Response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cv ‘TAG 24’ to moisture stress and application of organic manure (FYM) and fertilizer with and without gypsum was studied during the summer seasons of 2002 and 2003 at the Regional Research Station, B.C.K.V., Jhargram (West Bengal) under acid lateritic soils. Pooled analysis of data indicated that moisture stress at vegetative stage (10–30 days after sowing) gave 33.53% higher pod yield than that at flowering stage (30–50 DAS), but this moisture stress at vegetative stage was on a par with no moisture stress for pod yield, yield attributes, oil content and nutrient uptake. The highest use of water was recorded with no moisture-stress treatment. Maximum water-use efficiency (WUE) was obtained under moisture stress during vegetative stage. Organic manuring with farmyard manure @ 7.5 tonnes/ha resulted in better yield attributes, yield, oil content, nutrient uptake and WUE than the control. Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), i.e. 30 kg N/ha, 60 kg P2O5/ha and 40 kg K2O/ha when applied with gypsum 500 kg/ha significantly increased the pod yield, showing an increase of 17.19 and 11.54% over 100% and 125% RDF alone respectively. However, both 100% and 125% RDF were at par with or without gypsum application. Nutrient uptake and oil content were also influenced with increase in fertilizer level in combination with gypsum. Benefit: cost ratio was found higher with moisture stress at vegetative stage and application of 7.5 tonnes FYM/ha or 100% RDF + 500 kg gypsum/ha respectively.
Summer groundnut, Moisture stress, FYM, Fertilizer, Gypsum, Lateritic soil
