Productivity and economics of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under pressurized irrigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during summer -2021 at AICRP on Groundnut, Main Agricultural ResearchStation, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block designhaving eleven treatments with micro-sprinkler, drip and flood irrigation methods each replicated thrice. Among the differenttreatments, drip irrigation with fertigation recorded significantly higher pod yield (4103 kg ha-1) and showed 19.03 and17.33 per cent higher yield over control (Flood irrigation). However, it was on par with sprinkler irrigation receiving 50 and40 mm water in each irrigation and 35 mm water depth with and without foliar application of KNO3. Amount of waterapplied in drip fertigation was 415.93 mm and it saved 10.59 per cent water over control (Flood, UAS recommendation).Maximum water saving of 37.84 per cent was, however, observed in sprinkler irrigation with 25 mm water compared tocontrol. Drip irrigation with fertigation showed a net profit of Rs. 31,475 ha-1 and Rs. 27,830 ha-1 compared to control(Flood irrigation). However, it was on par with treatment with sprinkler irrigation treatments receiving 50 mm, 40 mm and35 mm water in each irrigation with and without foliar application of KNO3 for gross returns and with sprinkler irrigationreceiving 50 mm, 40 mm, 35 mm and 30 mm water depth in each irrigation with and without foliar application of KNO3 fornet returns. It was concluded that, in Northern Transitional Zone of Karnataka, drip fertigation and micro-sprinklerirrigation performs better in terms of yield and returns in summer groundnut compared to conventional flood irrigation.