Nutrient uptake of peanut genotypes with different levels of drought tolerance under midseason drought

The objective of this study was to investigate the responses of peanut genotypes to midseason drought, regarding in particular nutrient uptakes and their correlations with biomass production and pod yield. The experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2011/12 and 2012/13. Five peanut genotypes with different levels of drought tolerance and 2 water regimes (well-watered and midseason drought) were laid out in a split-plot design with 4 replications. Midseason drought was imitated by stopping irrigation at 30 days after planting (DAP) and then rewatering at 60 DAP. The data were recorded for contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in plant tissues, biomass production, yield components, and pod yield at harvest. The results showed that midseason drought significantly reduced the uptake of all nutrient elements. Peanut genotypes with higher levels of drought tolerance took up more nutrients than those with lower levels. The uptake of all nutrient elements contributed to biomass production, pod yield, and the number of pods per plant. ICGV 98305 was the best genotype with the highest uptakes of all observed nutrient elements.