K. KARATA*, V. UMAMAHESH, P. SUDHAKAR AND C. NAGAMANI

Department of Crop Physiology, ANGRAU-S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517 502.

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted at S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, to evaluate the effect of moisture levels, genotypes and growth regulating chemicals on the morphophysiological parameters of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.). The study revealed significant variations among moisture treatments for plant height, leaf area, total dry matter and crop growth rate (CGR). The treatment with 50 per cent above field capacity (M₃) recorded the highest values for most of the parameters, followed by field capacity (M₂), whereas the control treatment (need-based irrigation) showed comparatively lower values. However, SCMR values where not significantly influenced by moisture levels. Groundnut genotypes also differed significantly in their morphophysiological performance. Genotype (K₆) recorded higher plant height and total dry matter, genotype K₉ exhibited superior leaf area, SCMR and CGR values. Application of growth regulating chemicals at 40 and 30 days before harvest significantly influenced the growth parameters of groundnut. Among the chemicals tested, maleic hydrazide at 2000 ppm markedly reduced plant height, leaf area, total dry matter and CGR, followed by CCC at 2000ppm. The highest values for these traits were observed in the untreated control. SCMR values, however, did not show significant variation due to chemical treatments. A significant interaction effect between moisture levels and genotypes (MxG) was observed for leaf area at harvest.

KEYWORDS: Seed dormancy, field capacity, moisture level, groundnut, growth regulating chemicals.