Peanut Yield Decline in the Southeast and Economically Feasible Solutions

Abstract

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields in the Southeast declined 368 kg/ha during the 1980's and 596 kg/ha in the late 1980's when compared to the 1974-1979 period. The peanut yield decline was correlated with significant meteorological and policy changes in the Southeast during each time period. Meteorological changes were statistically estimated to decrease peanut yield by 137 kg/ha and 194 kg/ha in the 1980's and late 1980's, respectively. The effect on peanut yields from changes in agricultural policy and management decisions was estimated at -166 kg/ha and -225 kg/ha during the respective time periods. Field data gathered during crop years 1987-1990 reflected the meteorological and policy changes during the late 1980's in both non-irrigated and irrigated peanut fields. EXNUT, an expert systems model for peanut irrigation and pest management, was evaluated in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 against expert farmers in the Southeast and increased peanut yields by 204 kg/ha. Evaluation of EXNUT demonstrated one example of how expert system technology can offer economically feasible solutions to the peanut yield decline in the Southeast.