Effect of organic foliar nutrition on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2020 at farmer's field in Periya Muliyanur village, Anthiyur taluk, Erode district, Tamil Nadu to examine the effect of organic foliar nutrition on growth and yield of groundnut. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications with nine treatments comprising recommended dose of fertilizers in 75% and 100% dosage along with Panchakavya, Vermiwash @ 2% and 4%, Cow dung spray @ 10%, Humic acid @ 4%, Pulse Wonder @ 4% and Homobrassinolide - 0.12g a.i./ha along with control. Among the different treatments tried out, recommended dose of fertilizer along with foliar application of humic acid @ 4 % significantly recorded highest plant height (30.74), number of component leaves/plant (38.64), dry matter production (4063 kg/ha), number of pods/plant (22.67), number of pegs/plant (34.17), pod yield (2396 kg/ha), kernel yield (1716 kg/ha), halum yield (3620 kg/ha) and B:C ratio (2.52). The least growth on 60 days after sowing (DAS) and yield parameters were recorded in control with plant height on 60 DAS (23.35), number of component leaves/plant (29.95), dry matter production (3239 kg/ha), number of pods/plant (16.34), number of pegs/plant (27.84), pod yield (2090 kg/ha), kernel yield (1429 kg/ha) and halum yield (3253 kg/ha).