EFFECTS OF AN ORGANIC BIOSTIMULANT ON THE AGRONOMIC AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF GROUNDNUT CULTIVATION IN REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS IN THE NAKAMBE REGION OF BURKINA FASO
In Burkina Faso, climatic hazards and soil degradation negatively affect groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) productivity. This study evaluates the effects of a biostimulant on the productivity and profitability of groundnuts grown in a real-world setting. It was conducted at the Tenkodogo University Center in the Nakambe region. The groundnut variety used was TE3, cultivated according to a completely randomized Fischer block design with four replications and four treatments: T0 (control without fertilizer); T1 (1 liter/ha of biostimulant), T2 (2 liters/ha of biostimulant), and T3 (3 liters/ha of biostimulant). Data were collected on physiological, agronomic, and economic parameters. An analysis of variance using the Newman-Keuls test and gross margin calculations were performed. The physiological parameters (start date and 50% flowering, start date and 50% maturity) of the different treatments showed highly significant differences (p<0.0001). For the agronomic parameters, the treatments had a highly significant effect (p<0.0001) on the number of pods (NG), pod dry weight (PSG), number of seeds (NGr), and foliage dry weight (DWF). The highest seed yield was obtained with the 1 liter/ha treatment, at 1145 kg/ha, and the highest gross margin (776,750 CFA francs/ha). Conversely, the 3 liters/ha treatment resulted in the highest haulm yield (2430 kg/ha). Therefore, the 1 liter/ha treatment could be recommended to producers aiming to improve groundnut grain yield, and the 3 liter/ha treatment for haulm production.