Effects of Time of Application of Succinic Acid 2,2-Dimethylhydrazide on Yields and Associated Characteristics of Peanuts1

Abstract

Abstract Experiments were conducted during 3 years to evaluate the effects of applying succinic acid 2,2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH) at various times during the growing season on yield and other characteristics of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). Plants in field plots were treated with 0.95 kg/ha of SADH at 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks after planting. SADH was applied as a foliar spray to the ‘Starr’ cultivar in 1970 and ‘Tifspan’ and ‘Florunner’ cultivars in 1971 and 1972. In 1970 and 1972 an “as needed” treatment was included to keep plants shorter than 34 cm. Pod yields were not significantly (P < .05) increased by SADH. Weight per pod, pod length, pod diameter and kernel size were decreased by early applications. There were trends toward increased pod and kernel size with 12 week SADH application, but the trends were significant (P < .05) only for Florunner pod length and the percentage of Tifspan kernels larger than 7.5 mm diameter in 1972. Multiple SADH application in the “as needed” treatment tended to increase pods per plant and decrease pod and kernel size.