Abstract

Groundnut sown under conventional land configuration has reached maximum output and an alternated practice along with suitable mulch is required to boost the yield under rainfed conditions. In this regard, a field experiment was conducted at Oilseeds Research Station, Tindivanam during kharif season of 2015 to 2017 to study the effect of land configuration and mulching on the productivity of kharif groundnut. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments imposed in the main plot were different land configuration practices viz., flatbed method, broad bed and furrow (1m width and 50 cm furrow), ridges and furrows (90 cm width), raised bed and furrow (60 cm width and 30 cm furrow) and in the subplot, various mulching practices viz., Control (No mulch), Organic mulch (Paddy straw @ 5 t/ha) and Plastic mulch were assigned. Results indicated that groundnut sown under raised bed and furrow (60 cm width and 30 cm furrow) system with polythene mulching resulted significantly higher in plant growth (plant height, number of branches/plant), yield attributes (pods/plant, shelling percentage), total biomass production and recorded a pod yield of 2481 kg/ha. Based on the economics, groundnut sown under raised bed and furrow along with polythene mulching realized a higher benefit: cost ratio of 2.25 over the other treatment combinations thereby can be considered as a reliable practice for increasing the productivity of groundnut under rainfed situations.