Productivity of Irrigated Groundnut as Influenced by Potassium and Sulphur Nutrition in Sandy Clay Loam Soil
S. Naveenkumar
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu–608002, India.
C. Ravikumar *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu–608002, India.
R. Rex Immanuel
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu–608002, India.
P. Senthilvalavan
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu–608002, India.
R. Manivannan
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu–608002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during the Kharif and rabi season of 2021 in the farmer’s field of Perampattu Village, Tirupattur Taluk & District, TN, India to study the effect of K and S management in groundnut. The soil of the experiment field belongs to sandy clay loam, available nitrogen (133.4 kg ha-1), phosphorus (16.8 kg ha-1), potassium (113.1 kg ha-1), and sulfur (4.80 mg kg-1), respectively. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments viz., T1-Control, T2–RDF (Blanket Recommendation as 25:50:75 kg NPK ha-1), T3- RDF + Add 0.25% of K through MOP (Foliar Application), T4– RDF + Add 0.5% of K through MOP (Foliar Application), T5– RDF + Add 0.25% of K through SOP (Foliar Application), T6– RDF + Add 0.5% of K through SOP (Foliar Application), T7– RDF + Add 0.25% of K through KNO3 (Foliar Application), T8– RDF + Add 0.5% of K through KNO3 (Foliar Application) and replicated thrice. Higher yield of groundnut in Kharif & rabi 3103 Kg ha-1 & 2895 Kg ha-1, respectively, and percent of yield increase in T4 was 3.9 and 5.63 over other treatments and also maximum gross income, net income, and benefit-cost ratio were obtained in RDF + Add 0.5% of K through MOP (T4) applied treatment in both seasons. The lowest gross income, net income, and benefit-cost ratio were achieved in T1.
Keywords: Economics, foliar, groundnut, potassium, sulphur, nutrient management