GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY PARAMETERS OF GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PHOSPHORUS, SULPHUR AND BIOFERTILIZERS IN LATERITIC SOILS OF ODISHA

Abstract

iA field experiment entitled “Effect of different level of phosphorus, Sulphur & Bio-fertilizers on the growth, yield and quality parameters of groundnut in lateritic soil of Odisha” was conducted during 2025 at Agricultural Research Station, Binjhagiri, Chhatabar, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar Odisha. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, and nine treatments i.e. T1:Control, T2: S(Phosphogypsum), T3: P(100%), T4: P(50%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium, T5: P(50%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + PSB, T6: P(50%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium+PSB, T7: P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium, T8: P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + PSB, T9: P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium+PSB. The soil of the experimental site was sandy clay loam in texture with particle size groups of 32 % clay, 15 % silt and 53 % sand. The soil was non-saline (EC = 0.12 dSm-1) and slightly acidic in reaction (pH = 5.5). The initial soil recorded an available Bray’s P 12.25 kg ha-1 (low), available Nitrogen 248 kg ha-1 (low), available Potassium 155 kg ha-1 (medium), available Sulphur 14.8 kg ha-1 (medium), and available Cacium Ca 3.1meq/100g of soil. . This integrated nutrient management approach notably enhanced growth parameters like plant height, dry matter accumulation, nodulation as well as  yield attributes. Pod yield of ground nut ranged from 1.12 to 3.26 t/ha. Maximum pod yield was recorded in T9 (P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium + PSB) i.e. 3.26 t/ha followed by T6 (P(50%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium + PSB) i.e. 2.95t/ha whereas  T7 (P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium) i.e. 2.54t/ha and T8 (P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + PSB) i.e. 2.78 t/ha were found statistically at par and minimum was reported in control i.e. 1.12 t/ha. The haulm yield of groundnut varied between 1.75 to 3.65 t/ha. Significantly Maximum haulm yield was recorded in T9 (P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium + PSB) i.e. 3.65 t/ha followed by T6 (P(50%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium + PSB) i.e. 3.36 t/ha which was statistically at par with T8 (P(100%) + S(Phosphogypsum) + PSB) i.e. 3.27 t/ha whereas minimum was found in control i.e. 1.75 t/ha. Moreover, T9 recorded the highest nutrient concentrations and uptake for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur in both pods and haulm. Quality parameters such as protein content (32.19%) and oil content (20.97%) in pods were also significantly superior in T9, confirming the beneficial effect of balanced fertilization and microbial synergy. In summary, the combination of 100% phosphorus + sulphur (phosphogypsum) + Rhizobium + PSB emerged as the most effective treatment in enhancing growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and quality of groundnut in lateritic soils, and is therefore recommended for sustainable groundnut cultivation in similar agro-ecological zones.