Effect of Vermicompost and Foliar Spray of Zinc on Growth, Quality and Productivity of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study the effect of vermicompost and foliar spray of zinc on growth, quality and productivity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) The experiment comprising of ten treatments viz., T1 (NPK), T2 (NPK +VC), T3 (NPK +VC+ Soil Zn 100%), T4 (NPK + VC+ Soil Zn 75%), T5 (NPK + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO4), T6 (NPK + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO4), T7 (NPK + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO4), T8 (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO4), T9 (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO4) and T10 (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO4) were replicated thrice and evaluated in the randomized block design (RBD). The experimental soil was loamy sand in texture, low in N, high in available P and medium in K. Groundnut variety, RG 559-3 was tested. The results of the experiment revealed that significantly higher values of growth parameters viz., plant height and number of root nodules plant-1; yield viz., pod yield (44.3, 47.2 q ha-1) and haulm yield (54.03, 58.8 q ha-1); quality parameters viz., oil content and protein content were recorded under the treatment receiving NPK (15:60:30) +VC (5 t ha-1) + Soil Zn 100% (T3) over control (T1) while at par with the application of NPK + VC+ Soil Zn 75% (T4), NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO4 (T8), NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO4 (T9) and NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO4 (T10).