Manhas, S.S.Brar, Akashdeep Singh2020-06-012020-06-012020http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810146799The present study entitled “Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and gypsum on growth, yield and quality of spring groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)” was conducted at the Students’ Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2018 and 2019 in the spring season. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design replicated three times with four levels of gypsum (0, 125, 175 and 225 kg ha-1) in combination with two gypsum application stages (Full at sowing and 50% at sowing + 50% at flower initiation stage) in the main plot and three levels of nitrogen and phosphorus (15 kg N ha-1 + 20 kg P2O5 ha-1, 25 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 35 kg N ha-1 + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) in the sub-plot. Results revealed that the application of 225 kg ha-1 gypsum resulted in highest growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation, yield attributes (total number of pods plant-1, 100-kernel weight and shelling percentage) as well as quality attributes (protein content and oil content) during both the years. Application of 225 kg ha-1 gypsum resulted in significantly higher pod yield, haulm yield, kernel yield and total N, P, K, Ca and S uptake over other gypsum levels during 2018 and 2019. Net returns and benefit cost ratio were highest with 225 kg ha-1 gypsum among different gypsum levels. Split application of gypsum (50% at sowing + 50% at flower initiation stage) resulted in significantly higher plant height, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation over the application of full dose of gypsum at sowing, except at 30 DAS during both the years. Pod yield, haulm yield and kernel yield were significantly higher with the split application as compared to basal application of gypsum during both the years. Split application of gypsum also gave higher net returns and benefit cost ratio over basal application of gypsum. Growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation were increased significantly with increase in the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus up to 25 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 during both the years. However, 35 kg N ha-1 + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in significantly higher protein and oil content of kernels over other levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, while pod yield, haulm yield, kernel yield and total N, P, K, Ca and S uptake were at par with 25 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 during both the years. The application of 25 kg N ha-1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 35 kg N ha-1 + 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in almost similar net returns and benefit cost ratio during both the years.enThesis