EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC SOURCES AND MULCHING ON GROUNDNUT

Among the oilseeds, groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is known to be a unique and important legume cum oilseed crop of India accounting 33% of world¿s groundnut area and about 27.3% production. It belongs to Fabaceae family. It is also known as peanut, monkey nut, earthnut, manila nut and goober. It is world¿s largest source of edible oil and ranks 13th among the food crops. Organic manures play a vital role in increasing the productivity of pulses by several means. Farm Yard Manure (FYM) not only supplies all the macro and micro nutrients but also acts as a soil conditioner. Vermicompost is a product of non-thermophilic biodegradation of organic material by combined action of earthworms and associated microbes. Phosphorus rich organic manure (PROM) is the phosphorus rich organic fertilizer, which is a type of fertilizer used as an alternative to di-ammonium phosphate and single super phosphate. Mulching is a protective cover spread over the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds and enrich the soil etc. The better growth and quality found in manures with 20 kg N/ha from vermicompost along with 250 kg PROM/ha.