Effect of Gypsum and Drought on Pod Initiation and Crop Yield in Early Maturing Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) Genotypes

Abstract

SUMMARYGypsum application and irrigation increased yield in early maturing groundnut genotypes in experiments using line source and conventional irrigation. Response to gypsum varied with genotype; with some gypsum increased yields at all water application rates, in some genotypes there was no response, while with others gypsum increased yield in drought conditions.In a separate study of the effect of gypsum and drought on pod initiation and development in three groundnut genotypes, gypsum did not greatly influence pod initiation when adequate irrigation was applied, but was beneficial when water was withheld during pod set and again during pod filling. Crops where the combination of gypsum and genotype were most advantageous in the first drought period subsequently grew more slowly so that there were no final differences in response to gypsum. Cultivar EC 76446(292) had a higher requirement for gypsum and was more susceptible to drought than the other two genotypes.