Water Requirements of Peanut Grown in Sandy Soil under Drip Irrigation and Biofertilization

Abstract

A field trial was conducted during summer season in Shalatien Research Station that belonged to (D.R.C.), sandy soil to elucidate the combined effect of irrigation quantity, irrigation intervals and biofertilization under drip irrigation system on water consumptive use, water use efficiency (WUE), peanut yield and yield components. Also, soil microbiological properties were studied. Seed inoculation with Rhizobium led to highly increase in nodules number comparing with Azotobacter which led to decrease the decomposition of organic matter in soil. Temperature of June and July led to increase the number of Rhizobium, Azotobacter and PDB comparing with April and May months. Plants which treated with triple inoculation led to highest yield and its component. Also, the yield, water consumptive and water use efficiency by groundnut plants increased as irrigation water amount increased and irrigation intervals decreased. The superior effect on pod yield (1824 2 kg/fed.) was obtained as a result of applying 983.73 mm irrigation quantity (Q ), which was calculated from Penman-Monteith equation and distributed every day under inoculation the seeds by Rhizobium + Azotobacter chroococcum + Bacillus megaterium. Such increase reached nearly 11 folds relative to 13 0 (Q I Bio ) treatment. The highest value of water use efficiency was obtained by applying the triple 42 treatment of biofertilization (Bio ), and irrigation with (Q ) distributed every day. Data stated that 21 4 applying Q I Bio treatment can produce the highest groundnut yield and save 763.19 m water/feddan 3 3 (comparing with applying Q ) which can irrigate another area.