EFFECT OF MICRONUTRIENTS APPLIED AS FOLIAR AND SOIL APPLICATION ON GROWTH, YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELD OF RAINFED GROUNDNUT

V. VASUKI¹*, C. SUDHALAKSHMI^2
1Department of Millets, Center for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
²Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar, 642101, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
* Corresponding Author : vasukimanii@gmail.com

Received : 04-11-2022     Accepted : 27-11-2022     Published : 30-11-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 11       Pages : 11865 - 11867
Int J Agr Sci 14.11 (2022):11865-11867

Keywords : Micronutrient, Zinc sulphate, Boric acid, Soil application, Seed treatment, Foliar application
Academic Editor : Dr Vikram Kumar
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Millets, Center for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India and Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar, 642101, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, Tamil Nadu, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Field experiments were conducted at Coconut Research Station, Aliyarnagar, during kharif seasons with an objective to increase groundnut yield with increased kernel yield and reduced ill filled pods. Randomized Block Design with three replications was adopted. Sandy loam soil with pH 7.2, low in available N, medium in available P and high in available K. Treatments included viz., ZnSO4 @ 10.0 kg (Soil application) (T1), ZnSO4 @ 20.0 kg (Soil application) (T2), ZnSO4 @ 5.0 kg (Seed treatment + Foliar application) at 30 DAS (T3), ZnSO4 @ 10.0 kg (Seed treatment + Foliar application) at 30 DAS (T4), Boric acid @ 6.0 kg (Soil application) (T5), Boric acid @ 9.0 kg (Soil application) (T6), Boric acid @ 3.0 kg (Seed treatment + Foliar application) at 30 DAS (T7), Boric acid @ 6.0 kg (Seed treatment + Foliar application) at 30 DAS (T8), ZnSO4 @10.0 kg + Boric acid @ 6.0 kg ha-1 (Soil application) (T9), Control (T10). Results revealed, growth parameters like plant height and number of branches were non-significant and yield parameters like number of matured pods per plant at harvest, dry pod weight per plant (g), sound matured kernels, 100 kernel weight (g) recorded significant difference among themselves. Highest pod yield was recorded with application of ZnSO4 @ 10.0 kg Seed treatment + Foliar application at 30 DAS (2508 kg ha-1), ZnSO4 @ 20.0 kg Soil application (2342 kg ha-1), Boric acid @ 6.0 kg Seed treatment + Foliar application at 30 DAS (2350 kg ha-1) and soil application of ZnSO4 @10.0 kg + Boric acid @ 6.0 kg ha-1 recorded the highest pod (2248 kg ha-1)) and haulm yield (3872, 3712, 3747, 3635 kg ha-1, respectively along with kernel yield (1716, 1594, 1678, 1582 kg ha-1, respectively). These treatments were on par and comparable with each other. However, highest net returns (Rs. 80,980 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.32) was recorded with application of ZnSO4 @ 10.0 kg seed treatment + Foliar application at 30 DAS

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