Comparison of Nutrient Combinations for Enhanced Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Productivity in a Dryland Ecology

Farmers in the savannas of Nigeria usually do not apply any form of mineral fertilizers to groundnut crops due to high cost, inadequacy of the fertilizers or due to the long-held belief that groundnuts do not require external application of fertilizers. Trials were conducted during the 2015 rainy season on farmers' fields in 15 villages across 3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State to study the effects of various nutrient applications and combinations on groundnut productivity. The treatments were P only, P + K, P + K + Micronutrients (Mc), P + K + Mc + Organic manure (OM), OM only and no fertilizer treatment (Control). The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with farmers as replicates. The results showed that nutrient applications whether singly or in combinations had positive influences on yield and yield attributes of groundnut across the LGAs. Plant height was the only variable affected by the nutrient combinations where P+K+Mc+OM produced the tallest plants, while the Control produced the shortest plants. Days to flowering were statistically similar in Ajingi and Gezawa but longer in Gaya. Significantly higher number of pods, pod and haulm yields, shelling %, and 100 kernel weights were recorded in Gezawa. Lowest number of pods, pod and haulm yields, were recorded in Gaya. Significant interactions between the treatments and LGAs were recorded for pod and haulm yields.