Impact of water stress at different growth phases of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) on growth and yield

A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of water stress at different growth phases on yield of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in summer season on clay soil at Main Oilseeds Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh with six genotypes. Pooled analysis of data indicated that imposing an ephemeral water stress significantly reduced the pods per plant, shelling, 100-kernel weight, harvest index and oil content. While water stress at flowering and pod development stages by withholding irrigation did not affect the productivity of the groundnut crop significantly and saved about 33.33% of irrigation water by reducing the number of irrigations during summer season, but stress at flowering stage (25-47 days after sowing) and pod development stage (50-72 days after sowing) gave 18.45 and 30.63% reduction in pod yield than no water stress treatment, respectively. Different groundnut genotypes did not exert their significant effect. The highest water use (84.35 cm) and benefit : cost ratio (2.42) was obtained under no water stress. While maximum water use efficiency (WUE) was achieved under water stress imposed at flowering stage. Among the genotypes, GO 6 recorded higher water use efficiency (WUE) and benefit : cost ratio.