Effect of water stress during different stages of peanut

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out during the dry season with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cv. PI-165.317 to find in the cultivar which of physiological mechanisms and production changed when the period of water deficit was established at different phases of the vital cycle of the plants. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four treatments and four replicates. The control treatment (III) was irrigated by the gated pipe system when the soil matrix potential in the depth of 15 cm reached -0.05 MPa. The other treatments followed this same criteria, except during the water stress period; they were: IEI, 30 to 60 days after emergency (DAE); IEI, 60 to 90 DAE, and IEE, 30 to 90 DAE. The hydric leaf potential was not statistically different among the treatments applied to the plants. The values of leaf area, dry weight of the top, dry weight of the roots and rate root/top and the grain production were highly changed according to the treatments applied to the plants.