Experimental Evaluation of Irrigation Methods on Soil Nutrient Status and Nutrient Uptake of Summer Groundnut

Aims: To study the nutrient uptake and status of available nutrients in soil after harvest of groundnut as affected by different irrigation levels and methods at Northern Transitional Zone of Karnataka.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with different irrigation levels and methods replicated thrice.

Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Groundnut, Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during summer 2021.

Methodology: We took 11 treatments involving different level and methods of irrigation using eight micro-sprinkler treatments, one drip fertigation treatment and two flood irrigation treatments. After harvesting soil nutrient status and nutrient uptake from the soil were analyzed.

Results: Significantly higher total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake were recorded with drip irrigation applied at 0.6 ET0 at Seedling, 1.0 ET0 at Flowering, 1.25 ET0 at Pegging, 0.8 ET0 at Pod formation stages along with fertigation of N and P [3 splits at NF on 3rd, 4th and 5th week] and CaNO3 and S nutrients [3 splits at PGF on 7th, 8th and 9th week] (164.0, 27.6 and 129.3 kg ha-1, respectively) and was 40.0, 55.43 and 25.91 per cent higher compared to control (Flood FAO). Same treatment enhanced the soil chemical properties like pH, EC and organic carbon by 1.04, 16.12 and 7.40 per cent compared to control.

Conclusion: Drip irrigation and fertigation enhanced nutrient uptake of groundnut and available soil nutrient status and also improved soil chemical properties as compared to control (Flood irrigation). So, this method can be proved beneficial in reducing the nutrient requirement of the crop under cultivation in the Northern Transitional Zone of Karnataka.