Journal of Agronomy and Field Innovations

Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally important oilseed-cum-legume crop that contributes substantially to edible oil production, protein nutrition, and farm income in tropical and semi-arid agro-ecosystems. Persistent nutrient deficiencies, declining soil organic matter, and suboptimal fertilizer use efficiency continue to constrain productivity, necessitating sustainable nutrient management approaches. Fulvic acid, a low-molecular-weight fraction of humic substances, has emerged as a promising bio-stimulant capable of enhancing nutrient solubility, root proliferation, and physiological efficiency in leguminous crops.
Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of varying fulvic acid concentrations and application methods on nutrient uptake efficiency, growth, yield, and quality attributes of groundnut.
Methods: A field experiment was conducted following a Randomized Complete Block Design comprising five treatments (control, low, medium, and high fulvic acid concentrations applied through soil, and a combined soil plus foliar treatment) replicated four times. Growth parameters, nodulation, macro- and micronutrient uptake, yield attributes, and quality traits (oil and protein content) were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance followed by mean separation at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: Fulvic acid application significantly improved plant height, root length, nodulation, and dry matter accumulation compared with the control. The combined soil plus foliar treatment recorded the highest nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient uptake, along with the greatest pod yield, oil content, and protein content, followed by the high soil-application treatment. Nutrient use efficiency and benefit-cost ratio also increased progressively with increasing fulvic acid concentration.
Conclusion: Fulvic acid application, particularly through combined soil and foliar delivery, enhances nutrient uptake efficiency and physiological performance in groundnut, offering a practical and environmentally sound strategy for sustainable nutrient management in legume-based cropping systems.