Journal of Peanut Science

Investigating the effects of layered fertilization on nutrient uptake and utilization of peanut can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing layered fertilization strategies and improving nutrient use efficiency.In this study,the commonly used conventional rotary tillage fertilization was adopted as the control(CK).Two layered fertilization modes,including a twolayer fertilization mode(10 and 25 cm) and a three-layer fertilization mode(10,15 and 25 cm),were established under the conventional fertilizer rate and a 10% reduced fertilizer rate,resulting in four treatments:two-layer fertilization without fertilizer reduction(T1),two-layer fertilization with a 10 % fertilizer reduction(T2),three-layer fertilization without fertilizer reduction(T3),and three-layer fertilization with a 10 % fertilizer reduction(T4).In the two-layer fertilization treatments,fertilizer was applied at a ratio of 1(10 cm):4(25 cm) to the two soil layers,whereas in the three-layer fertilization treatments,fertilizer was applied at a ratio of 1(10 cm):2(15 cm):2(25 cm) to the three soil layers.Dry matter accumulation,as well as the contents of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K),and calcium(Ca) at major growth stages of peanut,were determined to evaluate the effects of layered fertilization on nutrient uptake and utilization.The results showed that,with the progression of plant growth,nutrient contents in vegetative organs such as stems,leaves,and roots of peanut first increased and then decreased,whereas nutrient content in shells gradually declined,which may be associated with the translocation of nutrients from shells to kernels.Compared with CK,kernel contents of N,P,K,and Ca at harvest stage were significantly higher under T1 and T3 treatments,with the greatest increases observed under T3,reaching 6.25%,30.58%,12.22%,and 5.48%,respectively.In addition,under T3 treatment,nutrient accumulation in stems,leaves,pegs,and pods at harvest stage was significantly higher than that in CK,and the total plant accumulation of N,P,K,and Ca increased significantly by 27.12%,56.44%,20.18%,and 17.06%,respectively.Under the same layered fertilization pattern,plant nutrient accumulation tended to decrease with reduced fertilizer application;however,total N and P accumulation in plant at harvest stage under T2 and T4 treatments remained significantly higher than that of CK,with increases of 13.60%-13.68% and 11.19%-21.42%,respectively.For all treatments,pods accounted for the highest proportion of N,P,and K accumulation,while Ca was mainly accumulated in leaves.Layered fertilization increased the allocation proportions of N and K to pods while reducing those in leaves,thereby promoting nutrient translocation to pods and laying a foundation for yield formation.Compared with CK,pod and kernel yields under layered fertilization treatments were significantly increased by 13.61%-23.08% and 16.20%-27.99 %,respectively.In conclusion,layered fertilization can improve nutrient content and accumulation in peanut plants.Considering both peanut yield and field mechanization efficiency,the two-layer fertilization mode is recommended for practical production.