Journal of Peanut Science

To elucidate the effects of calcium(Ca) application on the accumulation and translocation of dry matter, nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and potassium(K) in peanuts, a field experiment was conducted using two peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars with contrasting sensitivity to calcium: Huayu22(Ca-sensitive) and L-2010(Ca-insensitive). Three calcium(CaO) application rates were treated as 0(T0), 150(T1), and 300 kg/ha(T2), and to quantify the effects of Ca input on pre-flowering translocation, post-flowering accumulation, and its contribution rate to the dry matter accumulation of pods and nutrient elements of N, P, and K, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing Ca fertilization strategies to improve peanut yield and quality. The results indicated that, about the Ca-sensitive cultivar Huayu22, T1 treatment significantly increased the accumulation of N, P, and K at the flowering stage compared to the treatments of T0 and T2, with increases ranging from 26.7% to 57.1% and 26.7% to 37.4%, respectively. At maturity, the accumulation of N, P, and K in pods exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing Ca application, with all indicators performed best under T1 treatment. The translocation amounts of pre-flowering dry matter, N, P, and K under T1 treatment were significantly higher than those under T0 treatment, with the improvements ranging from 8.9% to 50.0%. The contribution rates of post-flowering dry matter and K accumulation to pod initially decreased and then increased with increasing Ca levels, with all indicators performing best under the T1 treatment. T1 treatment significantly enhanced 100-pod mass, 100-kernel mass, plump pod rate, kernel-fruit ratio and plant yield by 3.1% to 34.3% comparing to T0 treatment. About the Ca-insensitive cultivar L-2010, the T1 treatment significantly enhanced the N, P, and K accumulation at the flowering stage ranged from 6.1% to 23.4% comparing to the T0 treatment. The translocation of pre-flowering dry matter, N, P, and K under the T1 treatment was significantly greater than that under the T0 treatment, with respective increases of 50.4%, 51.1%, 25.7%, and 49.5%. The translocation rates of pre-flowering dry matter, N, and P also showed an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing Ca application, with optimal values observed under the T1 treatment. In contrast, the post-flowering accumulation of N and K under the T1 treatment was significantly reduced by 37.7% and 33.3%, respectively, comparing with the T0 treatment. In conclusion, the application of 150 kg/ha CaO significantly improved the accumulation and translocation of dry matter, N, P, and K in peanuts, particularly in the Ca-sensitive cultivar, and increased peanut yield. Therefore, 150 kg/ha is recommended as the optimal Ca application rate for enhancing the peanut yield and quality.