GROWTH AND WATER-USE BY SUMMER GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) AS AFFECTED BY IRRIGATION SCHEDULE, FERTILIZER AND WEED-CONTROL METHOD

A field study was made during summer season of 1993 and 1994 to assess the effect irrigation schedules, fertilizers and weed-control methods on growth of and water use by summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Increased irrigation frequency through irrigation scheduling from 0.40 to 1.0 irrigation water : cumulative pan evaporation (IW : CEP), appl ication of 40 and 80 kg N and P2O5 ha and pendimethalin + earthing up significantly improved growth, nodules plant, chlorophyll content, lea f-area index and plant dry matter at 60 days, and crop-growth rate. Th e water - use efficiency (WUE) was maximum at 0.70 IW : CPE. The crop under weedy check consumed maximum amount of water, while the highest WUE was recorded with pendimethalin + earthing up.