Effect of Molybdenum and Zinc on Growth and Yield Attributes of Zaid Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during Zaid season April-july 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P). The aim was to study the effect of soil application of molybdenum and foliar application of zinc on growth and yield of groundnut. The treatments consisted of 3 levels of molybdenum (0.5,1.5,2.0 kg/ha) and zinc (0.25,0.50,0.75% foliar application). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments and were replicated thrice. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loamy in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.2), low in organic carbon (0.48%) available N (171.48 kg/ha), available P (13.6 kg/ha), available K (215.4 kg/ha), available zinc (0.76ppm) and available Sulphur (12.41ppm). Application of 1.5kg/ha molybdenum with zinc 0.5% treatment-6 recorded Maximum plant height (54.50 cm), highest plant dry weight (54.14g), no. of nodules per plant (47), seed index (42.08 g), no. of pods per plant (23), no. of kernels per pod (2), seed yield (2985 kg/ha), harvest index (43.19%). Minimum parameters were recorded in treatment-10 control plot which is application of recommended dose of fertilizers 20:40:60 kg/ha NPK.