Yield and Yield Components of Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) in Response to Soil and Foliar Application of Potassium

摘要

This study was carried out in the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egyptduring two summer seasons 2013 and 2014 in order to investigate the effect of soil and foliar application ofpotassium on yield and yield components of two groundnut varieties (Giza-6 and Line-623) grown in sandy soil.The results indicated that application of soil or foliar potassium fertilizer significantly increased pods weightcompared to untreated plants (control). The highest pods weight (32.44g) was produced by the treatmentreceived K +K , while the lowest (15.12g) with control plants. The results soil foliar also indicated that the 100-seedweight and shelling percentage were increased by applying Kfoliar compared to untreated plants or other twopotassium treatments. The highest 100-seed weight (56.86g) and shelling percentage (76.93%) were obtainedwith the treatment received Kfoliar. While, applying these treatment either soil or foliar singly, as well as incombination with them resulted in a significant increase in oil content compared to control plants. The highestoil yield (11.13g) was obtained by the treatment received Ksoil+Kfoliar followed by Ksoil (8.85g) and Kfoliar (6.58g),while the lowest (4.02g) with untreated plants. In both cultivars, application of Ksoil+Kfoliar as one treatmentresulted in a significant increase in pods weight, seed yield per plant, number of seeds per plant, shelling % andseed oil content in comparison to untreated plants (control). However, in Giza-6 applied of Ksoil singly increasedpods weight, number of seeds per plant and oil % compared to other treatment received Kfoliar singly. On theother hand, applied the Kfoliar singly with Line-623 increased the pods weight per plant, number of pods andseeds per plant, shelling %, oil content and oil yield in comparison to the treatment received Ksoil singly.Application of soil potassium fertilizer singly increased the calcium content in the seeds of Giza-6 cultivarcompared to control plants or Kfoliar and Ksoil+Kfoliar, while it was increased by applying Ksoil+Kfoliar with Line-623in comparison to untreated plants or Ksoil and Kfoliar. On the other hand, the Fe, Zn and Mn contents wereincreased in Giza-6 cultivar by applying Ksoil+Kfoliar in comparison to untreated plants or Ksoil and Kfoliar, while inLine-623 under the same treatment Fe and Zn contents were increased in comparison to untreated plants or Ksoiland Kfoliar.