Chlorosis had developed 37 days after sowing in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under simulated conditions through irrigating crops in a highly calcareous soil. In order to as certain whether the chlorosis was due to Fe or S deficiency, the treatments of foliar applications of (i) I per centferrous sulphate + 0.1 per cent citric acid (Fs) (ii) 2 per cent ferric citrate (Fc) and (iii) 0.3 per cent sulphuric acid (Sa) were applied. besides the treatment of control (no spray). The results show that the treatments of 1 per cent Fs and 2 per cent Fc significantly increased pod and haulm yield by about two fold through significantly increasing chlorophyll and active iron contents in the leaves by about three to four fold over control. The treatment of 03 per cent Sa failed to produce significant effect over control. Iron and sulphur application significantly increased the concentration of the respective nutrient in the leaves, while the former showed decreasing effect on the concentration of Mn, Zn, Cu, P and S. The chlorosis in groundnut grown on a calcareous soil is due to inactivation of iron in the plant and can be cured by foliar spray of soluble salts of iron
Chlorosis, foliar spray, ferrous sulphate, acid, ferric citrate, groundnut
