Sulphur application enhanced yield in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) under furrow sowing technique

The field experiment was conducted at students’ farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to study the response of groundnut cultivars (bunch and spreading nature) to planting methods and sulphur levels. The experiment was laid in split plot design with three replications comprising five planting methods viz., flat, bed, ridge, trench and furrow sowing with earthing up and two varieties i.e., SG 99 and M 522 in main plots while three sulphur levels viz., S₀, S₂₅ and S₅₀ in sub plots. The results revealed that maximum seed yield of groundnut (23.78 q/ha) was obtained in furrow sowing followed by earthing up method which was significantly superior over flat and ridge planting and at par with trench and bed planting methods. Similarly, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, pods/plant and kernels/pod were more in furrow sowing followed by earthing up planting method. Among varieties, the highest pod yield of 22.42 q/ha was recorded in bunch type variety SG 99 which was statistically at par with the spreading type variety M 522 (22.34 q/ha). The maximum pod yield (23.34 q/ha) was observed with 50 kg S/ha, which was at par with 25 kg S/ha (22.73 q/ha) and significantly higher over control (21.19 q/ha). Haulm yield and total yield were not significantly influenced by various levels of sulphur but both were increased with increase in sulphur levels.