Effect of the Vermicompost and Poultry Manure on Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Rain-fed Condition

Groundnut is the single largest source of edible oils in India and constitutes roughly about 50% of the total oilseeds production. Currently, India grows about more than 8 million tons of groundnut (in the shell). Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) belongs to family Leguminosae and sub-family papilionaceae. It is world’s largest source of edible oil, ranks 13^th among the food crops as well as 4^th most important oilseed crops of the world. Groundnut has the primary place among all the oil seed crops in the Republic of India accounting for quite 40% surface area and 60% production within the country (Anonymous, 2011). Kharif 2019 all India groundnut acreage was 39,31,700 hectares, Gujarat (15,52,200 ha; 39%), Andhra Pradesh (5,53,383 ha; 14%), Rajasthan (5,73,889 ha; 15%), Karnataka (3,70,564 ha; 9%), Maharashtra (1,87,500 ha; 5%), Madhya Pradesh (2,21,700 ha; 6%) jointly accounted for about 88% of the national acreage. In four districts of Madhya Pradesh, the highest yield (1,215 kg/ha) was estimated for Tikamgarh and the lowest (952 kg/ha) for Shivpuri and Alirajpur. The highest production was estimated for Shivpuri which also accounted for the largest acreage (33%). The total production of in-shell groundnut was estimated at 2,27,243 MT with an average yield of 1,025 kg/ha. The use of organic manures to meet the nutrient requirement of the crop would be an inevitable practice for sustainable agriculture (Dutta et al., 2009). Organic farming in recent years is gaining significance due to the realization of inherent advantages it confers in sustaining crop production and also in maintaining dynamic soil nutrient status and safe environment. The combination of vermicompost and poultry manure may play an important role in Chitrakoot condition especially on groundnut crop.

The experiment was conducted  Rajola Farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot Satna (Madhya Pradesh) located from 24° 31’N latitude and 81° 15’E latitude in kharif 2019. The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of application vermicompost (0, 4, 6 ton/ha) with different levels of poultry manure (0, 2, 4 ton/ha) on groundnut crop. The important physical and biochemical parameters observed in this research that affects the economics.
 
Plant height (cm)
 
Five plants were selected randomly from each plot and tagged permanently. The height of each plant was measured from base of the plant to the tip of main shoot at 30.60 and 90 DAS and at harvest. The mean plant height (cm) at each growth stage was worked out and recorded as plant height (cm) at respective stages.
 
Number of branches per plant
 
The number of branches of the five tagged plants from each plot were counted at 30, 60 and 90 DAS and at harvest. The mean number of branches per plant in each experimental unit at aforesaid growth stages was worked out and recorded.
 
Number of nodules per plant
 
For counting the number of nodules per plant at 45 DAS, five plants in each plot were randomly selected in sampling rows and removed carefully after wetting the soil and taking the soil up to 30 cm depth. After removal of plants from soil, adhered soil was washed out with a fine jet of water. The nodules were removed with the help of forceps, counted and the mean of five plants was recorded as number of nodules per plant.  
Number of pods per plant
 
Total number of well developed pods from five tagged plants of each plot were picked and counted for this purpose. The average number of pods/ plant was worked out.  
Number of kernels per pod
 
Number of kernels per pod was assessed from randomly selected pod from harvested plants and the number of kernels was calculated as follows:  
Kernel yield
 
The kernel yield (kg/ha) was estimated by multiplying pod yield with their respective shelling percentage and divided by 100.  
Pod yield
 
The pods were removed from the produce and weighed on physical balance. The weight was recorded as pod yield (kg) per plot.  
100 kernel weight (g)
 
Hundred air dried kernels (at 15% moisture content) were taken randomly from the air dried samples randomly from the air dried samples and weight calculated.
 
Shelling percentage
 
Well matured 500 pods from each plot were shelled and weight of kernels was recorded and the shelling per cent was calculated with the help of following relationship: Oil content (%) and oil yield
 
The oil content in the kernel was determined by Soxhlet apparatus using petroleum ether (60-800°C) as an extractant. The oil yield (kg/ha) was calculated by multiplying per cent oil content with respective kernel yield (kg/ha).
 
Protein content in kernel
 
Protein content in kernel was calculated by multiplying nitrogen concentration in kernel (%) with a factor of 6.25 (Anonymous, 2011 and Lowery at al., 1951).

Effect and interaction of vermicompost and poultry manure on plant height
 
Plant height was observed in the range of 22.51, 25.62, 26.60 to 29.42, 29.07, 31.98 cm under different level of vermicompost application at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively. It is clear from Table 1 and 2 that the increasing level of vermicompost up to 6 ton ha^-1 increased the plant height  significantly at 30, 60 and 90 DAS and maximum height was observed with 6 ton ha^-1 vermicompost (V₃).


 

 
Plant height ranged from 23.07, 25.38, to 26.71 and 29.13, 29.20, to 31.49 cm under different level of poultry manure at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, respectively. It is inferred from Table 1 and 2 that application of poultry manure resulted significantly taller plant as compared to control at 90 DAS, whereas 60 and 30 DAS different levels of poultry manure significant effect on plant height. The interaction effect due to vermicompost and poultry manure on plant height was found non-significant statistically at 30 DAS whereas was significant during 60, 90 DAS.
       
The higher values of plant height were recorded with vermicompost and poultry manure (6 ton/ha, 4 ton/ha) and remained at par with organic manure. Pant and Katiyar (1996), Naidu (2000) and Qureshi et al., (2005) obtained significantly higher plant height due to organic manure over control. Bhatt et al., (2013) reported that due to the lower temperature in winter the mineralization of organic sources (poultry manure and vermicompost) is very less but in the kharif season the mineralization is relatively higher due to the higher temperature and thus, recorded taller plants height in kharif season. Thus, application of vermicompost and poultry manure at optimum level increased the plant height. The observed improvement in overall vegetative growth of the crop with the application of V abbreviate and P abbreviate in the investigation in conformity with those of Ola et al., 2013, Borse et al., 2008 and Kausale et al., 2009 in groundnut.
 
Effect and interaction of vermicompost and poultry manure on number of branches plant^-1
 
Number of branches per plant as a measure of growth was recorded periodically at an interval of 30 DAS starting from 30 DAS to 90 DAS. Number of branches plant^-1 observed in the range of 5.49, 5.89 to 8.96 and 10.60, 11.56 to 13.36 under different level of vermicompost application at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively. It is clear from Table 3 and 4 that the increasing level of vermicompost up to 6 ton ha^-1 (V₃)  increased the number of branches plant^-1 significantly at 30, 60 and 90 DAS stages. Maximum number of branches plant^-1 was observed with the application of 6 ton ha^-1 vermicompost (V₃). Number of branches ranged from 5.20, 6.00 to 9.00 and 10.13, 11.33 to 13.11 plant^-1 under different level of poultry manure at 30, 60 and 90 DAS respectively. It is inferred from Table 3 and 4 at 60 and 90 DAS stages of 4 ton ha^-1  poultry manure (P₃) resulted significantly higher number of branches plant^-1 as compared to control at 90 DAS 6 ton ha^-1 (V₃) stages. The interaction effect due to vermicompost and poultry manure on number of branches plant^-1 was found non-significant statistically at 30, 60 DAS and significant at 90 DAS.
 

 

       
The significant increase in number of branches per plant at 30, 60 and 90 DAS was observed due to inoculation with vermicompost or poultry manure over control. However, higher values of above parameters were recorded with vermicompost and poultry manure (6 ton/ha, 4 ton/ha) and remained at par with organic manure specify clearly. Pant and Katiyar (1996) and Naidu (2000) obtained significantly number of branches per plant due to organic manure over control. Thus, application of vermicompost and poultry manure at optimum level increased the number of branches per plant in the present investigation over their lower doses.
 
Effect and interaction of vermicompost and poultry manure on yield attributes
 
There was significant response in yield due to different levels of vermicompost and poultry manure as compared to control (Table 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11). Groundnut yield varied from 0.852 q/h to 1.059 q/h under different levels of vermicompost application. It is evident that the increasing level of vermicomposting increased the groundnut yield significantly up to 6 ton ha^-1 (V₃). Maximum yield (1.059 q/h) was observed with the application 6 ton ha^-1 (V₃) compared to 0 to 4 ton ha^-1. The groundnut yield ranged from 0.822 q/h to 0.994 q/h under different level of poultry manure application.  Maximum yield of 0.994 q/h was observed with 4 ton ha^-1 poultry manure (P₃) which was statistically at par with control and 4 ton ha^-1 poultry manure (P₃). The interaction effect due to vermicompost and poultry manure on groundnut yield was found statistically significant.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Nodulation in Groundnut starts approximately after 45 days of sowing with a concomitant increase in root growth in groundnut. The data are presented in Table 5. It was  revealed that at 45 DAS nodule number varied from (V₁P₁) 51.22, 64.44 in control to 97.44 and 83.00 in (V₃P₃). All the treatments were significantly superior to control. V₃ were significantly superior to V₀ but was at par with V₂. Similarly P₁ were significantly superior to control and P₃ were significantly better than P₂. The interaction effect of vermicompost and poultry manure was non-significant and general mean was 0.994.
       
Observations on root length were recorded at 45 DAS and the data are presented in Table 5. It was revealed that no definite trends in the variations of root length were visible due to different treatments and the results were not significant. Significant response, however, were observed due to vermicompost and poultry manure levels to root length at 45 DAS. Wherein it was revealed that root length with a mean of 12.56 and 16.00 cm on the application of vermicompost. The lowest and the highest values were recorded in control and V₃. Regarding the main effects of vermicompost all the treatments were significantly superior to control. V₃ was significantly superior to V₂ and were also significantly different from V₁. Similarly P₃ were significantly superior over control, P₁ and P₂. Vermicompost and poultry manure interactions was not significant.
       
Application of vermicompost and poultry manure significantly increased the number of pods per plant over control. The maximum number of pods of 15.20, 14.15 per plant was recorded under the treatment V₃P₃ (6 ton ha^-1 and 4 ton ha^-1). The minimum number of pods per plant (10.44, 11.00) were recorded under control at the time of harvesting. The results are given in Table 6. Large variations were observed in pod number under the influence of different treatment vermicompost and poultry manure interaction was also non-significant.
       
At the time of harvesting, the data were recorded on number of seed pods plant^-1 and the results are given in Table 6. Low variations were observed in pod number under the influence of different treatment. The number ranged from 2.44, 2.33 to 3.22, 3.11 and these values were given by control and V₃P₃. V₁ were significantly superior to V₂ and V₃ was significantly lower than control but the difference between V₂ and P₃ were not significant. Increasing levels of vermicompost gave a linear significant increase in pod number and P1 gave the lowest number.
 
100 kernel weight
 
Hundred kernel weight were recorded 36.22 g to 42.55 g with the application of 0 ton ha^-1 to 6 ton ha^-1 vermicompost and P₃ recorded significantly higher 42.55 g (P₃) which differed significantly from one treatment to another (Table 9). Hundred kernels ranged 37.77 g to 41.00 g with the application of poultry manure treatments and maximum recorded 41.00 g with the P₃ treatment. The interaction effect of application vermicompost and poultry manure was found statistically significant.
 
Shelling percentage
 
The data on shelling percentage of groundnut as influenced by application of organic manure are presented in (Table 9). Effect of row application of organic was not significant on shelling percentage of groundnut. However, higher shelling percentage was observed under application of 6 ton ha^-1 (V₃) vermicompost with a value of 69.77%. The interaction effect due to vermicompost and poultry manure (V3 × P₃) on shelling percentage of groundnut was found statistically not-significant.
       
Application of vermicompost and poultry manure significantly enhanced the number of pods per plant, number of kernels per pod, shelling per cent, pod yield as well as haulm yield over control. The increased supply of N and P  and their higher uptake by plants might have stimulated the rate of various physiological processes in plant and led to increased growth and yield parameters and resulted in increased pod and haulm yields. Thus significant increase in biological yield with the application of nitrogen and phosphorous. The results of present investigation are in line with those of More et al., (2002), Rathore and Kamble (2008), who obtained increased yield attributes, pod, haulm and biological yields with the combined application of organic fertilizer (vermicompost  and poultry manure).
       
The observed improvement in overall vegetative growth of the crop with the application of V and P in the investigation is in conformity with those of Borse et al., (2008) and Kausale et al., (2009) in groundnut, who supported increased plant height, number of branches per plant, number of nodules per plant, 100 kernel weight and shelling percentage.
 
Oil content (%), oil yield (kg/ha) and protein content (%) in groundnut kernel
 
The data pertaining to the oil content and oil yield in the groundnut kernels are presented in Table 12 and 13. Effect of 4 ton ha^-1 poultry manure oil content in groundnut kernels was significant. However, higher oil content was recorded in P₃ (48.02 %). Effect of application of vermicompost and poultry manure was also significant on oil content in groundnut kernels. However higher oil content was recorded in the treatment vermicompost (V₃) 6 ton ha^-1 (48.46 %) over other sources of organic. The interaction effect of application vermicompost and poultry manure on oil content in groundnut kernels was significant. Effect of vermicompost (V₃) 6 ton ha^-1 recorded higher oil yield (1573.5 kg ha¹).
 

 

 
The application of poultry manure 4 ton ha^-1 recorded significantly higher (1411.2 kg ha¹) over no organic and was on par with vermicompost. The interaction effect of application vermicompost and poultry manure on oil yield was not significant.
       
The data pertaining to the protein content in the groundnut kernels are presented in Table 12 and 13. The effect of 4 ton ha^-1 poultry manure on protein content in groundnut kernels was not significant. However, highest protein content was recorded in P₃ (20.68%) and the effect of application of vermicompost and poultry manure was also not significant on protein content in groundnut kernels. However higher protein content was recorded in the treatment vermicompost (V₃) 6 ton ha^-1 (21.33%) over other sources of organics. The interaction effect of application vermicompost and poultry manure on protein content in groundnut kernels was not significant.
       
In this study application of organic manure significantly affected seed oil, protein and oil yield. Mohamedzien, (1996) showed that poultry manure significantly increased protein content of groundnut. Lal and Saran (1988) stated that seed oil and protein contents were increased significantly by application of 6 ton/ha vermicompost and 4 ton/ha poultry manure in groundnut. Elsheikh and Mohamedzein (1998) and El-Habbasha et al., (2005) showed that poultry manure and vermicompost significantly increasing both oil and protein content of groundnut showed that increasing increased oil, protein and oil yield of groundnut. Ola et al., 2013, Gobarah et al., (2006) Kumar and Ras (1990) and El Tahir (1997) observed that poultry manure and vermicompost had insignificant effect on oil content of groundnut. Positive effects of poultry manure, vermicompost and organic manures on chemical composition of groundnut.

In this research the results indicated that all these parameters were significantly increased due to vermicompost and poultry manure application. Their interaction was also significant. It was evident that a combination dose of V₃P₃ (6 ton ha^-1 vermicompost and 4 ton ha^-1 poultry manure) was found to be best giving the maximum values. Two things can be concluded from this finding, first increase in the organic manure application had significant effect on plant height and yield attributes. Combination of vermicompost and poultry manure during crop growth led to significant improvement over sole application of manure, resulted in better performance of crop in organic farming system. Analyses result showed that the yield performance of crop was significantly similar with 4 t/ha and 6 t/ha vermicompost integrated with poultry manure application. From this result, it can be concluded organic manure application is important for groundnut to obtain better yield of groundnut in organic farming.