EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND BORON ON YIELD AND SEED QUALITY OF GROUNDNUT

Abstract

A gradual decline in groundnut yield has been reportedly subjected to various agro- climatic conditions and soil fertility problems. Proper application of Ca and B may improve yield and seed quality of groundnut. The experiment was conducted at the Research Field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka-1207, during the period of March to July, 2021 to study the response of different levels of calcium and boron application on groundnut yield and seed quality. BARI Chinabadam-10 was used as test crop in this experiment. Experiment was carried out in Split-plot design and consisted of two factors. Four levels of calcium viz., Ca 1 = 0 kg Ca ha (0 kg gypsum ha -1 ) (control), Ca 2 = 50 kg Ca ha -1 (250 kg gypsum ha -1 ), Ca 3 = 60 kg Ca ha -1 (300 kg gypsum ha -1 ) and Ca 4 = 70 kg Ca ha -1 (350 kg gypsum ha ) and four levels of boron viz., B 1 = 0 kg B ha -1 (0 kg boric acid ha -1 ) (control), B 2 = 1.275 kg B ha -1 (7.50 kg boric acid ha -1 ), B 3 = 1.7 kg B ha -1 (10 kg boric acid ha -1 = 2.125 kg B ha -1 (12.50 kg boric acid ha -1 ). Calcium and boron levels were revealed to have a significant influence on groundnut yield and seed quality. The study results revealed that yield and quality parameters gradually increased with increasing Ca and B level upto Ca 3 (60 kg Ca ha -1 ) and B 3 (1.7 kg B ha -1 ) levels and thereafter slightly decreased, although maintain statistical similar results. In case of 16 treatment combinations, the treatment with 60 kg Ca ha -1 + 1.7 kg B ha -1 -1 ) and B 4 (Ca 3 ) recorded significantly higher number of pods palnt -1 (23.53), pod length (2.71 cm), 100-seeds weight (46.92 g), seed yield (2.35 t ha -1 ), stover yield (3.37 t ha -1 ), biological yield (5.72 t ha -1 ), harvest index (41.08 %),

germination percentage (90.50 %), protein content (38.72 %), oil content (47.90 %), vitamin E content (9.68 mg/100g seed) compared to all other treatment combinations. The present study concludes that maximum yield and seed quality of groundnut could be achieved by applying of 60 kg Ca ha -1 (300 kg gypsum ha -1 ) and 1.7 kg B ha -1 (10 kg boric acid ha -1 B 3 -1 ).