Nutrient uptake of peanut genotypes under different water regimes

Drought is a serious environmental stress limiting growth and productivity in peanut and other crops. Nutrient uptake of peanut is reduced under drought condition, which reduces yield. The objectives of this study were to investigate nutrient uptake of peanut genotypes in response to drought and to estimate the relationship between nutrient uptake and peanut yield under different water regimes. Pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the dry season 2002/03 and the rainy season 2003. Three soil moisture levels [field capacity (FC), 2/3 available soil water (2/3 AW) and 1/3 available soil water (1/3 AW)] were assigned as factor A and 11 peanut genotypes as factor B. Total nutrient uptake was determined at harvest. Season×water regime interactions and differences in seasons, water regimes and genotypes were significant for all nutrient uptakes. The interactions between season and genotype were significant for N and K uptakes. The nutrient uptakes of peanut plants grown under FC were higher than those plants grown under water stress treatments. Tifton 8 was the highest genotype for all nutrient uptakes in both dry and rainy seasons, while ICGV 98303 and KK 60-3 had high nutrient uptake under water stress condition. The nutrient uptake of peanut in the rainy season was higher than the dry season. The relationships between nutrient uptake parameters, biomass and pod dry weight were positive and significant in both seasons. This information is important for peanut breeder interested in developing peanut lines with reasonably high nutrient uptake under drought condition. Keywords: Biomass; Harvest index; Relationship; Nitrogen uptake; Water stress.