Integrated nutrient management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in sub- tropical humid climate of North-East India

An experiment was carried out at the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Lembucherra, Tripura during 3 consecutive kharif seasons 20082010 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on groundnut ( Ara- chis hypogaea L.). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications and 10 treatments, viz. T , control, T , 10 t FYM/ha; T , 50 kg P O /ha; T , 50 kg P O + 10 t FYM/ha; T , 50 kg P O + 50 kg K O/ha; T , 0 1 2 2 5 3 2 5 4 2 5 2 5 Rhizobium; T , 10 t FYM/ha + Rhizobium; T , 50 kg P O /ha + Rhizobium; T , 50 kg K O + 10 t FYM/ha and T , 50 6 7 2 5 8 2 9 kg P O + 50 kg K O/ha + Rhizobium. Application of Rhizobium culture in combination with 50 kg P O + 50 kg K O/ 2 5 2 2 5 2 ha resulted in the highest pod and seed weight/plant. The inoculation of Rhizobium culture along with 50 kg P O + 2 5 50 kg K O/ha showed 45% increment in pod yield (from 1.37 to 1.95 t/ha) over the control. The highest haulm yield 2 (3.57 t/ha) was obtained with FYM 10 t/ha, The lowest cost of cultivation and energy input were recorded with the control. However, significantly higher total returns ( 84,020/ha), net returns ( 58,447/ha), energy output (49.8 103 MJ/ha) and net energy (43.2 103 MJ/ha) were recorded with inoculation of groundnut seed with rhizobium culture along with soil application of 50 kg P O + 50 kg K O/ha. The highest benefit: cost ratio (3.52) was recorded 2 5 2 in plot, which was inoculated with rhizobium culture. Highest energy-use efficiency (7.50), energy productivity (0.30 kg pod yield/MJ) and lowest specific energy (3.37 MJ/kg pod yield) were recorded in plot inoculated with rhizobium culture