] can be achieved by using the right product at right time. Foliar nutrition is 8-10 times more effective than soil application. Foliar spray stimulates an increase in chlorophyll production, cellular activity and respiration. It also triggers a plant response to increased water and nutrient uptake from the soil (Veeramani et al., 2012) [15] .

Material and Methods

A field experiment was carried out at College farm, College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Campus Bharuch during kharif 2023. The soil of experimental plot was clayey (Vertisols) with low in available N (237 kg/ha), medium in P 2 O 5 (34.2 kg/ha) and high in K 2 O (325 kg/ha). The soil reaction (pH) was slightly alkaline (7.78). The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments, which included: T 1 (Control), T 2 (RDF 12.5-25-00 NPK kg/ha), T 3 (RDF + 2% Panchagavya), T 4 (RDF + 2% Cow urine), T 5 (RDF + 2% Vermi bed wash), T 6 (RDF + 1% Novel), T 7 (RDF + 2% Urea), T 8 (RDF + 1% 19-19-19) and T 9 (RDF + Nano urea 2 ml/lit). Foliar nutrition apllied at flowering and pegging stages of groundnut. The groundnut var. Gujarat GJG 22 was used for experimental purpose and sown on 5 th July, 2023 at 45 x 10 cm spacing, by adopting the recommended seed rate 100 kg/ha and RDF (12.5-25-00 NPK kg/ha) given through urea and single super phosphate. The crop was harvested during 25 th October 2023. Weeds were managed by herbicides and plant protection measures were taken up as and when required. In each plot five plants were randomly selected and tagged to record experimental observations on growth, yield attributes, yield and quality. At maturity, pods/plant, seeds/pod, Shell (%) and seed yield were recorded. The results were statistically analyzed using standard ANOVA techniques as suggested by (Panse and Sukhatme, 1985) [10] to draw appropriate inferences.

Results and Discussion

Growth attributes

Results in Table 1 showed significant differences on groundnut growth parameters in treatment T 3 (RDF + foliar spray of 2% Panchagavya), at flowering and pegging stage). However, treatments T 8 and T 6 registered equally as T 3 . Application of T 3 (RDF + 2% Panchagavya) at flowering and pegging stages of groundnut recorded significantly the highest growth attributes viz., plant height at 75 DAS (41.56 cm) and at harvest (63.95 cm), number of branches / plant at 45 (6.34), 75 DAS (8.69) and at harvest (10.00), dry matter accumulation / plant at 45 DAS (20.27 g) and at harvest (40.44 g) was significantly higher with T 3 (RDF + 2% Panchagavya). However, it was statistically at par with T 8 (RDF + 1% 19-19-19) and T 6 (RDF + 1% Novel). The reason for the potential increase in plant height could be attributed to the application of growth-promoting substances or nutrients through spraying on the leaves. Spraying these nutrients during a critical stage of crop growth, such as when the plants are flowering and pegging stage, helps in promoting cell division, elongation and the development of leaves and other parts of the plant. The contains panchagavya might have contained microbial metabolites in appreciable amount that help in maintaining the opening of stomata and improved nutrition enable greater leaf area as well as increased branches per plant due to content cytokinins and gibberellic acids, Which tends to increase number of branches per plant. Significantly improvement in accumulation of dry matter and also increased supply of plant nutrients. When groundnut plants absorb these growth-promoting substances through foliar spraying, it's possible that they contribute to the increase in plant height. Similar findings have been reported by Britto and Girija (2006) [2] , Shekh et al. (2018) [11] and Mathukia et al. (2023) [8] . The increase in seed yield with application of foliar nutrient treatments was mainly due to cumulative effect of significant increased in the growth and yield attributing component like, plant height, number of branches per plant, pods per plant and seeds per pod. The overall improvement in all the growth and yield attributing components may be due to adequate supply of nutrients with easy availability to plant at most critical growth period resulted into better growth and yield attributing characters. The better growth of crop ultimately diverted more energy under sink source relationship which helped in providing more yield. The present findings are found in agreement with Kulkarni et al. (2016) [16] , Shekh et al. (2018) [11] , Chongre et al.

(2019) [5] , Sutar et al. (2019) [14] , Chaudhary et al. (2022) [3] , Chavda et al. (2023a) [4] and Mathukia et al. (2023) [8] . [11] , Choudhary et al. (2018) [6] , Sutar et al.

(2019) [14] and Chaudhary et al. (2022) [3] .

Economics

An appraisal of data given in (2023a) [4] , Mathukia et al. (2023) [8] and Sriram et al. (2023) [13] .

Conclusion

Based on one year field experiment, it can be concluded that groundnut should be accomplished with application of recommended dose of fertilizer (12.5-25-00 NPK kg/ha) along with foliar nutrition 2% Panchagavya at flowering and pegging stages for getting profitable seed yield wise quality of seed and maintaining soil health.

References

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