EFFECT OF BORON ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF GROUNDNUT IN COASTAL SANDY SOILS
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Date
2022-08-11
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guntur
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Effect of boron on growth and productivity of groundnut in coastal sandy soils” was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla during rabi, 2020-21. The experimental soil was sandy in texture, neutral in reaction, non-saline, low in organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, sufficient in sulphur, iron, manganese and copper and deficient in zinc and boron.
The experiment was laid out in RBD with nine treatments (T1 - RDF (35:40:50 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1 through urea, SSP, MOP and 500 kg ha-1gypsum), T2 - RDF + soil application of Borax @ 7.5 kg ha-1, T3 - RDF + soil application of Borax @ 10 kg ha-1, T4 - RDF + soil application of Borax @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T5 - RDF + foliar spray of Borax @ 0.1% at 45 DAS, T6 - RDF + foliar spray of Borax @ 0.1% at 65 DAS, T7 - RDF + foliar spray of Borax @ 0.1% @ 45 & 65 DAS, T8 - T2 + foliar spray of Borax @ 0.1% at 65 DAS and T9 - T3 + foliar spray of Borax @ 0.1% at 65 DAS) replicated thrice.
Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits (basal and 30 DAS), phosphorus and potassium as basal and gypsum at 45 DAS and Borax as per the treatments. The influence of various treatments on soil properties and performance of groundnut at different stages was determined by following the standard procedures.
There was a significant influence on growth parameters (plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of compound leaves per plant, leaf area index, drymatter production) with the application of boron. The highest values were observed in T4, this was on par with T2, T3, T8 and T9 for most of the parameters.
Yield and yield parameters and quality parameters increased significantly with the application of boron except shelling percentage, 100-kernel weight, oil content and oil yield. The highest values of yield and yield parameters were observed in T4, this was on par with all the other boron treatments.
The soil properties viz., pH, EC, CEC, OC, available N, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were not significantly influenced by the treatments imposed. The
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available boron was markedly influenced by soil application of boron at all the stages of crop growth. The highest values were recorded in T4. This was superior over all the other treatments.
The nitrogen content in plants was significantly higher with boron treatments. The highest nitrogen content in peg penetration, pod development and haulm in harvest stage was recorded in T4, this was on par with the T2, T3, T8, T9. The highest nitrogen content in pods at harvest stage was also recorded in T4, it was on par with all the other boron treatments. The nutrient contents of P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were not significantly influenced. The highest concentration of all the nutrients was recorded in T4.
Boron content in plants and uptake of all nutrients at all stages of crop increased significantly with boron application. It was highest in T4, this was on par with all boron treatments.
Application of boron resulted in higher gross and net returns when compared to control. The highest gross returns was obtained by T4 whereas, highest net returns and BC ratio was obtained by T6.
Soil application of borax @ 7.5 kg ha-1 or foliar spray of B @ 0.1% at 45 or 60 DAS along with RDF may be recommended from the study as this improved available boron content in soil and concentration in plants, thus improved growth, yield and quality parameters.
Description
EFFECT OF BORON ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF GROUNDNUT IN COASTAL
SANDY SOILS