Abstract

The effects of water stress imposed at different phenophases on growth, yield and its attributes of 'J 11' and 'GG2' groundnut were studied during summer 1985 in lysimeters. Leaf-arca index, days to 50% flowering, days to leaf opening were suppressed due to water stress imposed at all the phenophases, but more so when the crop was stressed during the flowering stage. Yield reduction due to waterstress was maximum during the pod development stage. Reduction in flower fertility, number of effective to total pegs and increase in the percentage of pods due to water stress finally reduced the pod yield. The pod development stage was critical for groundnut yield under water stress. 'GG 2' was comparatively drought tolerant.

Keywords: Water stress, yield attributes, groundnut