Influence of seed priming and spacing on yield, seed quality and soil health of spring groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2018 and 2019 at Ludhiana, to study the effect of seed priming on seed quality and soil health of spring groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) raised under different spacings. The experiment consisted of 18 treatment combinations with 3 spacing, viz. 22.5 cm x 20 cm, 30 cm x 15 cm and 45 cm x 10 cm and 6 seed-priming treatments, viz. consortium bio-fertilizer, cow urine, vermicompost, vermiwash, consortium bio-fertilizer + cow urine + vermicompost + vermiwash and control (non-primed seeds). The treatments were replicated 4 times in a split-plot design. The highest pod yield, kernel yield, oil yield and protein yield (4.72, 3.07, 1.52 and 0.8 t/ha respectively) of spring groundnut were reported under the spacing 22.5 x 20 cm. The consortium bio-fertilizer seed primed spring groundnut recorded higher field emergence, 100-kernel weight and significantly higher pod yield, kernel yield, oil yield and protein yield. The soil-enzymatic activity and its nutrient status were non-significantly associated with both seed priming and spacing. All interactional effects were found to be non-significant.