Effect of Integrated Application of Biochar, Sulphur and Recommended Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Quality of Groundnut Grown in an Alfisol
Talla Swathi Sri *
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, PJTAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
T. Prabhakar Reddy
AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems, PJTAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
S. H. K Sharma
AICRP on Micronutrients, Agricultural Research Institute, PJTAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
S. G. Mahadevappa
Agro Climate Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, PJTAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
D. Srinivas Chary
Department of Statistics & Mathematics, College of Agricultural Engineering, Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Palem, Nagarkurnool, Telangana, to evaluate the integrated effects of the recommended fertiliser dose (RDF), biochar and sulphur on groundnut cv. TAG 24 grown on an Alfisol. The experiment comprised 13 treatments arranged in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, involving 75 and 100% RDF, biochar at 2 and 4 t ha⁻¹, and sulphur at 40 kg ha⁻¹, applied alone or in combinations. Pooled analysis revealed significant treatment effects on dry matter accumulation and yield, but not on the measured quality parameters. The highest pooled dry matter accumulation was recorded with 100% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹ + sulphur at 40 kg ha⁻¹, with values of 2976.6, 4461.9 and 5114.7 kg ha⁻¹ at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, respectively. This treatment also recorded the highest haulm (3743.2 kg ha⁻¹), pod (2938.6 kg ha⁻¹) and kernel (1970.7 kg ha⁻¹) yields, which were not significantly different from those obtained with 100% RDF + biochar at 2 t ha⁻¹ + sulphur at 40 kg ha⁻¹ and 75% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹ + sulphur at 40 kg ha⁻¹. Protein, oil and oleic acid contents were not significantly affected by the treatments, although 100% RDF + biochar at 4 t ha⁻¹ + sulphur at 40 kg ha⁻¹ recorded the highest numerical pooled values of 26.23%, 48.55% and 46.17%, respectively. The results indicate that integrating RDF with biochar and sulphur improved groundnut growth and yield under the conditions of the study, while quality parameters showed only numerical variation.
Keywords: Biochar, sulphur, groundnut, Alfisol, recommended fertiliser dose