Evaluation of the effect of calcium source application on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield and quality in Okhahlamba Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Two field experiments were conducted on sandy loam soils in OKhahlamba Local Municipality (OLM) (Bergville area), KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa, during the rainy seasons of 2014/15 and 2015/16 to study the effect of calcium source (gypsum) fertilizer application on yield and quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The household economy of OLM is mostly dependent on agriculture and the majority of farmers in this area are small-scale farmers subsisting mainly on maize (constituting the staple diet) and groundnut production. Crop diversification, therefore, becomes an important aspect for farmers, and this is traditionally done using crops that are produced in almost similar agronomic circumstances to that of maize under dryland conditions. A large proportion of the OLM population depend on groundnut as a vital supplement to their daily food requirements, particularly as a cheap source of protein for resource-poor farmers. Therefore, any scientific approach to increase the yield of groundnut should be considered important in the livelihood of this community. Moreover, groundnut is an excellent rotational crop, since it responds well to fertilizer applied to previous crop and maize, as well as to crop, since it responds well to fertilizer applied to previous crop and maize, as well as to nitrogen left over by peanut. Thus, farmers save money because they use less fertilizer. The consideration for this study was based upon the above. The experiment was laid in a randomised complete block design with factorial arrangement, which was replicated three times in 48 plots. The factors studied were four levels of gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) i.e. 0 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha, 750 kg/ha, and 1000 kg/ha and four levels of lime (MgCO3.CaCO3) i.e. 0 kg/ha, 250 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha, 750 kg/ha. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), pod yield, seed yield, 100 seeds weight, shelling percentage, dry shoot weight, seed moisture content percentage at harvest, and leaf calcium concentration data were collected prior to, and post harvesting. The application of 500 kg gypsum/ha alone acted as a liming factor for legumes, decreasing acid stress on nodulating bacteria, and improved soil chemical properties (increased soil pH), vegetative growth, yield, and quality of groundnut. The smallholder famers can afford this application rate, since gypsum acts both as a liming factor and as a calcium source to improve crop yield. The application of 1000 kg gypsum/ha improved seed yield, shelling percentage as well as kernel weight, which is yield, and quality of groundnut under dryland conditions. Since smallholder farmers practise dryland production, it is advisable to adopt the application of gypsum at the rate of 1000 kg/ha to improve yield and quality of groundnuts. It was also found to be more economical than using both gypsum and lime. The application of 500 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 250 kg lime per hectare produced the highest shelling percentage. This combination of two calcium sources (gypsum and lime) is not recommended for small-scale farmers because it is not economical. The application of 500 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 750 kg lime per hectare increased pod yield. However, this combination is also not recommended because it is not cost-effective. The application of 1000 kg gypsum per hectare in combination with 500 kg lime per hectare increased seed yield and produced sound mature kernel (SMK), whereas the application of 1000 kg gypsum alone per hectare also increased seed yield. This combination is also considered unacceptable due to the high increase in input costs. The application of 750 kg lime per hectare was more effective as an acid ameliorant and led to the improvement of the chemical composition of the soil (increased soil pH), resulting in a higher shoot weight of groundnut. This application also provided the catalyst for stimulating phosphorus production and enhancing the growth of an extensive root system for absorbing water and nutrients. The use of lime in acid soils is highly beneficial because it improves the chemical composition of the soil, ensures the availability of nutrients to plants, serves as an efficient calcium source, and ultimately leads to an improvement in yield. Results show that the application of gypsum at 1000 kg/ha and lime at 500 kg/ha respectively, significantly improved peanut yield and soil pH. The combination of gypsum and lime (500 kg/ha gypsum and 250 kg/ha lime) significantly improved shelling percentage (yield). Based on data on yield, yield components, and soil chemical properties, it is concluded that gypsum is the best calcium source fertilizer for groundnut production in OLM and lime should only be applied on acid soils to attain optimum groundnut yield in the region

M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology