PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION IN CREEPING PEANUT

Abstract

The phosporus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization can maximize the profitability of peanut cultivation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the basic fertilization with P and K on the grain yield and production components of creeping peanut. The experiment was performed in a randomized blocks design, in a 2 x 3 + 1 factorial scheme, with two doses of K (30 and 60 kg ha^-1 of K₂O) and three levels of P (60, 90 and 120 kg ha^{- 1} of P₂O₅) at sowing, and an additional treatment without the basic fertilization, with four replications. The cultivar Runner IAC 886 was used. Pod yield, grain yield, number of pods per plant, number of pods with grains per plant, the percentage of pods without grains, 100 grains weight and number of seeds per pod, were evaluated. The P and K fertilization at sowing promotes increase of about 38 and 49% in pod yield and grain yield, respectively, in creeping peanut. The highest values of pods with grains are observed with the application of 120 kg ha^-1 of P.