Effect of Plant Density on some Productive Traits for Some Introduced Peanut Genotypes

Abstract

Abstract A field experiment was conducted in the fields of a farmer in the Al-Sufiya area in Al-Ramadi on the right bank of the Euphrates River during the summer season of the year 2023 to investigate the effect of plant densities of 44444, 53333, and 66666, plants ha-1. The plants were planted at a single distance between rows of 75 cm and three plant spacing within the row (20, 25, 30 cm). Four genotypes of field peanuts were used, three of which were introduced (NC7, Masal, Ausa hanim) compared to the local genotype, Saadiya, in the yield traits of the field peanut crop. A randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) was used with three replications, in a split plot arrangement, where plant densities occupied the main plots and genotypes occupied the sub plots. The results indicated significant differences among the genotypes. The genotypeNC7 achieved the highest number of pods per plant (91.6 pods plant-1), while the genotype Masal outperformed in the number of seeds per pod (1.292 seeds pod-1). The genotype Masal also attained the highest seed yield (5.002 tons ha-1) with non-significant differences compared to the NC7 and Ausa hanim structures. Additionally, planting at the lower plant density of 44444 plants ha-1 reduced competition per plant and resulted in the highest number of pods per plant (89.6 pods plant-1) and 100-seed weight (87.01 grams). However, increasing the number of plants per unit area up to 66666 plants per hectare led to a higher seed yield (4.969 tons ha-1). Consequently, the interaction between high density and the Masal genotype, as well as between high density and the NC7 genotype, resulted in the highest total seed yield, at 5.612 and 5.234 tons ha-1, respectively.