Functional efficiency of organic meal in groundnut production

Abstract

An experiment entitled "Functional efficiency of organic meal on groundnut production" was carried out in the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during Aug.-Dec. 1999. The main objectives of the study included the elucidation of functional efficiency of organic meal in groundnut nutrition, its mechanism of influence in relation to other mineral and organic sources and role of organics in soil rhizosphere characteristics. The study also included the role of S on groundnut production and its role in modifying the availability of P component of organic meal. The Package of Practices-Recommendations (POP) with various P sources and graded levels of organic meal with or without lime were tried in Randomized Block Design with four replications. Organic meal @ 1000-1500 kg ha-I without lime and POP where P was applied as organic meal with elemental S were found to have pronounced effect on various plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield attributing characters of groundnut. These treatments also favoured the better oil and protein content and yield, which in turn resulted in higher returns per rupee invested. Addition of any form of organic manure IS necessary for the better rhizosphere microbial activity in the soil. The very high yields of groundnut resulted with depletion of soil organic carbon level, which necessitated a higher level of application of organic matter to the soil, or incorporation of groundnut residue to compensate it. Nutrient use efficiency analysis suggested that the yield could be further improved through altering the applied input level of Ca, P and S. This experiment also conveyed that the present recommendation level of lime and sulphur was not necessary for higher production in Vellanikkara situations. But additional amount of phosphorus than POP recommendations for high yielding varieties of groundnut like VRJ-4 is required.