Response of rainy-season groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) to varying fertility levels and bioformulations

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2017 at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to study the response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to biofertilizers and inorganic sources of nutrient. The experiment consisting of 4 fertility levels, viz. 25% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 50% RDF, 75% RDF and RDF allotted to main plots, and 3 bioformulations, viz. no bio-formulations, NPK liquid formulation + Zn-solubilizing bacteria and bio-grow allotted to subplots, was laid out in split-plot design with 3 replications. Results showed that an application of RDF resulted in significantly highest number of branches/plant, number of nodules/plant and drymatter accumulation at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing (DAS). Increasing dose of fertilizers up to RDF resulted in significant increase in haulm, pod yield and net returns. Among the bioformulations, seed inoculation with liquid bio NPK formulation with Zn solubilizing bacteria and bio-grow significantly increased the haulm, pod yield and net returns by 9.8, 8.6, 14.5% and 8.0, 4.3, 7.2%, respectively, over no bioformulation application. Besides, all growth attributes, pod yield and net returns were significantly influenced with combined application of liquid NPK + Zn-solubilizing bacteria and RDF. The integrated application of RDF with liquid NPK formulation + Zn-solubilizing bacteria ensured the highest pod yield followed by RDF application with bio-grow.