In the present scenario of Climate Change, in the case of the Vidarbha region, in India and the world as a whole; the major problem is erratic rainfall. Especially in the case of Kharif groundnut (which is mostly dependent on rainfall); which makes it susceptible to moisture stress; leading to low nutrient uptake and therefore yields poor. Therefore, A field trial was conducted at the farm of Agril. Botany, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during Kharif season 2021 to study the influence of the foliar application of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate on biochemical parameters and yield attributes of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment was carried out in randomized block design and replicated thrice consisting of twelve treatments of salicylic acid (50, 100, 150 ppm) and zinc sulphate (0.50%, 1.00%) applied individually and in combinations. It can be concluded that foliar spray of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate at 30 and 50 DAS helps to maintain the turgidity of the plant and that leads to appropriate nutrient uptake; that significantly enhanced the biochemical parameters viz., total chlorophyll content in leaf, oil content in the kernel, nitrogen content in leaves and yield attributes viz., the number of pods plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (g), plot-1 (Kg), ha-1 (q), seed yield ha-1 (q). Among the treatments application of 100 ppm and 150 ppm salicylic acid with 1.00% of zinc sulphate gave significantly higher results in all parameters studied.

Salicylic acid, zinc sulphate, groundnut, biochemical, foliar spray, yield, oil content

Foliar application of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate at 30 and 50 DAS shows significant variations in nearly all studied characters except a few (test weight). Individual treatments of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate also show significant variation in all studied characters; when compared with control, but less effective than treatment combinations. Groundnut variety PDKVG-335 shows a positive response to foliar application (at 30 and 50 DAS) of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate. Among all the treatments under study; the treatment combination of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate shows a more significant increase in all studied characters; than individual applications of these two.The biochemical parameter such as chlorophyll content and nitrogen content in leaves shows significant variation and contributed to an increase in yield. Similarly, being an oilseed crop, the range of oil content in the kernel shows an increasing trend. The highest per cent increase in yield (31.33%) over control was observed by the application of salicylic acid @ 150 ppm + zinc sulphate @ 1.00% as a foliar spray at 30 and 50 DAS. Next to this treatment foliar spray of salicylic acid @ 100 ppm + zinc sulphate @ 1.00% also enhanced yield by 27.09% over control. The yield was increased by this treatment over control with a B:C ratio of 2.66 and 2.58 respectively. From the overall result, it can be stated that foliar application of salicylic acid and zinc sulphate with different concentrations improved biochemical and yield and yield contributing characters and might have helped in attaining better seed yield in the present investigation. Among treatment combinations; treatment T12 (Salicylic acid @ 150 ppm + Zinc sulphate @ 1.00%) and T10 (Salicylic acid @ 100 ppm + Zinc Sulphate @ 1.00%) show the highest significant increase in all studied characters; when applied at 30 and 50 DAS.

Palandurkar Bhairavee Prakash, Prashant V. Shende, Sapana B. Baviskar and Prema R. Manapure (2022). Influence of the Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid and Zinc Sulphate on Biochemical Parameters and Yield Attributes of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 273-278.