Effect of Phosphorus Application on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.): A Review

Abstract

The phosphorus in legumes plays an essential role as part of the membrane system of the cell, chloroplast and the mitochondria. Groundnut, being a legume oilseed crop, requires a significant amount of phosphorus. Plants use it for energy transfer in metabolic processes such as photosynthesis (in the form of ATP and ADP), starch and sugar transformation and nutrient movement. In addition to promoting cell division and the development of good root systems phosphorus plays an important role for ensuring timely and uniform ripening of crops, promoting carbohydrate breakdown for energy release, and hastening maturity, it is an essential component for ensuring the growth and maturity of plants. Phosphorus is one of the principal nutrients, which boosts root growth, thus facilitating water and nutrient uptake from deeper layers of the soil. The groundnut crop calls for sensible supply of phosphorus for its regular growth. Phosphorus has been found to improve the crop's effective use of soil nutrients and increase biological N fixation by increasing nitrogenase activity. Various research in this paper clearly indicate that application of phosphorus significantly affects the growth, phenology, yield attributes, yield, quality, nutrient uptake and economics of groundnut.