Phosphorus and plant population management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)-fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted on the phosphorus and plant population management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)-fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) cropping system during 1994–95 in summer season on medium black soils at Pune, Maharashtra. An application of 75 kg P₂O₅/ha, with the treatment of P-solubilizer to seeds before sowing and sowing the crop at 30 cm x 10 cm spacing with 330,000 plant population/ha significantly increased the growth, dry matter, yield attributes and yield of grounnut over rest of the treatments. However, a dose of 50 kg P₂O₅/ha with P-solubilizer and sowing at the distance of 30 cm x 10 cm with 333,000 plant population/ha was found to be economical in groundnut. In the second trial as a catch crop and as a residual effect to test the fertility of soil, the green fenugreek yield (tonnes/ha) increased significantly due to application of 75 kg P₂O₅/ha given to previous crop over rest of the treatments.