Influence of fungicide and sowing density on the growth and yield of two groundnut cultivars

Abstract

SU MMARYGroundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a valuable food and forage crop in West Africa. It is important to determine yield-limiting factors and to develop suitable management practices to improve groundnut productivity. The objective of the present research was to determine the influence of fungicide application at different sowing densities on growth, biomass and yield of early and late maturing groundnut under rainfed conditions. Two groundnut cultivars (Chinese, 90 days duration and Manipinter, 120 days duration) were grown at low (8 plants/m 2 ), medium (12 plants/m 2 ) and high density (20 plants/m 2 ), with and without fungicide application, for two growing seasons (2004 and 2005). Data on leaf area index (LAI), light interception (LI) and total biomass were measured at different stages of crop development. Haulm (stem and leaf), pod and seed yields were measured at maturity. Fungicide application increased LAI, LI and total biomass of both cultivars from 65 days after sowing (DAS) until maturity. Fungicide application significantly increased pod and seed yields by 95 and 103 %, respectively, on average. In both years, the long duration cultivar Manipinter had significantly greater LAI, LI and total biomass at later stages of crop development when compared with the short-duration cultivar Chinese. The growth and yield of both cultivars were significantly less at the lowest population density when compared with medium or high population densities. There was no significant difference between medium and high population densities in haulm, pod and seed yield at maturity. It is concluded that sowing a long-duration cultivar at a density of 12 plants/m 2 with fungicide application significantly improved groundnut yields under rainfed conditions in Ghana.

Genetics of Stay-Green Trait and Its Association with Leaf Spot Tolerance and Pod Yield in Groundnut

“…A plot comprised of four rows of 4 m long with inter-and intrarow spacing of 0.5 m and 0.1 m, respectively. One seed was planted per hill following the procedure of Naab et al [7,8]. e genotypes were grouped into late, medium, and early maturing based on the length of their maturity periods.…”

“…In northern Ghana, CLS has been shown to cause up to 81.2% reduction in pod yield in groundnut [6]. e leaf spot diseases damage groundnut plants by reducing the available photosynthetic area through reduction of leaf area index, lesion formation, and stimulating leaflet abscission [7,8]. As a result, it disrupts photosynthetic process which causes groundnut to produce less pods with inferior quality.…”

Groundnut Yield Response and Economic Benefits of Fungicide and Phosphorus Application in Farmer-Managed Trials in Northern Ghana

“…Foliar diseases, especially early leaf-spot caused by Cercospora arachidicola and late leaf-spot caused by Cercosporidium personatum, are generally considered to be major constraints to groundnut production and are estimated to cause yield reduction of 50-60% (McDonald et al, 1985;Smith, 1984;Subramanyam et al, 1991;Waliyar, 1991;Waliyar et al, 2000). Management practices such as cultivar selection, application of fungicides and plant-based extracts, sowing date, plant population and tillage practices can minimize leaf-spot disease and increase groundnut yield (Hafner et al, 1992;Kannaiyan and Haciwa, 1990;Naab et al, 2005;2009;Smith and Littrell, 1980). Low soil fertility, especially P deficiency, is inherent in many soils in West Africa and drought may also limit groundnut yield.…”

“…Research Institute and the University of Florida developed several recommendations to increase groundnut productivity of farmers in northern Ghana (Naab et al, 2005;2009;Nutsugah et al, 1998;Tsigbey, 1996;Tsigbey et al, 2001). However, it is important to test technologies developed in researcher-managed plots under farmers' field conditions before these technologies are released to extension services.…”

Effect of Kaolin Film Particle Applications (Surround WP<sup>®</sup>) and Water Deficit on Physiological Characteristics in Rose Cut Plants (<i>Rose spp</i> L.)

“…Shoot length was estimated from eight stems per pot and recorded every week starting 15 DAP until harvest. The portion of light intercepted by the canopy was calculated using the technique described by Naab et al [16] at 60 DAP. Leaf area index (LAI) was calculated at the end of experiment by a ceptometer (Accupar LP-80, Decagon Devices, Inc., Pullman, WA).…”