What causes empty peanut shells? Plus the latest solutions
Peanuts are grown in many regions of our country and are an important oilseed and cash crop, bringing considerable economic benefits to growers. However, during cultivation, empty shells often occur, seriously affecting peanut yield and causing economic losses. So what causes empty peanut shells? How should it be solved? Below, the editor will help you solve this worry.
1. Variety reasons
The peanut variety is also one of the causes of empty shells. Generally, empty-shelled peanuts are varieties of the large peanut series. These varieties have large and heavy seeds when planted, and correspondingly require more nutrients, so they are prone to empty shells; while the small peanut pearl series rarely has empty shells.
Solution: When planting, try to choose varieties of the small peanut pearl series. If it is a large peanut variety, it is recommended to reduce planting density during planting and strengthen fertilizer and water management to ensure sufficient nutrients for its growth.
2. Calcium deficiency
The main cause of empty peanut shells is calcium deficiency. During the pod development period of peanuts, if calcium is lacking, it will affect seed development and form empty shells. Calcium deficiency is sometimes caused by multiple factors, including soil and human management.
Soil: The soil is too barren with insufficient fertility, and no calcium fertilizer or organic fertilizer is applied, resulting in living beyond one's means and causing calcium deficiency. In addition, in acidic soils such as lateritic red soil and yellow-brown soil, the activity of calcium content is relatively low, making calcium deficiency very likely.
Climate: When high temperature and rainy weather are encountered during planting, calcium in the soil will be lost very quickly, and soil water shortage, drought, or waterlogging will also affect the root system's absorption of calcium.
Improper fertilization: In order to pursue yield, some farmers blindly apply nitrogen fertilizer when fertilizing while ignoring the application of other nutrients, resulting in excessive nitrogen in the soil, causing excessive vegetative growth of peanut plants, while the underground parts form empty shells due to lack of nutrients. In addition, boron deficiency can also cause empty peanut shells, and excessive potassium fertilizer application can also cause empty shells.
3. Prevention and control measures
If calcium is deficient, fertilizer should be applied in time to supplement calcium. Organic fertilizer can be applied to the soil, with 3000-4000 kg of organic fertilizer applied per mu, ensuring a comprehensive supply of nutrients. During topdressing, superphosphate is applied. It not only contains phosphorus but is also rich in calcium, and can increase both calcium and phosphorus nutrients in the soil. Generally, 30 kg per mu is applied as base fertilizer, and 10-20 kg per mu is applied during later topdressing. At flowering and pod setting, foliar spraying of boron fertilizer is carried out once each time to promote flowering and pod formation, increase grain weight, and increase yield. When applying potassium fertilizer, it should be applied deeply to prevent excessive potassium in the fruiting layer from affecting calcium absorption. This can be done during intertillage, with deep application.
The above are the causes of empty peanut shells and the solutions. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more about peanut cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.