Growth and Yield Response of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to Vermicompost Enriched with Biofertilizers, Bioagents and Micronutrients
Sarika Donga *
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001, India.
Ila Pithiya
Polytechnic in Horticulture JAU, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
R. K. Mathukia
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat-362001, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been growing global concern over the excessive use of inorganic fertilisers and chemicals, which contribute to environmental pollution and pest outbreaks. Vermicompost is the best organic carrier for microbial cultures; hence, it can be enriched with N-fixing microorganisms, phosphate-solubilising microorganisms, K-solubilising/mobilising microorganisms, cellulolytic/waste-decomposing microorganisms, various microbial bioagents, and micronutrients to prepare a single product and enhance the manurial and biological value of the vermicompost.
Aim: The aim of this chapter is to study the response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to vermicompost enriched with biofertilizers, bioagents and micronutrients.
Methodology: A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, during the kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with three replications, comprising ten treatments ranging from control to combinations of vermicompost (2 t/ha), biofertilizers, bioagents, and micronutrients. Five plants were selected randomly from each net experimental plot and tagged. Growth parameters, viz., plant height, number of branches, Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) meter reading and number of root nodules, and yield attributes viz., number of mature pods per plant and pods weight per plant were recorded from the tagged plants and their average was considered for the final record. Pod yield and haulm yield were recorded from the net plot size of each experiment plot and converted into hectare base. Shelling percentage was counted on the basis of a 150 g pod sample taken randomly from net plot produce.
Results: The results indicated that the highest plant height (35.64 cm), number of branches per plant (8.11), number of root nodules per plant (154.5) at 45 days after sowing (DAS), dry weight of root nodules per plant at 45 DAS (0.982 g), SPAD meter reading at 45 DAS (39.09), number of mature pods per plant (18.40), pod weight per plant (15.37 g), 100-kernel weight (44.08 g) and shelling percentage (73.16%) with the highest pod yield (2.305 t/ha) and haulm yield (3.889 t/ha) were achieved by application of Vermicompost 2 t/ha + Biofertilizers (Rhizobium + Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria + Potash Solubilizing Bacteria each 2 L/ha) + Trichoderma harzianum 3 kg/ha + Pseudomonas fluorescens 3 L/ha + Beauveria bassiana 3 kg/ha + Micronutrients (Fe + Zn + Cu + Mn) Grade-V at 40 kg/ha, which is considered the more effective application among all treatments improves growth, pod and haulm yield of groundnut under clay soil conditions.
Conclusion: Application of enriched vermicompost significantly improves growth, yield, and soil fertility of kharif groundnut in calcareous clayey soils of the South Saurashtra Agroclimatic Zone. This integrated approach offers a sustainable strategy for enhancing productivity and microbial activity.
Keywords: Groundnut, enriched vermicompost, biofertilizers, bioagents, micronutrients