Carbon-based Model to Predict Peanut Pod Detachment

A model that predicts peanut pod detachment was developed and linked to the peanut component of the CROPGRO crop growth model. The model predicts initiation and subsequent rate of pod detachment on an individual cohort basis. It was tested using five different hypotheses for initiation of pod detachment. Mean square error between predicted and measured overall attached pod mass was used as the criterion for parameter estimation in the detachment model. The best detachment model gave good results in 18 experiments that included irrigated and nonirrigated, disease and control, and artificial shade conditions. The mean square error of prediction was used to select the best detachment hypothesis and the jackknife method was used to obtain confidence intervals of the detachment model parameters. The best model initiated detachment in a pod cohort when it experienced six days without carbohydrate, or when the ratio of leaf mass to pod mass and the slope of leaf mass were less than 0.396 and 0.859 g m2 d1, respectively.