Abstract
Good agricultural practices are an effective means of minimizing pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of gypsum on pod yield and aflatoxin contamination in three peanut cultivars (Kadononga, MGV 4 and MGV 5) in Zambia. The experiment was conducted in Chongwe and Lusaka districts. Gypsum (15.6 % calcium) was applied at rates of 0 and 400 kg/ha at flowering stage. Although gypsum had no significant effect on aflatoxin contamination, there were significant differences (p = 0.009) in cultivar susceptibility to aflatoxin contamination. The cultivar with the smallest kernels had 18.8% lower aflatoxin content than the large-kernelled cultivar. Additionally, gypsum did not have a clear effect on pod yield. For instance, gypsum was associated with 44.8% more grain-filled pods in Kadononga (p = 0.005) at the site in Lusaka, but this result did not apply to the other two cultivars. At the site in Chongwe, gypsum was associated with 34.6% higher pod yield of MGV 5 only (p = 0.006). These results further suggest that plant factors such as kernel size may have an influence on natural resistance to aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. Key words: Aflatoxin, gypsum, peanut cultivar, pod-yield, Zambia.
Highlights
The prevalence of high aflatoxin contamination in peanuts is a recurrent problem in most tropical climates including Zambia (Njoroge et al, 2017)
Gypsum was associated with higher number of pods for Kadononga at University of Zambia (UNZA), no similar result was observed at KATC
These results are contrary to literature (Cox et al, 1976; Jain et al, 2011; Jordan et al, 2014; Bairagi et al, 2017) that report higher yields due to calcium-containing inputs such as gypsum
Summary
The prevalence of high aflatoxin contamination in peanuts is a recurrent problem in most tropical climates including Zambia (Njoroge et al, 2017). This has prompted concerted efforts to combat aflatoxin contamination at various stages of the peanut value chain. Well-developed mature pods are not perforated by insects and this minimizes the entry of fungi into the seed tissue. It is on this principle that calcium-containing soil amendments such as gypsum are used to minimize pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in peanuts (Reding et al, 1993; Gebreselassie et al, 2014). Sufficient calcium fertilization in peanuts can both minimize aflatoxin contamination and increase kernel yield
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