54 Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 89 (6): 946–50, June 2019/Article Performance of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) under different phosphorus management options in semi-arid environment of Rajasthan M R YADAV 1 , YOGENDRA KUMAR 2 , VIJAY POONIYA 3 , K C GUPTA 4 , RANI SAXENA 5 , N K GARG 6 and AJEET SINGH 7 Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302 018, India Received: 13 September 2018; Accepted: 3 January 2019 ABSTRACT The present feld investigation was carried out during kharif season of 2015, 2016 and 2017 at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (RARI), Durgapura, Jaipur to evaluate the effect of various phosphorous (P) management options on growth, productivity and economics of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with 10 P management practices. Results revealed application of 5 t farmyard manure (FYM) + 50% chemical P + DGRC–1 and 5 t FYM + 100% chemical P + DGRC–1 increased dry matter accumulation by 47.5% and 48.72% (35 days after sowing, DAS), 38.6% and 34.6% (70 DAS) and 38.9% and 35.1% (at harvest) over no P fertilization. Application of 5 t FYM + 50% chemical P + DGRC–1 enhanced crop growth rate (CGR) by the magnitude of 19. 8%–47. 5% (0–35 DAS), 12. 5%– 36. 3% (35–70 DAS), and 13. 4%5–39. 5% (70 DAS–at harvest) compared to control and 5 t FYM, 5 t FYM + DGRC–1 and 5 t FYM + DGRC–2 plots. The maximum number of pods/plant, pod weight/plant, test weight and shelling% were also registered with application of 5 t FYM +50% chemical P + DGRC–1. With respect to yields, application of 5 t FYM + 50% chemical P + DGRC–1 resulted in the maximum pod (5. 99 t/ha) and kernel (4. 29 t/ha) yields. The maximum net returns and B:C ratio were recorded when the crop was fertilized with 5 t FYM + 50% chemical P + DGRC–1. Finally, it can be concluded that integrated P management in groundnut using 5 t FYM + 50% chemical P + DGRC–1 can be advocated as sustainable P management strategy for enhancing productivity and proftability under semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan. Key words: Crop productivity, Farm proftability, Groundnut, Phosphorus management Present address: 1 Assistant Professor (mryadavrari@gmail. com), Rajasthan Agriculture Research Institute; 2 Professor (dryksinsinwar@gmail . com), 3 Scientist (vpooniya@gmail . com) ICAR–IARI; 4,5,6,7 Associate Professor (kcguptahindaun@ rediffmail. com, mathurrani@gmail. com, nkgarg108@gmail. com, ajeet. rajputsoili@gmail. com). Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L. ) is one of the important oilseed crops for small land holding farmers of rainfed areas. Globally, Asia and Africa share around 95% of cultivated area and 87% of production due to their most suitable agro-climatic condition for groundnut cultivation (FAO 2016). In India, it is second most important oilseed with an acreage of ~5.86 Mha, production of ~8.27 million tonnes and an average productivity of 1411 kg/ ha (Anonymous 2016). The ever growing population and continuous reduction in available land due to large scale urbanization and rapid setting of industries puts severe pressure on available natural resources in order to meet the increasing food and oil demand (Bruinsma 2009, Yadav et al. 2018). To circumvent this challenge, farmers overuse certain inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides which deteriorate environment and soil (Foley et al. 2011). The intensive use of these chemicals results in low nutrient–use effciency which makes fertilizer consumption uneconomical and produces negative effects on environment and groundwater quality (Mueller et al. 2012). Results of long-term experiments indicate that application of nutrients solely through chemical fertilizers have adverse effects on soil health leading to unsustainable productivity (Godfray et al. 2010). Therefore, to make the nutrient management system more effcient, the practical way is to mobilize the entire available, accessible and affordable plant nutrients from various sources to optimize the productivity of the system (Prasad et al. 2002, Parkinson 2013). Moreover, strategic use of varied nutrient sources, including inorganic fertilizers, organic materials and biofertilizers will help to restore desired agro-ecosystem functions (Zhang et al. 2012, Wu and Ma 2015). Application of organics improves soil structure, increases water holding and buffering capacity of soils and ultimately enhances availability of nutrients (Behera et al. 2007). Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are environmental friendly, low cost and non-bulky agricultural inputs which play a signifcant role in plant nutrition as a supplementary and complementary factor to mineral nutrition (Peix et al. 2015). Balanced use of fertilizers, https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v89i6.90765