Sureka K., Kamalakannan P. and Elayaraja D.
Abstract
To improve yield of groundnut in coastal areas through application of nanophosphorus and microbial inoculants, two field experiments were conducted at farmersâ field in sandy clay loam texture of North Pichavaram village, Parangipettai block and sandy texture of Vanagiri village, Sirkali block during Rabi of 2022- 2023. The experimental treatments encompassed six levels of nanophosphorus (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm) and two types of microbial inoculants (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria @ 5 Kg ha-1 (PSB) and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) @ 5 Kg ha-1). These treatments were laid in factorial randomized block design yielding eighteen treatment combinations with three replications. The yield parameters namely number of pods per plants, hundred seed weight and shelling percentage and yield of pod, kernel and haulm yield were recorded. The outcome of the field experiments showed that nanophosphorus or microbial inoculants or both caused significant increase in yield parameters and yield over control. In the case of nanophosphorus levels, the highest pod yield (2839 and 2497 kg ha-1), kernel yield (2208 and 1909 kg ha-1), and haulm yield (3010 and 2629 kg ha-1) were achieved with nanophosphorus @ 1000 ppm in sandy clay loam and sandy soils, respectively. With microbial inoculants, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) @ 5 kg ha-1 resulted in the highest yield of 2732 and 2395 kg ha-1by pod, 2098 and 1784 kg ha-1 by kernel and 2984 kg ha-1 and 2531 kg ha-1by haulm in both textured soils, respectively. The most favorable outcomes were observed when AM was combined with nanophosphorus at 1000 ppm, leading to the highest pod yield (2921 and 2537 kg ha-1), kernel yield (2297 and 1969 kg ha-1), and haulm yield (3037 and 2651 kg ha-1) in both sandy clay loam and sandy-textured soils, respectively. In summary, the research indicates that the synergistic use of nanophosphorus at a concentration of 1000 ppm along with Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) fungi @ 5 kg ha-1could be more effective approach for enhancing higher yield of groudnut in coastal regions.