IMPROVING PHOSPHORUS USE EFFICIENCY IN SUMMER GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) USING IMPROVED MICROBIAL CULTURES 2901
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Date
2019-07
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JAU, JUNAGADH
Abstract
Groundnut being a leguminous crop and rich in oil requires higher amount of
phosphorus as compared to other nutrients. Phosphorus is an important nutrient in crop
production. It promotes plant root growth and helps in energy transformations as well
as photosynthesis in plants. The major problem of phosphorus is its low availability.
Most of the Saurashtra region soils are calcareous in nature. The phyto-availability of
phosphorus in these soils is a major issue because most of the applied phosphorus get
fixed in short period of time due to the formation of poorly soluble calcium phosphate
minerals. Therefore, it affects crop production adversely and cost of phosphatic
fertilizer per unit production increases. It is well evidenced that uses of organics and
microorganisms play an important role in improving phosphorus availability in
agricultural soils. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are the microbes involved in a
range of processes that affect the transformation of soil phosphorus and are thus an
integral component of the soil P cycle. In view of the above facts, the present study was
planned to exploit the unavailable soil phosphorus for plant nutrition in summer
groundnut using improved microbial cultures viz. DGRC 1 and DGRC 2 which are
consortia cultures having PSB, PGPR and Rhizobium.
Keeping this in mind a field experiment entitled “Improving phosphorus use
efficiency in summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) using improved microbial
cultures” was carried out during summer, 2018 in randomized block design with ten
treatments replicated three times. The experimental finding revealed that growth parameters, yield parameters, yield, nutrient content in pod and haulm, nutrient status
of soil after harvest of groundnut, soil enzymatic activities and economics was
significantly influenced by different phosphorus management practices in summer
groundnut.
Application of 100 % RDP + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 was found significantly superior
over rest of the treatments with respect to effect on growth parameter, yield attributes
and yield, nutrient content and uptake by plant, available N, P and K in soil,oil and
protein contents in kernel and enzymatic activities in soil.
Plant height, dry matter accumulation per plant and number of branches per
plant at 30, 60, 90 DAS and harvest were recorded significantly higher with the
application of 100% RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP + DGRC 2 over 100% RDP.
Similarly, significantly minimum days to 50 % flowering was also recorded with the
100 % RDP + FYM @ 5 t ha-1
.
Significantly higher number of pegs per plant, mature pods per plant, weight of
mature pods per plant, shelling out-turn, pod yield and haulm yield were recorded with
the application of 100% RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP + DGRC 2 over 100% RDP.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in pod and haulm of summer
groundnut differed significantly due to various phosphorus management practices.
Higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in pod and haulm and uptake by
plant were recorded with the application of 100% RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP +
DGRC 2 over 100% RDP.
Significantly higher available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soil were
recorded with the application of 100% RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP + DGRC 2 over
100% RDP.
Oil and protein content in kernels were significantly higher with the application
of 100% RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP + DGRC 2 over 100% RDP.
Significantly higher dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase
enzymes activities at 30 and 60 DAS in soil were observed with the application of 100%
RDP + DGRC 1 and 100% RDP + DGRC 2 over 100% RDP..
Maximum gross returns ( 1,12,251 ha-1
) was observed with the application of
100 % RDP + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 over rest of the treatments while highest net returns (
55,715 ha-1
) and benefit-cost ratio (2.24) were observed with 100% RDP + DGRC 1.