Abstract Management of different densities and planting patterns on the yield and growth of peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivar Huayu 25 was investigated in field conditions. There were four treatments: two using flat tillage (FL: 240,000 seeds ha −1 , FLH: 300,000 seeds ha −1 ) and two using ridge tillage (RI: 240,000 seeds ha −1 , RIH: 300,000 seeds ha −1 ). Results showed ridge tillage significantly improved seedling emergence rate and cotyledon emergence rate versus flat tillage. Conversely, increased plant density significantly decreased leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI), and photosynthetic rate, which constrained dry matter accumulation. However, under the same seeding density, ridge tillage improved canopy stand photosynthesis (CAP) by increasing chlorophyll content and LAI. Moreover, before ridge closure (defined as 90% row canopy contact with full furrow coverage), the CAP value for RI was 5.5% higher versus FL, while the CAP for RIH was significantly higher (16.3%) versus FLH. In addition, ridge tillage enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities while markedly suppressing malondialdehyde accumulation, thereby improving physiological metabolism and leaf photosynthesis, delaying leaf senescence. In conclusion, ridge tillage enhanced use of border row effects, alleviated the adverse effects of mutual shading under high‐density planting conditions on photosynthesis by optimized canopy architecture, and ultimately increased pod yield.
Yao et al. (Fri,) studied this question.