Abstract
The yield (about 2 t/ha of air-dry nuts in shell) of St Vincent groundnuts was not improved by addition of fertilizers containing N, P, K, Ca, Mg or S, but the percentage of empty pods was reduced by the use of ground limestone (100kg Ca per hectare) at sowing. Triple superphosphate (45kg P per hectare) increased the shelling percentage. Of a mean dry matter production of about 6 t/ha, kernels comprised only 22 per cent compared with 50 per cent reported elsewhere for other varieties under different conditions. Plant uptake of mineral nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) was determined at two-week intervals up to harvest at 105 days from sowing. The data indicate that these nutrients were accumulated in sufficient amounts for maximum yield of this variety and that lack of response to fertilizers was attributable to an adequate supply of nutrients from the soil. Fertilizer requirements to maintain soil fertility were calculated.
