Non-destructive analysis of growth of peanut as related to CaSO₄ and P₂O₅ doses

Abstract

The lack of informations regarding non-destructive growth analysis of peanut crop with respect to the fertilization motivated this research work. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and consisted of 20 treatments, with three replications, in a 5x4 factorial experimental design. The factors
were five doses of CaSO₄ (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 kg ha^-1) and four doses of P₂O₅ (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha^-1). The peanut plants were accompanied by measurements of plant height, leaf area and stem diameter at regular intervals of 10 days during the crop cycle. To compare the yields the following yield variables were used: weight of the seeds, weight of the kernels and the number of beans per plant. The peanut response to the applications of the doses of CaSO₄ or P₂O₅ for the growth variables did not show significant differences. However, for the yield variables significant differences occurred between the treatments, in which the doses recommended are 300,0 and 86,9 kg ha^-1 of CaSO₄ and P₂O₅ , respectively, taking seed weight as reference. The peanut  plants did not rapidly developed the symptoms of deficiency with respect to the growth variables studied.