A study on the effect of endophytic bacteria on water saving and disease incidence in groundnut under limited irrigation conditions through frontline demonstrations

A study on the effect of endophytic bacteria on yield and disease incidence in groundnut under limited irrigation conditions through frontline demonstrations was carried out in the farmer's fields in the year rabi 2021-22. The study was conducted in the Uppununtala mandal of Nagarkurnool district focusing on the areas under canal command areas. The soil of the demonstrated area is light sandy soil and requires 8-10 irrigations through sprinkler irrigation. 10 demonstrations were conducted with two treatments T₁ (Farmers Practice) and T₂ (Demonstration / Seed Treatment with Endophytic bacteria Bacillus firmus). The data was analyzed using a two-sample T-test. The two treatments were demonstrated in the same farmer's field for accurate data. During this study, there was a long interval in the release of water from the project and the study area was under the tail end part of the project. The farmers of the tail-end region were able to provide only 6 irrigations in the entire Crop Growth Period (CGP). Data on the disease incidence like collar rot & leaf spot were also recorded 3 times during the CGP. The study revealed that seed treatment with endophytic bacteria reduced the number of irrigations (3) to the crop, recorded low disease incidence i.e., collar rot (3.8%) and late leaf spot (22.3%) to the crop saving cost of cultivation of the pesticides over farmers practice (9.6% and 82.5% respectively) and recorded higher productivity (9.8%) over farmers practice.