Water stress response function for groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L)

The major goal of this study was to develop a water stress response function for the groundnut crop. The varying degrees of stress at various physiological stages of crop growth were considered. There were 22 treatments of different combinations of IW/CPE ratio. Three growth stages of the crop in rainy season (kharif) were considered. Results reveal that in the case of limited water supply, water saving should be made during periods other than the flowering and pod formation stages of growth of the groundnut crop. Water use efficiency (WUE) increases at a decreasing rate when deficiency in IW/CPE ratio is made at one stage only. When stress is applied at more than one stage, WUE increases with increasing rate. The developed water stress response function can be used for optimum allocation of water resources for maximum benefit from the groundnut crop. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.