Influence of Prohexadione Calcium Rate on Growth and Yield of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Abstract

Prohexadione calcium, a plant growth regulator, is commonly used on virginia market type peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars to manage excessive vine growth and improve digging efficiency. However, use of prohexadione calcium on runner market type cultivars has been minimal. The objective of this research was to evaluate prohexadione calcium on virginia and runner market type peanut cultivars at multiple rates in small-plot (17 site years) and on-farm (5 site years) experiments. Applications of prohexadione calcium were at the manufacturer’s recommended use rate of 140 g/ha (1x), 105 g/ha (0.75x), and 70 g/ha (0.5x) rates. A non-treated control was also included in all experiments. Cultivar and treatment responses were evaluated based on mainstem height, yield, total sound mature kernels, and return on investment. Plants treated with prohexadione calcium had greater row visibility based on a 1-10 row visibility. Plant main stem heights were often shortened when prohexadione calcium was applied compared to the control, although response varied by location and by year. Average mainstem heights were 26 cm for non-treated plots and 23 cm for prohexadione calcium treated plots across all virginia market type small plot experiments. Prohexadione calcium did not significantly increase yield at any rate in any small plot experiments regardless of rate. Reduced rates of prohexadione calcium significantly increased yield in all the large on-farm experiments compared to the control. Yield increases ranged from 453 to 731 kg/ha for all prohexadione calcium treatments compared to the control across all large plot on-farm experiments. The greatest return on investment was the 0.75x rate resulting in an increase in revenue of $210 ha -1 . With an increase in yield and return on investment in all large plot on-farm experiments and not in small plot experiments no matter the market type, it is assumed that the growth and yield response to prohexadione calcium may be more pronounced where soil variability is greater, affecting growth, digging, and yield potential. Prohexadione calcium can be beneficial in virginia market type and runner market type peanut cultivars to decrease vine growth and increase yield.

Economic Impact of Prohexadione Calcium for Managing Vine Growth in Runner Market‐Type Peanut

“…The more notable discovery in these experiments was that the reduced rates of 3.63 and 5.44 oz/ac reduced vine growth similarly to the 7.25 oz/ac labeled rate. Although prohexadione calcium did not affect pod yield over that of the non-treated control in previous small-plot research (Studstill et al, 2020), the reduced rate of 5.44 oz/ac significantly increased pod yield compared with the nontreated check and the full labeled rate of 7.25 oz/ac in the Early County, GA location and the non-treated check in Bulloch County, GA (Figure 3). Furthermore, pod yield was also greater for the five large-plot trials where prohexadione calcium at 5.44 oz/ac (two applications) was compared individ-ually to the non-treated control.…”

Yield and Economic Response of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Cultivars to Prohexadione Calcium in Large-Plot Trials in Georgia

“…This research also showed cultivar productivity (yield and quality) needs to be an important factor in deciding to utilize growth regulator as the costs of the product might supersede the economic return for managing the vine growth. Based on this research project and Studstill et al (2020), prohexadione calcium will be recommended at a rate no higher than 105 g/ha and to be limited for use only on highly productive cultivars produced in fields with a history of producing excessive vine growth.…”

“…3 Fourth Author: Baker County Extension Coordinator, University of Georgia, Newton, GA, 39870 peanut showed similar results in reducing vegetative growth using prohexadione calcium at the labeled rate of rate of 140 g/ha and at the reduced rates of 105 g/ha and 70 g/ha; however, there were not yield improvements associated with the vegetative reduction (Studstill et al, 2020;Treadway, 2020). However, large plot on-farm trial locations in Mississippi and in Georgia showed significant reductions in vine growth and yield improvements with reduced rates of prohexadione calcium (Studstill et al, 2020;Treadway, 2020). Based on these reports, prohexadione calcium at reduced rates has potential for managing vegetative growth and providing the needed yield enhancements to make it economical on runner market type peanut (Studstill et al, 2020;Treadway, 2020).…”

“…However, large plot on-farm trial locations in Mississippi and in Georgia showed significant reductions in vine growth and yield improvements with reduced rates of prohexadione calcium (Studstill et al, 2020;Treadway, 2020). Based on these reports, prohexadione calcium at reduced rates has potential for managing vegetative growth and providing the needed yield enhancements to make it economical on runner market type peanut (Studstill et al, 2020;Treadway, 2020). With this in mind, large-plot research trials were conducted to further examine and quantify the yield and quality response and economics of using prohexadione calcium applied twice at a rate of 105 g/ha on runner market type cultivars in Georgia.…”

Complete Issue

“…Utilization of plant growth regulators in peanut to manage vegetative growth in the United States is not a new approach. Growth regulators have been evaluated and utilized for more than 40 years with prohexadione calcium being the most recent (Beasley et al, 2004;Jordan et al, 2008Jordan et al, , 2000Mitchem et al, 1996;Smith, 1989;Wu & Santelmann, 1977). Prohexadione calcium is sold commercially as Apogee 27.5 WDG (BASF Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC) or Kudos 27.5 WDG (Fine-Americas, Walnut Creek, CA).…”