pnut pnut Peanut Science 0095-3679 0095-3679 American Peanut Research and Education Society 10.3146/i0095-3679-3-1-11 Articles Peanut Responses to Soil Water Variables in the Southeast1 J. R. Stansell 2, J. L. Shepherd 3, J. E. Pallas 5, R. R. Bruce 5, N. A. Minton 6, D. K. Bell 4, and L. W. Morgan 2 Assistant Professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, and Assistant Professor, Entomology Department respectively, CPES, Tifton, Georgia 31794 Professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, CPES, Tifton, Georgia Associate Professor, Plant Pathology Department, CPES, Tifton, Georgia Plant Physiologist and Soil Scientist, respectively, ARS, USDA, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677 Nematologist, ARS, USDA, Tifton, Georgia 31794

1Contribution from the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University of Georgia College of Agriculture, Tifton, Georgia 31794 and Southern Region, Agricultural Research Service, USDA. This research was supported in part by the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Peanuts.

 1 1976 1 1976 3 1 44 48 American Peanut Research and Education Society 1976 American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstract

Three peanut (Arachis hypogaea) varieties were maintained at soil water levels ranging from moderately wet to very dry. Pod yield and quality were significantly reduced in treatments receiving less than about 30 cm of water during the growing season. Although not statistically different, yield and quality tended to increase as irrigation amounts increased from 40 to about 60 cm.

Average harvestable yields for 4 years were 4464, 5080 and 4543 kg/ha for Florigiant, Florunner and Tifspan, respectively, when irrigated to a profile depth of 60 cm when the soil moisture tension in the surface 30 cm reached 0.2 bar. This compares with yields of 2631, 3341 and 3125 kg/ha for Florigiant, Florunner and Tifspan, respectively, when the soil water tension in the surface 30 cm profile was allowed to reach 15.0 bars.

Water extraction to a depth of 106 cm was recorded for all three varieties. Apparent plant use of water from profile depths greater than 60 cm was observed at about 75 days after planting.

Evapotranspiration vs age relationships were developed from daily soil water measurements to a 1.2 m soil depth.