Optimization of groundnuts (Archis hypogeal) yield through response surface methodology

Abstract

The country current agronomic practices are not sufficient to satisfy the future global food demand. Maximizing crop yield potential is a strategy that can boost agricultural production, resulting in higher income and improved food security. Groundnuts or peanuts is an important legume nut known for its diverse uses including oil production and direct human consumption as food. Being a legume, peanut plant is of great importance for human beings. Despite its importances groundnut production has been faced by various constrains which include poor soil fertility, small land sizes and the inappropriate agricultural techniques. This study investigates the use of CCD and RSM in formulation of optimal use of rabbit, poultry and sheep manure for maximum groundnuts yield. The objective of this study was to optimize groundnuts (Archis hypogeal) yield through response surface methodology with the specific objective was to determine the effect of organic manure on groundnuts yield, determining a functional relationship between the groundnut yield and the organic manure that can be used to predict the response value and to obtain the optimal levels of the organic manure that produces a maximum groundnut yield. The study was conducted at the Chuka University Teaching and Training Farm, Kairani. The experimental design was developed using Central Composite Design (CCD), with 20 experimental runs derived from 23 full factorial designs with six axial points and six center points. The CCD was used to develop the independent input components corresponding to the coded factor levels as well as fitting an appropriate second-order regression model. Data collected included number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per plant and the weight of groundnuts seeds. Response Surface Methodology techniques was adopted for data analysis in R-statistical software and R studio programing language. The study found that that there was a positive response of poultry and the sheep manure (p < 0.05) and the quadratic term of sheep manure was significant to the weight of groundnuts. It was concluded that application of poultry and sheep manure would improve the yields of groundnuts in the study area. The study recommended application of 13.6097 t ha-1, 10.582 t ha-1 and 11.0814 t ha-1 poultry manure, rabbit manure and sheep manure respectively. These are the optimum levels that would lead to maximum weight of groundnut without an extra cost of input thus contributing to increased income for farmers. This study concludes that poultry, rabbit and sheep manure had a significant effect on the yield of groundnuts. This study recommended that farmers should adopt model in order to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers hence improving soil health, and contribute to environmental sustainability.