DETERMINATION OF POD AND CROP MATURITY FOR PEANUTS USING PERCENT POD-FILL

A simple method for determining pod and crop maturity for peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) was developed using percent pod-fill (PF) - the percentage of green-pod volume that is seed. Peanut samples were collected 99-141 days after planting (DAP) for 3 yr from two soil types in the eastern Caribbean. PF of the composite pods and of the individual maturity classes from each treatment was determined. ANOVA, significance of means separation and correlation coefficients were computed. The results from the composite samples were correlated with optimum reaping time (ORT) established from the shellout method. ORT occurred 117-141 DAP. PF rate varied with season and soil type, but PF values for mature pods and for composite pods at ORT were independent of pod size, season and soil type. PF of mature pods was 41.5 +/- 1.3 % and was significantly different from that of other maturity classes. PF for composite pods at ORT was 38.2 +/- 2.2 % and was significantly different from PF values before ORT. The results indicated that percent pod-fill could be a reliable indicator of pod and crop maturity for peanuts.