Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of various integrated nutrient management practices on the seed yield, yield components and quality characteristics of groundnut variety TAG 24, an experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2013–14. The soil of the experimental plot was acidic, loamy sand texture, with low in available N, P and S and medium in boron. The trial was conducted in split-plot design with three replications, where the four main plot treatments included the soil application of FYM @ 7.5 t/ha, RDNPK @ 20: 40: 40 kg/ha and borax @ 15 kg/ha applied singly or in combination. The sub-plot treatments comprised absolute control, urea 2% spray at 30 days after sowing, urea 2% spray at 30 and 60 days after sowing and application of gypsum @ 300 kg/ha as topdressing at 20 days after sowing. Plant height, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity were not influenced by the various treatments of nutrient management through both soil and foliar applications. The combined soil application of FYM+RDNPK+borax showed the highest mature pods/plant, pod weight, seeds/pod and test weight resulting in maximum pod yield/plant and yield/ha with 24.5 and 13.8% increase oyer RDNPK, respectively. Both the shelling percentage and percentage of bold seeds were significantly higher in this treatment as compared to FYM and RDNPK. Among foliar treatments, top-dressing of gypsum also exhibited similar trend for the above characters. These two treatments also showed better seed quality parameters like germination percentage, field emergence, index of speed of germination, vigour index as well as storability as revealed by accelerated ageing test of seeds. Hence, integrated soil application of FYM 7.5 t/ha+RDNPK @ 20: 40: 40 kg/ha-tborax @ 15 kg/ha and also foliar application of gypsum @ 300 kg/ha may be useful for maximization of seed yield, quality and storability.