Effect of foliar spray of organic acids on physiological parameters and iron content on two varieties of groundnut crop in a calcareous vertisol.

To identify the effect of foliar spray of organic acids on physiological parameters and ferrous iron concentration on two varieties of groundnut a field experiment was conducted in a calcareous soil at Dharwad taluk during rabi 2011–2012. Treatments included control (without Fe amendments), FeSO₄.7H₂O @ 0.25%, Citric acid @ 0.25%, Acetic acid @ 0.25%, Oxalic acid @ 0.125%, Lime (citric acid) @ 0.25%, Hydroxyl amine hydrochloride @ 0.25% in a factorial randomised block design sprayed after 30 days of sowing. Results of this study indicated that there was an increase in chlorophyll content and decrease in visual chlorotic rating (VCR) after spraying of FeSO₄.7H₂O @ 0.25% and also it decrease the pH of the cell sap. GPBD-4 recorded higher chlorophyll concentration of 1.114 mg/g fresh weight compared to TMV-2 which recorded 1.008 mg/g fresh weight.