Growth and yield of irrigated groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown at different spacings in the Sudan Gezira. I. Flowering, yield and yield component

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effect of different spacings between and within rows on the pod yield of Ashford (semi-spreading, alternately branched type) and Barberton (upright, sequentially branched type) were studied.The largest yield of Ashford was obtained at 60 cm x 15 cm spacing, while in Barberton the largest yield was obtained at 40 cm x 15 cm. It is suggested that the optimum spacing for these varieties varied because of differences in their growth habits.Differences in yield were generally associated with differences in the number of pods and weight of pods per plant. An inverse relation between number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod suggested internal competition between alternative sinks.The number of flowers per plant decreased with closer spacing. The percentage of flowers which set pods ranged from 14 to 21%. Wider spacing increased the number of branches, total number of pods and the proportion of pods which matured, but did not affect the mean individual kernel weight.