Introduction

Groundnut cultivation is getting popularity among the farmers of North- Eastern Hill Region. There is ample scope to increase its productivity under upland conditions of mid-hills. Rice, maize and potato are the main crops of this region. Groundnut which on being recently introduced in the North Eastern region, is very likely to be grown widely across the region and the crop can also act as stand-in incase upland rice  and maize proves uneconomical or it can be grown as an intercrop with upland rice and maize for higher productivity and return (Panwar et al., 2003). In Nagaland, Groundnut is grown in area of 930 ha producing 960 MT and yield of about 1032 kg ha^-1 (Nagaland economic survey 2015-2016).     

The global production and use of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers had increased considerably since 1960, which resulted in a significant increase in crop production and severe negative environmental and agronomic consequences for soil health, e.g., nitrate-N leaching and soil acidification (Smil, 2002). Acid soils are considered soils with a pH < 5.5 in their surface horizons (0–20 cm). About 3950 million hectares of land area has been estimated to be affected by acidity, occupying nearly 30% of the global land surface (Sumner and Noble, 2003) and accounting for approximately 50% of the global arable land area (Dai et al., 2017). Soil acidity is one of the most yield limiting factors that affect crop productivity (McLaren and Cameron, 1996; Sumner and Noble, 2003; Fageria and Nascente, 2014). Among the major constraints in crop production particularly in north eastern region of India, one of the factors hindering efficient fertilizer management is acidic soil. In India, about one-third of the cultivated land is affected by soil acidity (Mandal, 1997). Most of these soils are concentrated in north-east region of India, with nearly 65% of its area being under high level of soil acidity (< 5.5pH) (Sharma and Singh, 2002). Groundnut can be grown on many soil types including those that are highly weathered and acidic (Gascho et al., 1993). However, the preferred pH for growing of groundnut is a pH of (6.5-7) which is slightly acidic or neutral. So for the crop to grow in a favorable soil pH, liming is required. Every crop requires a preferred pH level in the soil so it can grown properly this adjustment in pH levels can be done by liming when the soil is acidic. Lime application along with integrated nutrient management is often recommended to increase the phyto-availability of essential nutrients and ameliorate the other acidity-induced fertility constraints on such soils (Haynes, 1984; Kumar et al., 2012). Liming also helps increase the nutrient availability, improves the soil structure and also increases the rate of infiltration. Management of soil acidity and improvement on productivity of crop on such soils therefore proves to be important in strengthening food security globally and regionally.

Development of modern agricultural technology has attracted the attention of scientists on sulphur nutrition owing to cultivation of high yielding varieties, adoption of intensive cropping systems particularly involving oil seeds and pulses, use of high analysis fertilizers and decreased usage of organic manures (Jaggi, 2004). Indian groundnut sellers and processors are steadily growing aware and concern for the quality of groundnut. Arranging and categorizing according to quality are becoming a practice. Indian manufacturer have the means to prepare and supply edible groundnuts conforming to highest standards. Among the various factors known to determine the groundnut yield and quality, balanced nutrition is an essential and basic factor contributing to high yield. Groundnut being an oilseed crop requires fertilization for high crop production. The farmers though aware of the fertilization in crops, are confined mostly in NPK fertilizers and negligence especially in sulphur fertilizer is common, however sulphur in oilseed crop is one of the key elements required to produce protein, oil and flavored compounds as well as to ensure quality, it is increasingly being recognised as the fourth major nutrient after nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (Tandon and Messick, 2002).  Sulphur is an important element for oil synthesis and formation of sulphur containing amino acids. It is the master nutrient for oilseed production as each unit of sulphur fertilizer generates 3-5 units of edible oil. In oilseeds sulphur plays a vital role in the development of seed and improving the quality (Naser et al., 2012). Sulphur helps in the synthesis of cysteine, methionine, chlorophyll, vitamins (B, biotin and thiamine), metabolism of carbohydrates, oil content, protein content and also associated with growth and metabolism, especially by its effect on the proteolytic enzymes (Najar et al., 2011). Sulphur is identified as a key element for increasing the production of oilseeds by increasing the uptake of various macro and micronutrients in groundnut (Singh, 1999). Sulphur deficiency results in poor flowering, fruiting, cupping of leaves, reddening of stems, petiole and stunted growth. Since groundnut is rich both in oils and protein, requirement of sulphur for this crop is substantial high. Sulphur improves the chlorophyll, nodulation, increases the availability of other nutrients (Singh, 2007).

Materials and Methods

2.1.  Study site

Experimental Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland.

2.2.  Treatment details

The experiment comprised of two lime and five levels of sulphur, viz. lime @ 0 t ha^-1 and 3 t ha^-1 and Sulphur @ (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40) kg ha^-1 respectively. The experiment was laid out by adopting Split Plot Design (SPD) with three replications.

2.3.  General information

 Groundnut variety ICGS-76 was sown @ 70 kg ha^-1 for 60×20 cm² spacing. Kernel treatment was done with carbendazime @ 2 g kg^-1 of kernel. The soil was sandy loam and strongly acidic in reaction (pH 4.5). The soil contained 1.81% oxidizable organic carbon, 275 kg ha^-1 available nitrogen, 16.2 kg ha^-1 available phosphorus and 180.46 kg ha^-1 available potassium. Recommended dose of fertilizer at 20:60:40 kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O ha^-1 respectively were applied in the form of diammonium phosphate and murate of potash at the time of sowing.

2.4.  Data collection

For determining the vegetative growth characters, five plants from each plot were randomly selected and tagged excluding the border rows. Total numbers of pods were counted from five randomly selected plants and the average number of pods plant^-1 was worked out.

2.5.  Data analysis

The data obtained are analyzed statistically by analysis of variance (F-test) as per the methods recommended by Gomez and Gomez (1984). The critical difference (CD) at 0.05 level of probability was calculated.

Results and Discussion

3.1.  Effect of lime and levels of sulphur on growth attribute of groundnut at different days of sowing.

The data recorded in Table 1 shows that application of lime and sulphur levels influenced a significant variation in plant height at 60 DAS and at harvest. However, plant height at 30 DAS showed no significant effect. Application of lime @ 3 t ha^-1 gave highest plant height at 60 DAS (46.27 cm) and at harvest (52.93 cm) compared to unlimed condition, while application of sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1 gave the highest plant height at 60 DAS (48.24 cm) and at harvest (55.96 cm) over lower doses of sulphur. The result is in conformity with the findings of Das et al. (2017) and Noman et al.(2015). Crop grow rate on application of lime during the period of 60 DAS to harvest showed no significant variation while the period between 30 DAS to 60 DAS had significant variation. There was also a significant variation in crop growth rate at 30 DAS – 60 DAS and 60 DAS to harvest for sulphur levels as shown in Table 1. On application of lime the highest crop growth rate was recorded between 30 DAS – 60 DAS when the crop was treated with lime @ 3 t ha^-1 (11.65 g m^-2 d^-1) and as for sulphur, application of sulphur level @ 40 kg ha^-1 gave higher CGR (11.71g m^-2 d^-1)  compared to lower doses. The result is in conformity with the findings of Rao et al. (2013). The data in Table 1 also shows that application of lime @3 t ha^-1 recorded highest relative growth rate (0.16 g g^-1 d^-1) between 30 DAS – 60 DAS and as for sulphur, application of  sulphur level @ 40 kg ha^-1 gave highest RGR (0.18g g^-1 d^-1) between 30 DAS – 60 DAS compared to lower doses. The result is in conformity with the findings of Das et al. (2017) and Pancholi (2014). The increase in growth attribute when lime was added may be because liming increases the pH levels in soil thus increasing alkalinity which provides a source of calcium and magnesium essential for plant growth. As for the increase in growth attribute when sulphur was applied may be because sulphur is essential for nitrogen-fixing nodules on legumes and in the formation of chlorophyll. In the process plants uses the synthesized chlorophyll for producing proteins, amino acids, enzymes and vitamins which aids in growth, and in seed formation.

Table 1: Effect of lime and levels of sulphur on growth attribute of groundnut at different days of sowing

3.2.  Effect of lime and levels of sulphur on yield attributes and yield of groundnut

There was significant variation in number of pods plant^-1, kernel yield (kg ha^-1), stover yield (kg ha^-1) and harvest index (%) with the application of lime. The data in table 2 showed that the highest pods plant^-1 (30.87), kernel yield (1398.14 kg ha^-1), stover yield (2865.29 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (39.17%) was recorded when lime was applied @ 3 t ha^-1. The result is in conformity with the findings of Das et al. (2017) and Dey and Nath (2015). The increase in yield attribute when liming was done may be due to the effect of liming which increases the growth attributes of crop due to favorable soil condition and also lime acting as source of Ca and Mg essential for plant growth. On application of sulphur there was a significant variation in number of pods plant^-1, kernel yield (kg ha^-1) and stover yield (kg ha^-1) whereas harvest index (%) was found insignificant. The highest pods plant^-1 (28.50), kernel yield (1160.46 kg ha^-1) and stover yield (2551.36 kg ha^-1) was recorded when sulphur was applied @ 40 kg ha^-1. The result is in conformity with the findings of Banu et al. (2017) and Sisodiya et al. (2017). The increase in yield attributes on application of sulphur may be because of the favorable effect of sulphur on the growth of groundnut.

Table 2: Effect of lime and levels of sulphur on yield attribute of groundnut

Economics

The data collected on the economics under the effects of lime and levels of sulphur is presented in Table 3. The highest cost of cultivation (Rs. 36458.17) was recorded under the treatment L₁S₄ (lime @ 3 t ha^-1 and sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1) while the lowest was obtained under L₀S₀ (lime @ 0 t ha^-1 and sulphur @0 kg ha^-1), with Rs. 23658.17. Highest gross return per hectare (Rs. 96465.47) was recorded under the treatment L₁S₄ (lime @ 3 t ha^-1 and sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1) while the lowest was obtained under L₀S₀ (lime @ 0 t ha^-1 and sulphur @ 0 kg ha^-1), with Rs.  51224.08. The highest net income (Rs. 60007.29) and B: C ratio (1.65) was obtained under treatment L₁S₄ (lime @ 3 t ha^-1 and sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1) compared to all the other treatments, lowest net was recorded in L₀S₀ with Rs. 27565.91 having a B:C ratio of 1.17. These results are in conformity with the findings of Dash et al. (2013) where they reported that applying sulphur @ 34 kg ha^-1 gave a significantly higher economic in pod yield over lower levels. Dutta and Mondal (2006) observed a 17.19% of yield increment compared to 100% RDF alone.

Table 3: Effect of lime and levels of sulphur on economic parameter of groundnut

Conclusion

It has been observed that treatment with lime @ 3 t ha^-1+sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1 resulted in highest kernel and stover yield with net return (Rs.  60007.29) and BC ratio (1.65) followed by liming @ 3 t ha^-1+sulphur @ 30 kg ha^-1 with net return (Rs. 57522.68) and BC ratio (1.59). Thus it can be concluded that liming @ 3 t ha^-1 along with sulphur @ 40 kg ha^-1 along with recommended dose of NPK (20:60:40) gave best result for the growth and yield of groundnut.

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