Soil salinity is one of the major obstacles that is limiting the growth and yield of groundnut. This study aims to investigate the effect of growth-promoting fungi, Trichoderma, on groundnut plants that were cultivated in saline conditions. Five different Trichoderma isolates were grown in four different NaCl concentrations. Selected Trichoderma were then applied to the groundnut seeds and their growth and development were monitored during the study. Growth inhibition, volatile organic compounds, chlorophylls, carotenoids, total phenolics and flavonoids, and minerals were assessed between the Trichoderma treatments. Increasing the salt concentration from 0.25–0.75 M decreased the growth of the Trichoderma isolates. The amounts and profiles of the volatile organic compounds from the T. asperellum isolate were significantly different to those in the T. virens isolate. In the vegetative growth stage, increased chlorophyll content was recorded in both the T. asperellum and T. virens-treated groundnut. The leaves that were obtained from the groundnut that was treated with T. virens T.v4 contained significantly higher indole-3-acetic acid (420 µg IAA/g) than the same plants’ roots (113.3 µg IAA/g). Compared to the control groundnut, the T. asperellum T.a8-treated groundnut showed increased phenolics (31%) and flavonoids (43%) and increased shoots and biomass weight at the generative growth stage. This study demonstrates that Trichoderma, with their plant growth promotion ability, could potentially be used to improve the growth of groundnut growing under salinity stress. Importantly, salt-tolerant Trichoderma could be regarded as a beneficial and sustainable way to improve the survival of salt-sensitive crops.

Effect of mulching and amelioration on growth and yield of groundnut on saline soil

Productivity of agricultural land in coastal area is limited by salinity. Planting tolerant variety combined with amelioration is an effective management to increase productivity of salt affected land. The objective of this study was to identify effective ameliorant for improving growth and yield of groundnut on saline soil. The trial was conducted on saline soil in Tuban from May to September 2015. The trial consisted of two factors that were arranged in a completely randomized block design, three replications. The first factor was two groundnut varieties (Domba and Hypoma 1). The second factor was six soil ameliorations (control, 120 kg/ha K2O, 2.5 t/ha dolomite, 2,5 t/ha of gypsum, 2.5 t/ha of manure, and 1.5 t/ha of gypsum + 2.5 t/ha of manure). Results showed that Domba and Hypoma 1 varieties could tolerate and completed their life cycle at insitu saline condition. Hypoma 1 was more prospective to be developed in saline condition associated with higher survival as well as better pod setting and seed development than Domba. Combination of gypsum and manure provided better effect than other treatments in improving saline soil, since it reduced exchangeable Na, Na saturation, and EC of soil, and also improved groundnut yield.

Evaluasi Teknologi Budidaya Kedelai pada Lahan Pasang Surut (Kepas)