Influence of different organic manures on nutrient content, uptake, soil fertility status and soil microbial population after harvest of kharif groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during kharif 2021 to study the effect of organic manures on growth and yield of kharif groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in loamy sand in texture. Treatments were comprised of FYM (2.5 and 5.0 t/ha), castor cake (0.5 and 1.0 t/ha), vermicompost (1.5 and 3.0 t/ha), castor shell compost (1.5 and 3.0 t/ha), with RBD having four replications. Groundnut variety TG 37A was sown 45 cm distance between the rows and 10 cm within rows. Nitrogen and phosphorus content in kernel as well as haulm; uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur by kernel and haulm; available phosphorus and microbial population were significantly higher with the vermicompost @ 3.0 t/ha. Whereas, available nitrogen, net realization (₹ 24,240/ha) and BCR (1.44) were higher under castor cake @ 1.0 t/ha. EC, pH, organic carbon, available K2O and S remained unaffected.