M.S. MIKHINA*, P. SANDHYA RANI, P. LATHA AND V. CHANDRIKA

Department of Crop Physiology, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, A.P. 517502

ABSTRACT

A field experiment was carried out during rabi 2018-19 at Dry land farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati to know the “Effect of silicon and salicylic acid on growth and yield of groundnut under moisture stress conditions”. The research was designed in strip plot with two varieties (Dharani and Kadiri-6) replicated thrice with a net plot size of 2.5 m × 4.5 m. Treatments comprised of control (irrigated and stress), water spray, Potassium silicate @ 0.4% and 0.2%, Salicylic acid @ 100 PPM, 200 PPM and Potassium Chloride @ 0.2%. A uniform dose of N, P2O5 and K2O @ 20-40-50 ha-1 were applied as basal at the time of sowing through urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. Gypsum was applied @ 500 kg ha-1 at 35 DAS, while all other agronomic practices were kept constant for all the treatments. The data from the field (yield components) as well as lab analysis was recorded according to the standard procedures. Silicon showed significant effect on growth and yield. Potassium silicate @ 0.4% produced maximum plant height, specific leaf area, relative water content, pod yield and minimum membrane injury.

KEYWORDS:

Groundnut, growth, moisture stress, foliar application, yield.