FERTILIZER EFFECT ON NODULATION, GROWTH AND YIELD OF Bradyrhizobium INOCULATED GROUNDNUT

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of N, P, K and S fertilizers on nodulation, growth and yield of Bradyrhizobium inoculated groundnut (cv. BARI Cheenabadam-6). The experiment was laid out in a RCBD with seven treatments replicated thrice. The N, P. K and S content in grain and straw were also determined. Nodules per plant, nodule dry weight, plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, nuts per plant and nut yield significantly responded to different treatments. The nut yield of the crop ranged from 3.46 to 4.64 t ha^-1. The highest nut yield was recorded with the treatment T₄ (Bradyrhizobium + N₃₀P₁₇₀K₉₀S₁₈₀) which was statistically identical to that of T₃ (Bradyrhizobium + P₁₇₀K₉₀S₁₈₀) with the corresponding yield of 4.33 t ha^-1. The contents of N, K and S in grain and straw were also significantly influenced by different treatments. Only P content in grain as well as straw was insignificant in different treatments. The best performance with the treatment T₄ (Bradyrhizobium +N₃₀P₁₇₀K₉₀S₁₈₀) indicates that NPKS fertilization in combination with Bradyrhizobium inoculum may be a good practice to achieve higher nut yield of groundnut.