Sulphur management in groundnut for higher productivity and profitability under Semi-Arid condition of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The present study was planned to evaluate the performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under varying levels of sulphur and its sources under Semi-Arid condition of Rajasthan. Application of 60 kg S/ha resulted 8.8, 23.8 and 59.6% more pod/plant than 45, 30 and 15 kg S/ha, respectively. Gypsum as a source of S recorded 15.4 and 50.4% higher pods/ plant over SSP and elemental sulphur, respectively. However, number of kernels/pod increased significantly upto 45 kg/ha only. Gypsum and SSP improved the kernels/pod by 14.2 and 11.2% over elemental sulphur, respectively. Application of 60 kg S/ha resulted in 140, 345 and 744 kg/ha and 127, 319 and 616 kg/ha higher pod and kernel yield over 45, 30 and 15 kg/ha, respectively. Sulphur application through gypsum recorded the highest pod yield (1872 kg/ha) of groundnut that was 13.1 and 32.0 percent more than obtained under SSP and elemental sulphur treatment, respectively. Application of sulphur at 75 kg S/ha was recorded highest shelling% (72.13%) which were 7.0 and 10.9 per cent higher over 30 and 15 kg S/ha. The application of S at 45 kg/ha exhibited 7.6 and 17.0% higher protein content over 30 and 15 kg S/ha, respectively. Among sources, the highest protein content (23.75%), oil content (44.49%) and oil yield (597.76 kg/ha) was obtained with gypsum. Application of 60 kg S/ha increased oil yield by magnitude of 70.3, 175.1 and 316.9 kg/ha over 45, 30 and 15 kg S/ha, respectively. Sulphur application at the rate of 60 kg/ha increased the margin to the tune of 6343, 15867, 34062/ha over 45, 30 and 15 kg S/ha, respectively. Likewise, graded increment in levels of sulphur resulted in significantly higher BCR upto 60 kg/ha over lower levels. The maximum net returns (55358/ha) and BCR (1.68) were obtained with gypsum.

Effect of Water Soluble Fertilizers on Yield, Oil Content and Economics of Groundnut

“…Since sulphur is an integral part of oil, the increased availability of sulphur might have favorably influenced the synthesis of essential metabolism for higher oil content. Similar results were reported by Jat and ahlawat [24] and Yadav [25].…”

Study on Yield Sustainability and Water Productivity of Groundnut on Farmers’ Fields through Improved Technology under Hyper Arid Partially Irrigated Zone of Rajasthan

“…Groundnut is an important kharif crop grown by the farmers of Bikaner in Rajasthan (Yadav et al, 2019). Though, groundnut occupies important position in the district, still a vast yield gap exists between potential yield (9 t ha -1 ) and the yield obtained (1 t ha -1 ) under real farming situation (Johansen and Nageswara Rao, 1996).…”

Slag-Based Gypsum as a Source of Sulphur, Calcium and Silicon and Its Effect on Soil Fertility and Yield and Quality of Groundnut in Southern India

“…soil loosening, and S regulated the amino acid synthesis and protein formation, which indirectly helped in regulating the plant metabolism and growth of plants (Anthati 2011). The increase in pod yield was mainly ascribed to improvement in yield attributes with S application in addition to its multiple roles in metabolism as an essential constituent of amino acids and also improvement in vegetative structure, production of reproductive structures and assimilates, thereby maintaining balanced source-sink relationship (Yadav et al 2019). The supply of Si through SBG also improved the pod yield.…”

“…Similarly, the positive effect of Si on protein content in rice (Ahmad et al 2013), soybean (Shwethakumari andPrakash 2018) andwheat (Gong et al 2005) has also been reported. The increase in oil content and yield with SBG application was mainly due to supply of S by SBG as it is required for the synthesis of chlorophyll, S-containing amino acid and oil synthesis (Yadav et al 2019). Groundnut is an oil and protein-rich crop, and there is a mutual relationship between oil and protein productions, which means that protein components are produced first and then the plant uses these substances for oil synthesis (Gashti et al 2012).…”