Influence of Cultural and Harvest Practices on Peanut Seed Quality1

Abstract

Abstract Managing peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production for maximum yields often results in poor quality seed being produced. The objectives of this study were (1) to identify relationships between production practices and seed quality and (2) to evaluate the impact of harvesting and handling procedures on seed germination quality. Combining significantly reduced germination by an average of 9% for three years. Artificial drying had little effect on average seed quality. Percentage germination was significantly correlated with soil fertility, soil particle size, pod moisture, seed calcium, market grade and hull damage with the most consistent correlations occurring between seed calcium and germination. In general, the correlations were small, and no single production factor accounted for a large proportion of the variability found for seed quality.