Growth and yield of groundnut in relation to soil application of panchgavya and foliar spray of endogenous plant leaf extracts

In view of the cost effectiveness and eco-friendly characteristics of the panchgavya, a field experiment was conducted on the high pH soils of arid zone of India to examine the effect of soil applied panchgavya and foliar applied plant leaf extracts on the growth yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) during kharif 2006 and 2007 at Jaisalmer. The results of the experiment revealed that successive increase in panchgavya solution from 0 to 3.0 l/m² recorded significant increase in growth and yield of groundnut. The pod, haulm and biological yield were 85, 93 and 90% higher than control with soil application of panchgavya solution at 3.0 l/m². The improvement in dry matter accumulation and physiological growth in terms of SLW, CGR, RGR and NAR were recorded significantly higher with soil application of panchgavya at 2.0 l/m². Foliar application of neem (Azadirachta indica), datura (Datura metel) and tumba (Citrullus colocynthis) plant leaf extracts in combination with panchgavya in 1: 1 ratio at 35 and 55 days after application recorded higher growth and yield compared to water sprayed control. The CGR, RGR and NAR at 45–70 DAS and 70 DAS –harvest and pod, haulm and biological yields were however recorded significantly maximum with foliar application of datura + panchgavya solution among sources of foliar application.