Integration of Organic and Inorganic

¶ … integration of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients and their method of application," (Abraham & Theuna, 2010, p. 217).

The hypotheses were tested by conducting a field experiment during the rainy season at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad, U.P., India. Two levels of farmyard manure, four levels of fertilizers, and two methods of application were tested in a split-plot design. The experiment was carried out on specific species of groundnut: namely Chitra.

Data was analyzed by first recording growth attributes at various stages. Yield attributes and overall yield were recorded at time of harvest (Abraham & Theuna, 2010, p. 217). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and critical difference methods were used for the statistical analyses.

The major conclusions of the study were as follows. First, "the dry weight of plant, number of branches per plant and number of pegs per plant were significantly influenced by method of application," (Abraham & Theuna, 2010, p. 217). Second, root zone application of fertilizers was more effective than the "broadcasting" of nutrients (Abraham & Theuna, 2010, p. 217). Third, "75% RDF recoded significant increase in all the growth attributes as compared to 25% and 50% RDF and was at par with 100% RDF," (Abraham & Theuna, 2010, p. 217).

6. The original hypotheses were exploratory in nature and therefore neither proven nor disproven.

7. Abraham, T. & Theuna, O.V.S. (2010). Influence of organic and inorganic source of nutrients and their methods of application on growth and yield attributes of groundnut. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research 44(3): 216-220.

8. Other research is mentioned first in the introduction. The authors refer to prior research to show why they are conducting the current study, and why they choice the variables they did. For example, they note: "Maximum and significantly higher pod yield could be obtained (52% higher over control) due to application of 10 tones of wheat straw + 50% of recommended dose of fertiliser (Singh and Deka 1990), cited by Abraham & Theuna (2010, p. 216). There is a brief reference to a comparison of results between this and prior research. There are no references to outside research, other than the list of references.