Comparative performance of seed types on yield potential of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under saline irrigation

Recently, the productivity of peanut in salinity prone areas has sharply declined. Due to the ever increasing oilseed demand, this needs to be addressed as a priority. Hence, we investigated whether the re-use of peanut seed harvested from saline areas could be a probable reason for this abrupt decline in peanut productivity. Two different types of peanut seed (seed harvested from crops grown under salinity and under normal soil conditions) of two cultivars (TG 37A and GG 2) were grown under 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 dS m−1 levels of salinity established for one and half decades. The germination percentage, shoot and root length, number of branches, root and pod weight per plant and finally the pod and haulm yield were significantly reduced with increase in salinity levels for both cultivars and seed types. Relatively shoot length was found to be more prone to the increased salinity levels as compared to root length. This reduction was more pronounced in salinity grown seed as compared to seed grown in normal soil conditions for both the cultivar. However, GG 2 performed better over TG 37A in respect to growth and other yield attributes. Further the use of normal seed increased the pod yield of peanut up to 86% under different water salinity levels as compared to re-use of salinity grown seed (harvested from saline soil condition) This is the cumulative effect of water salinity as well as the re-use of seed harvested under saline conditions. Hence, it was proved that the use of peanut crop harvested from saline conditions should be avoided for seed purposes to ensure better peanut production especially under saline conditions.