Influence of Irrigation Scheduling and Nutrient Application on Water Use, Productivity and Profitability of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background: Irrigation and proper nutrient management that determines the productivity of the groundnut especially during the critical stages of the crop growth. Methods: The experiments laid out in split plot design comprising of three levels of irrigation scheduling [0.8 IW/CPE ratio (I (1)), 0.6 IW/ CPE ratio (I (2)) and 0.4 IW/CPE ratio (I (3))] in main plots and four nutrient management practices viz., N (1)- 75% of RDF with 5 t of charred rice husk, N (2) - 50% of RDF with 5 t of charred rice husk, N (3) - 75% of RDF with 5 t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment of Abuscular mycorrhiza and N (4) - 50 % of RDF with 5 t of charred rice husk along with seed treatment Arbuscular mycorrhiza in sub plots and replicated thrice. Result: Highest pod yield ( 2003, 2099 and 2063 kg ha(-1) during summer, kharif and rabi 2017, respectively) of groundnut was registered with irrigation scheduling at 0.8 IW/ CPE ratio along with 75% of RDF and 5 t of charred rice husk as basal with seed treatment of Arbuscular mycorrhiza. The maximum water use efficiency was also recorded under of the same treatment ( 4.16, 7.07 and 4.86 kg ha(- 1) mm(-1) during the various seasons respectively). The highest B:C ratio of 2.2, 2.4 and 2.2 was recorded during summer, kharif and rabi 2017, respectively were also registered with same combination irrigation and nutrient management.