Behaviour under shading of forage peanut accessions (Arachis spp.) recommended for the Baixada Fluminense region

Abstract

Published results are contrasting regarding the influence of shading on accessions and cultivars of forage peanut. This study aimed the evaluation of the influence of four shading levels (0, 25, 50 and 75%) and two cutting intervals (45 and 90 days) on seven plant variables (dry matter production of leaves, stem, roots and whole shoots; leaf/stem ratio; leaf area and specific leaf area) of three forage peanut accessions (BRA 031496 of Arachis pintoi and BRA 031861 and BRA 031801 of Arachis repens) recommended for the Baixada Fluminense region. The experimental design adopted was in split-plot randomised blocks with three replicates. The shading levels represented the main plots and the factorial accessions x cutting intervals, the subplots. The software SAEG 9.0 version was used for statistical analysis. Correlation among variables were observed exception made to root dry matter production. The first rotated factor (F1), which explains most of the observed variance (67.7%), indicated that the highest shading (75%) brought about the greatest dry matter production of leaves, stems and whole shoot and highest leaf area of the BR 031496 and BR 031801 accessions of forage peanut when cut at 90 days intervals. According to the results the BR 031496 and BR 031801 accessions of forage peanut, recommended for the region, tolerate high levels of shading in either silvipastoral systems or as green-mulch for commercial crops, always larger cutting intervals are adopted.