Yield and profitability of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as influenced by sowing dates and nutrient levels with different varieties

A field study was conducted to evaluate the date of sowing of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) during kharif 2009 and 2010. Experiment was laid out in split-plot design by assigned dates of sowing (20 April, 15 May, 9 June and 4 July) and varieties(‘HNG 10’and‘TG37A’) in main plots and four fertilitylevels(without fertilizers, 20 N+ 40P₂O₅, 30 N+ 60P₂O₅ and 40 N+ 80 P₂O₅ kg/ha) in sub-plots. Yield components of semi-spreading variety‘HNG10’were statistically at par with each other at different dates of sowing from 20 April to 9 June. Harvest index in both the varieties was observed significantly higher in 4 July sowing. The results of the study showed that significantly higher crop stand at harvest was observed in 9 June and 4 July sowing than all other sowing dates and variety‘TG37A'flowered significantly earlier than‘HNG10’. Significantly higher yields were recorded in 30 kg N+60 kg P₂O₅/ha which was statistically at par with 40 kg N+80 kg P₂O₅/ha. On the basis of economics, variety ‘HNG 10’ of groundnut recorded significantly higher net return ( 61843/ha) when sown on 9 June.