Peanut Yield, Market Grade, and Economics with Two Surface Drip Lateral Spacings

Abstract

Abstract Surface drip irrigation laterals were spaced next to crop rows and in alternate row middles to document crop yield, market grade and gross/partial economic returns compared with non-irrigated practices. A surface drip irrigation system was installed at two sites on a Faceville (Site 1) fine sandy loam and a Greenville (Site 2) fine sandy loam with 3 and 1% slope, respectively. The cultivar Georgia Green (GG) was planted in both single and twin-row configuration while the cultivar ViruGard (VG) was planted in only a twin-row configuration. Pod yield, farmer stock grade, and partial economic returns were determined for three growing seasons (2002 to 2004). Surface drip irrigated peanut had greater yield, market grade, and gross revenue compared with non-irrigated regimes. Subtracting the cost of the drip tubing showed that laterals spaced at 0.91 m are not cost effective ($-132/ha) while those spaced at 1.83 m returned an average $120/ha compared with the non-irrigated treatment. The cultivar GG had 425 kg/ha higher pod yield compared with VG (4035 kg/ha). Within irrigated lateral treatments, peanut planted in twin-row orientation had 1% higher market grade and lower OK compared with single row orientations. Pod yield and market grade was more stable at Site 2 compared with Site 1 which was probably due to slope and aspect characteristics associated with each site and not necessarily with soil series. The use of surface drip irrigation with peanut can be economically feasible if pod yield increases by at least 675 kg/ha and growers place drip tubing in alternate row middles.