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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Boron and silicon fertilization impact on groundnut growth and soil properties of coastal saline soil

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.8066
Submitted
4 March 2025
Published
23-07-2025 — Updated on 31-07-2025
Versions

Abstract

Boron and silicon nutrients play a crucial role in groundnut growth and productivity in coastal saline soil. However, farmers in coastal areas tend to prioritize macronutrients over their use of boron and silicon nutrients for groundnuts. In general, organic fertilizers promote growth of plants and maintain soil ecosystems, but their combination with boron and silicon is yet to be studied. So, this study aimed to (a) assess the impact of boron and silicon on nutrients content in coastal saline soil and (b) evaluate how boron, silicon and composted coir pith (CCP) improve soil properties in coastal soil. To meet the various objectives of study a two-season field experiment was conducted in a coastal farmer’s field at Singarakuppam village, near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, during July-October 2021 and December-March 2022, using groundnut variety VRI 2. The study revealed that the soil application of borohumate (BH) + diatomaceous earth (DE) + CCP, along with foliar application of silixol plus (SP) and recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), was the most effective in improving soil properties in coastal saline soil.

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