International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

A field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study the effect of vermicompost and foliar spray of zinc on growth, quality and productivity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) The experiment comprising of ten treatments viz., T₁ (NPK), T₂ (NPK +VC), T₃ (NPK +VC+ Soil Zn 100%), T₄ (NPK + VC+ Soil Zn 75%), T₅ (NPK + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO₄), T₆ (NPK + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO₄), T₇ (NPK + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO₄), T₈ (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO₄), T₉ (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO₄) and T₁₀ (NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO₄) were replicated thrice and evaluated in the randomized block design (RBD). The experimental soil was loamy sand in texture, low in N, high in available P and medium in K. Groundnut variety, RG 559-3 was tested. The results of the experiment revealed that significantly higher values of growth parameters viz., plant height and number of root nodules plant^-1; yield viz., pod yield (44.3, 47.2 q ha^-1) and haulm yield (54.03, 58.8 q ha^-1); quality parameters viz., oil content and protein content were recorded under the treatment receiving NPK (15:60:30) +VC (5 t ha^-1) + Soil Zn 100% (T₃) over control (T₁) while at par with the application of NPK + VC+ Soil Zn 75% (T₄), NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.25% ZnSO₄ (T₈), NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.50% ZnSO₄ (T₉) and NPK + VC + foliar spray of 0.75% ZnSO₄ (T₁₀).