Research Paper Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus management on productivity and profitability of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

A field experiment was conducted for 3 years at Agricultural Research Station, Shirgaon, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra during rainy season (kharif) of 2012–14 to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen and phosphorus ratios on productivity of rainy season (kharif) groundnut under Konkan conditions. Eleven combinations of nitrogen-phosphorus ratios were tested in randomized block design with 3 replications. Treatment receiving 0.40 NP ratio (30: 75 NP kg/ha) produced significantly higher pod yield of 3.50 t/ha over rest of N: P ratios, but it was at par with 0.42 (25: 60 NP kg/ha), 0.33 (25: 75 NP kg/ha) and 0.50 (30: 60 NP kg/ha) N: P ratios. Kernel yield was also noticed significantly higher under 0.40 NP ratio (2.63 t/ha) over all other N: P ratios except 0.42 NP ratio (2.31 t/ha). The increment in pod and kernel yield due to 0.40 NP ratio over the control was to the tune of 36.7% and 38.7% respectively. However, 0.50 NP ratio (30: 60 NP kg/ha) recorded significantly higher haulm yield of 3.94 t/ha over the control. Application of N and P in 0.40 ratio also recorded significantly more number of pods/plant (30.7) and dry pod weight (34.2 g/plant) over all other treatments. Higher net returns of 58, 826/-and benefit: cost ratio of 1: 1.78 were also obtained with 0.40 NP ratio, which was followed by 0.42 NP ratio with net returns of 47, 638/ha and benefit: cost ratio of 1.66.