Abstract

Dry matter production for crops is generally influenced by the fertility status of the soil. Plant population may indirectly affect the amount of dry matter production due to its relationship with number of plants per unit area. An experiment to study the effect of plant population and basin size on dry matter production and other yield components of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties under irrigation was conducted during the dry seasons of 2004 to 2006 at the Irrigation Research Station of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University at Kadawa. The treatments tested were three basin sizes (3m x 3m, 3m x 4m and 3m x 5m), three plant populations (50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 plants ha^-1and three varieties (SAMNUT 23, SAMNUT 21 and SAMNUT 11). These were arranged factorally in a split plot design with plant population and variety assigned to the main plots and basin sizes in the sub plots. SAMNUT 23 had higher harvest index than the other varieties, however SAMNUT 11 recorded the highest dry matter plant^-1. Dry matter production was significantly highest at 100.000 plants ha^-1, while significantly highest harvest index was observed at 200,000 plants ha^-1. SAMNUT 23 exhibited highest harvest index compared to the other varieties used in this study.

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