Summer Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Response to Micro-irrigation and Transient Water Stress

R. K Mathukia; S. K. Chhodavadia; B. K. Sagarka; V. B. Bhalu

Abstract

To ascertain the effect of different methods of irrigation (drip, micro sprinkler and surface) and transient water stress (at early vegetative stage up to 20, 30 and 40 DAS) on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), a field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2015 to 2017 on calcareous clayey soil at Junagadh (Gujarat, India). The results indicated that drip irrigation method significantly enhanced growth, yield and quality attributes viz., plant height, branches/plant, LAI, dry matter/plant, mature pods/plant, pod weight/plant, test weight and shelling, which in turn resulted in higher pod (18.30 q ha-1) and haulm yield (42.58 q ha-1) as well as water use efficiency (2.253 kg ha-1 mm-1) over surface irrigation method. Water stress up to 40 DAS decreased plant height and dry matter/plant, while increased branches/plant and LAI over the water stress up to 20 DAS. However, yield and quality parameters as well as pod and haulm yields were remained statistically equivalent under various stress periods. The water use efficiency was increased with each increment in stress period. It is suggested that drip irrigation method and water stress in early vegetative stage up to 30 DAS could be adopted to enhance water use efficiency and to increase the yield of groundnut in summer season.Keywords: Groundnut, Drip irrigation, Micro sprinkler, Water stress, Water use efficiencyCite this ArticleR.K. Mathukia, S.K. Chhodavadia, B.K. Sagarka, V.B. Bhalu. Summer Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Response to Micro-Irrigation and Transient Water Stress. Research & Reviews Journal of Crop Science and Technology. 2019; 8(2): 16–20p.