BEHAVIOR OF GROUNDNUT CROP IN FUNCTION OF THE TIMES OF PARALIZATION OF THE IRRIGATION

The objective of this research was to analyse the times of paralizatio n of the irrigation on matricial potencial of the soil water, grain pr oduction and seed quality of the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea (L.)) cro p. The experiment was carried out at the Agriculture College of Jaboti cabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in a ''Latossol'' soil. A completely randomi zed block design with eight replications was used. The treatments used were: A. cessation of irrigation at the beginning of flowering; B. ce ssation of irrigation on the fase of grain filling, and C. cessation o f irrigation near to the harvesting fase. In general, a cessation of i rrigation at the beginning of flowering caused the best results and re duced water and energy consumption.