Evaluation of the Seed Quality and Fatty Acids Composition of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) in Response to the Conventional and Nano Forms of Zn and Ca Based Fertilizers

Abstract

ABSTRACT The application of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) fertilizers is necessary to improve quantitative and qualitative yield of groundnut. This study was done to evaluate seed yield and the fatty acids composition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in response to the different forms of Zn- and Ca-based fertilizers. This experiment is carried out as a split plot arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Rasht, Iran, during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The four levels of Zn fertilizers including without fertilizer application (control), Zn Nano-fertilizer (Zn-Nano), Zn-EDTA, and Zn-sulfate (ZnSO4) as the main plot and the four levels of the Ca fertilizers including Ca Nano-fertilizer (Ca-Nano), Ca-EDTA, Ca-chloride (CaCl2), and Ca-nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] as the sub-plot comprised experimental treatments. The greatest pod number per plant (PNP) (38.78), 100-seed weight (100-SW) (61.49 g), seed yield (SY) (2790 kg/ha), biological yield (BY) (9303 kg/ha), seed oil content (SOC) (52.34%), oil yield (OY) (1625 kg/ha), protein yield (PY) (673 kg/ha), oleic acid (OA) (57.30%), and linoleic acid (LA) (30.97%) were obtained in response to Zn and Ca nanofertilizers. The combined application of Zn and Ca nanofertilizers enhanced the SY of groundnut via increasing of PNP and 100-SW indices and improved the groundnut oil quality due to the increment of OA and LA under regional climatic conditions. Hence, Zn and Ca nanofertilizers showed superiority for the quantity and quality of groundnut yield and could be recommendable to enhance the quantitative and qualitative yield of groundnut under similar climatic conditions.