Environ Exp Biol (2016) 14: 205–211

Rice straw: a valuable organic manure for soil amendment in the cultivation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

The study focused on evaluating the effect of ground and unground rice straw as soil amendment on growth, yield and post-harvest soil nutrient concentrations. The experimental layout was a split-plot design with ground and unground straw as the main plots and different application rates (T₀ = control; T₁ = 1250 kg ha^–1, T₂ = 2500 ha^–1, T₃ = 3750 ha^–1, T₄ = 5000 ha^–1) as subplots. Rice straw at all application rates significantly increased all growth parameters when compared with the control. Application rates at 1250 and 2500 ha^–1 of both ground and unground rice straw favoured higher yield when compared to other application rates and the control. Post-harvest soil nutrient concentrations were also higher under these rates except for calcium, magnesium and molybdenum. The results suggest that use of rice straw at lower application rates could be considered as optimum for groundnut production. Its use could also limit environmental pollution arising from burning of rice straw.