Dry Matter Production of Japanese and Chinese High-Yielding Peanut Cultivars under Dense Planting in Terms of Intercepted Radiation and its Use Efficiency

Teihua Cao and Akihiro Isoda

Abstract: Japanese and Chinese high-yielding cultivars (Japanese cultivars; Kanto 83, Nakateyutaka, Chinese cultivars; Huayu 16, Luhua 11) of peanut (Arachis pypogaea L.) were grown under dense planting over three years (2002, 2003 and 2005) to analyze its yield abilities in terms of growth parameters, intercepted radiation and radiation use efficiency (RUE). All cultivars showed a high leaf area index in 2002 and 2005, and it was around 5 in 2005. In 2003 with a low air temperature and less radiation from late June to August, all cultivars showed a small leaf area index as compared with that in 2002 and 2005. Except 2003, all cultivars had seed yields of more than 450 g m-2. In particular, Kanto 83 and Huaiku 16 showed a yield of more than 500 g m-2. Variation in total dry matter production depended on both amount of intercepted radiation and RUE. Crop growth rates during all growing periods but the early growing periods were mainly affected by RUE. Huayu 16 had the highest RUE values in 2002 and 2005 when higher seed yields were obtained, resulting in a high dry matter production and seed yields. The factors, that caused high seed yields of Huayu 16 and Kanto 83 in 2002 and 2005, were suggested to be rapid leaf area extension in the early growth stage, high RUE values, and large pod and seed numbers as a sink.
Keywords: Arachis hypogaea L., Growth parameters, Intercepted radiation, Leaf area index, Radiation use efficiency, Yield