Effect of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties

Abstract

During the summer season of 2022, a field experimental trail on groundnut was performed at Crop Research Farm (CRF), Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.) to evaluate the impact of micronutrients on the growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) varieties. The experimental plot's soil was sandy loam in texture, virtually neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.7), low in organic carbon (0.44%), available N (171.48 kg/ha), available P (27.00 kg/ha), and available K (291.20 kg/ha). The experiment was designed in the Randomized Block Design (RBD) method, with nine treatments repeated three times. According to this trial, the treatments are zinc (0.5%), boron (0.2%), zinc+ boron (0.5%+0.2%) as foliar spray, and varieties. (Kadiri 6, Kadiri 9, Kadiri Amaravati). The treatment combinations are, T1-0.5% Zinc (foliar) + Kadiri 6, T2- 0.5% Zinc (foliar) + Kadiri 9, T3- 0.5% Zinc (foliar) + Kadiri Amaravati, T4- 0.2% Boron (foliar) + Kadiri 6, T5- 0.2% Boron (foliar) + Kadiri 9, T6- 0.2% Boron (foliar) + Kadiri Amaravati, T7- (0.5% + 0.2%) Zn+ B (foliar) + Kadiri 6, T8- (0.5% + 0.2%) Zn+ B (foliar) + Kadiri 9, T9- (0.5% + 0.2%) Zn+ B (foliar) + Kadiri Amaravati. (0.5% + 0.2%) Zn + B (foliar) application with variety Kadiri 6 resulted in greater Plant height (26.60cm), Nodules/plant (49.14), and Plant dry weight (6.56 g/plant). Maximum number of pods per plant (27.87), kernels per pod (2.66), seed index (40.13 g), seed yield (2.48 t/ha), haulm yield (5.67 t/ha), and harvest index (30.44%). Thus, using (0.5% + 0.2%) Zn + B (foliar) in conjunction with the variety Kadiri 6 could be a promising choice for increasing groundnut yield.