Effect of Potash Fertilizer on Vegetative Growth and Pod Yield of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea l.) in Semiarid Region

Abstract

Groundnut (or peanut, earthnut, monkey nut) is taxonomically classified as Arachis hypogaea and it belongs to family Fabaceae (Leguminosae). In Pakistan, the groundnut is mainly cultivated in rain fed areas, mostly in Punjab, also in some areas of Sindh and North-West Frontier Province. A field experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Research area, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam during the year 2021. Two ground nut cultivarrs (“Golden” and “Bari-2011”) were used and sulphate of potash (SOP) was used @ 60, 80, 100 kg ha-1as treatments. Different growth and yield related parameters were studied in this experiment, such as days to flowering, plant height (cm), canopy width (cm), pods plant-1, kernels plant-1, 100 kernels weight, pod yield ha-1, edible portion (%) and non-edible portion (%). Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with three replications. Results revealed that the potassium applied @ 80 kg ha-1 significantly affected for canopy width (1213.5 cm), pods plant-1 (52.27), kernels plant-1 (100.99), weight of 100 kernels (58.07 g), pod yield (1590.4 kg ha-1) and edible portion (63.50 %). To compare cultivars, Bari-2011 had superior results for early flowering (28.37 days), plant height (18.68 cm), canopy width (1102.9 cm), pods plant-1 (48.00), kernels plant-1 (94.43), weight of 100 kernels (55.26 g), yield (1543.6 kg ha-1) and edible portion (65.31%) as compared to Golden. The results revealed that potassium application at 80 kg ha-1 produced better results for growth and pod yield related attributes of the groundnut. Whereas, “Bari-2011” responded significantly better for growth and yield related parameters as compared to “Golden”