Abstract:To investigate the effects of reduced nitrogen application on nitrogen allocation, dry matter accumulation and distribution, and nitrogen use efficiency in peanut, peanut cultivar‘Jihua 25’was used as the experimental material. Six nitrogen application rates 0, 112.5, 90, 78.8, 159 and 225 kg/ha were tested and designated N0, N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5, respectively. The effects of nitrogen application rate on nitrogen concentrations in different plant organs, dry matter accumulation and dry matter distribution were evaluated. The results showed that a 20% reduction in nitrogen application, corresponding to 90 kg/ha, significantly increased nitrogen concentrations in pods and whole plants during the late growth stage. Compared with the conventional nitrogen application rate of 112.5 kg/ha, the 20% reduction in nitrogen application increased the proportions of root, stem and pod dry weight to total dry weight at the pod-filling maturity stage by 6.52%, 6.86%, and 5.89%, respectively, while the proportion of leaf dry weight to total dry weight decreased by 8.09%. Pod dry weight and total dry weight increased by 4.02% and 0.55%, respectively. Applying 90 kg/ha improved nitrogen use efficiency, promoted dry matter allocation to pods during the middle and late growth stages, and significantly increased agronomic nitrogen-use efficiency and nitrogen partial factor productivity. Considering dry matter distribution, nitrogen use efficiency and yield, the optimal nitrogen application rate under the conditions of this experiment was 90 kg/ha.