Peanut Rotation Research Articles

Using conservation systems to alleviate soil compaction in a Southeastern United States ultisol

Coastal Plain soils are prone to compaction layers which restrict root growth and reduce yields. The adoption of non-inversion deep tillage has been recommended to disrupt compacted soil layers and create an adequate medium for crop development. In spite of its efficacy, increased fuel prices could reduce in-row subsoiling adoption due to the cost of the operation. We evaluated three subsoiling implements against a non-subsoiled treatment with and without a rye ( Secale cereale L .) cover crop on a 4-year cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L .)–peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation experiment in Headland, AL on a Dothan loamy sand (Plinthic Kandiudult). Results showed consistently lower yields for non-subsoiled treatments (11 and 51% lower yields for peanuts and cotton, respectively). Soil strength values had a 2 fold increase or greater (1.5–4.0 MPa) in less than a year due to natural reconsolidation and normal vehicle traffic. On average, in-row subsoiling returned $698/ha/year for cotton and $612/ha/year more for all in-row subsoiling than non-subsoiled treatments. No differences between implements were found. A conservation system consisting of annual paratilling combined with a winter cover crop proved to be the most productive and profitable system.

Impact of Rainforest Conversion on Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion in Nopu Upper Catchment of Central Sulawesi

Rainforest conversion into agricultural lands in Nopu Upper Catchment such as cocoa plantations, maizes, cassava, peanuts, and scrub and bush were significantly increase soil erosions and surface runoffs, which in turn will decrease crops productivity and hydrologic functions of watershed. Soil erosion from maize and peanut rotation plots are higher 2.061,8% than soil erosions from natural forest plots. Soil erosions are higher also in intercroping young age cocoa, maize and cassava plots and maize plots respectively 2.023,8% and 2.012,3%. Where as surface runoffs were increase up to 650,9% in medium age cocoa plots, 380,4% in intercroping young age cacao and cassava plots, and 347,1% in scrub and bush plots. The result of ANSWERS model simulation using daily C factors were indicate that rainforest conversion into agricultural lands in Nopu Upper Catchment causing soil and water loss respectively 3.190,5 ton/year and 115.441 m3/year. Application of agroforestry systems in agricultural lands which in line with reforestation in stream line area of Nopu river and steepy agricultural lands (slope > 40%) are effectively reduce soil erosions up to 77,6% compare to soil erosion from existing land uses.

Rotational Effects in Oklahoma Peanut Production: Prospects for Peanut Rotations in the Post‐Quota Era

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 greatly impacted the southwest (SW) peanut (Arachis hypogaea) growing region. Due to decreased market prices, peanut has lost favor in crop rotations to other crops such as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Before 2002, a 12‐yr peanut rotation study was conducted in Oklahoma to investigate the agronomic benefits and economics of rotating peanut with corn (Zea mays L.), cotton, and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Eight rotations were evaluated in 2‐ and 3‐yr intervals. Incidence of disease, yield, and economic profit were evaluated each year. Twelve years of data indicated rotating peanut every third year with either corn or cotton increased peanut pod yield by 520 and 490 kg ha−1, respectively, compared with the continuous peanut rotation. Two‐year rotations of peanut with corn, cotton, or sorghum performed no better than the peanut monoculture. Economic analysis indicates that, even with the removal of the peanut quota system in 2000 and a 50% reduction in peanut prices, the peanut monoculture would still remain the most profitable choice for farmers, generating economic returns of $411 ha−1, but would not be recommended due to increase in disease pressure. Recent increases in cotton yield indicate that a peanut‐cotton rotation is the best rotation for southwest producers.

Tillage systems for a cotton–peanut rotation with winter-annual grazing: Impacts on soil carbon, nitrogen and physical properties

Integrating livestock with cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L .) and peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) production systems by grazing winter-annuals can offer additional income for producers provided it does not result in yield-limiting soil compaction. We conducted a 3-year field study on a Dothan loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic plinthic kandiudults) in southern Alabama, USA to determine the influence of tillage system prior to cotton–peanut planting on soil properties following winter-annual grazing. Two winter-annual forages [oat ( Avena sativa L.) and annual ryegrass ( Lolium mutiflorum L.)] and four tillage practices [chisel + disk, non-inversion deep tillage (paratill) with and without disking and no-till] were evaluated in a strip-plot design of four replications. We evaluated cone index, bulk density, infiltration, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (N). Paratilling prior to cotton or peanut planting, especially without surface soil tillage, reduced compaction initially to 40 cm and residually to 30 cm through the grazing period in winter. There were no significant differences in cone index, bulk density, or infiltration between forage species. No-tillage resulted in the greatest bulk density (1.65 Mg m −3) and lowest infiltration (36% of water applied), while paratilling increased infiltration in no-tillage to 83%. After 3 years, paratilling increased SOC 38% and N 56% near the soil surface (0–5 cm), as compared to concentrations at the beginning of the experiment, suggesting an improvement in soil quality. For coastal plain soils, integrating winter-annual grazing in a cotton–peanut rotation using a conservation tillage system of non-inversion deep tillage (paratill) with no surface tillage can improve soil quality by reducing cone index, increasing infiltration, and increasing SOC in the soil surface.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilization of a Coastal Plain Cotton–Peanut Rotation

A cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)–peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation is widely practiced in the southern coastal plain following the reemergence of cotton as a major crop in the 1990s. Very few plant nutrition studies have been conducted in the coastal plain (CP) with modern cotton varieties and none with the cotton–peanut rotation. Experiments with varying rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were conducted to determine if the recommendations from soil tests provide adequate nutrition for maximizing profit when yield goals are Georgia state averages, due to other conditions. From 1996 through 1998, N, P, and K experiments were conducted in cotton crops, and P and K experiments were conducted in peanut crops on Tifton loamy sand. Initial Mehlich‐1 P was 2 to 3 mg/kg (“low”) and Mehlich‐1 K was 50 to 64 mg/kg (“medium” for cotton and “high” for peanut). Each crop was grown each year. State average yields of cotton and peanuts were produced. There was no response in cotton yield to N rates from 34 to 136 kg N/ha. Lack of response may have been due to the fact that the field had not been in production for several years prior to 1996 and there was ample soil mineral N. In 1997 and 1998, residual N provided by N fixation by the previous peanut crop appeared to be sufficient. Maximum profit from P fertilization in cotton was attained at 50 kg P/ha, the recommendation from the soil test. However, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service recommendation to double the P rate for new land with a “low” Mehlich‐1 P soil test was not validated. Cotton yield did not respond to K fertilization even though an application of 55 kg K/ha/year was recommended from the soil test. Peanut yield and grade did not respond to either P or K fertilization. The recommendation from the soil test was 40 kg P/ha/year and no K. Estimates of P removal were 11 kg/ha for cotton and 8 mg/ha for peanut crops. Estimates of K removal were 25 kg/ha for cotton and 22 kg/ha for peanut crops. Over 3 years, soil P was not depleted, but soil K was depleted. Approximately 12 kg P/ha were required to raise soil test P 1 mg/kg and 18 kg K/ha were required to raise soil test K 1 mg/kg (49 lb. P2O5 to increase the P test 1 lb./acre, 38 lb. K2O to raise the K test 1 lb./acre). Additional studies are needed, but the current studies suggest that revisions in recommendations are needed for both cotton and peanut crops.

Water Distribution from a Subsurface Drip Irrigation System and Dripline Spacing Effect on Cotton Yield and Water Use Efficiency in a Coastal Plain Soil

A subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system was installed in 2001 in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Initially, four zones were installed, each with 0.91 m dripline spacing. In 2002, a fifth zone with 1.82 m dripline spacing was added. This system irrigated a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) rotation on a Norfolk sandy loam soil. Seed cotton yield data was collected from 2001 to 2004. In addition to SDI, overhead sprinkler irrigation was applied to cotton plots from 2001 to 2003. This study was concurrent with another study that evaluated the effect of irrigation system type, cotton growth regulator (mepiquat chloride), herbicide (glyphosate) treatment, and planting date on lint yield and quality. Although the soil is classified as a sandy loam, water moved laterally to the midpoint of the 1.82 m spaced dripline; this was likely due to the pan layer found at about 0.3 m just below the dripline depth of 0.23 m. There was no difference in lateral water movement between the two dripline spacings. Seed cotton yield and irrigation water use efficiency was not statistically different between irrigation system type or dripline spacing over all years in the study. Seed cotton yield averaged 3.44 Mg ha-1 for the 0.91 m dripline spacing and 3.22 Mg ha-1 for the 1.82 m spacing for the three-year period 2002-2004 compared to an unirrigated average of 2.58 Mg ha-1 for the same period. Average irrigation water use efficiency was greater for the 0.91 m dripline spacing but not statistically different from the 1.82 m spacing. For 2001-2003, when sprinkler-irrigated plots existed, seed cotton yield averaged 3.55 Mg ha-1 for the 0.91 m dripline spacing, 3.35 Mg ha-1 for the sprinkler-irrigated plots, and 2.56 Mg ha-1 for the unirrigated plots. Drought conditions existed in 2002, when 258 mm of rain occurred between planting and final irrigation. The other growing seasons received relatively high amounts of rainfall: 524, 555, and 643 mm in 2001, 2003, and 2004, respectively.

Managing Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Populations Utilizing Herbicide Strategies and Crop Rotation Sequences

Field experiments were conducted in North Carolina from 1994 through 1998 to evaluate the effects of five weed management strategies and four corn (Zeamays)–peanut (Arachis hypogaea) rotation sequences on purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) population development. Effects of these weed management programs on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and peanut production in following years were also investigated. Herbicide programs included a nontreated control, a carbamothioate preplant incorporated (PPI) combination treatment utilizing vernolate in peanut and butylate in corn, an early postemergence (EPOST) acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor combination treatment utilizing imazapic in peanut and halosulfuron in corn, and EPOST treatments of imazapic and imazethapyr in both peanut and imidazolinone-resistant corn. Crop rotation sequences for the 3 yr included continuous corn (CCC), corn–peanut–corn (CPC), peanut–corn–peanut (PCP), and continuous peanut (PPP). The imazapic and ALS inhibitor combination treatments both provided excellent shoot and tuber control. After 3 yr, imazapic and the ALS inhibitor combination treatment reduced shoot and tuber population densities to less than 10% of the nontreated control. Imazethapyr provided variable but better control than the carbamothioate treatment with tuber densities (measured from 0 to 15 cm soil depth) and shoot densities increasing from 733 to 2,901 tubers/m3of soil and 16 to 43 shoots/m2, respectively, after 3 yr. Tuber densities increased in the nontreated control from 626 to 9,145 tubers/m3of soil and from 962 to 5,466 tubers/m3of soil in the carbamothioate treatment during this same period. Also, shoot densities increased in the nontreated control from 22 to 159 shoots/m2and from 8 to 92 shoots/m2in the carbamothioate treatment. There was a 31% peanut yield reduction from 1994 to 1996 when peanut was continuously planted or rotated to corn for only 1 yr. Herbicide carryover effects were not observed in cotton during 1997.

Nitrogen Accumulation in Cotton Grown Continuously or in Rotation with Peanut Using Subsurface Microirrigation and GOSSYM/COMAX Management

Excessive N application to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an unnecessary cost and a potential cause of elevated groundwater N. The objectives of this study were to determine if seed yields or excess N were affected by timing of N application via buried microirrigation tubing, tubing spacing, or peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in split-plot arrangement with four replications. The main plots (continuous cotton and peanut-cotton rotation) were planted with cotton cultivar PD 3 in May of 1991 through 1994 on an Eunola loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Aquic Haphidult). Water and N were applied through microirrigation tubing that was buried 0.30 m directly under each row (IR) or under alternate row middles (AM). Sidedress-N was applied in one 112-kg ha−1 application (STD); five, 22-kg ha−1 increments (INC); or 11- to 22-kg ha−1 increments when required by GOSSYM/COMAX (GC) [a cotton growth model/expert system]. Rotation did not significantly affect any of the measured parameters. Cotton managed with the IR-STD treatment had the highest seed yield, 2.02 Mg ha−1 yr−1. The GC management did not improve seed yield, but it did reduce excess N (fertilizer N - seed N) to <20 kg ha−1 yr−1. The best overall treatment was AM-GC. It had 1.87 Mg ha−1 yr−1 seed yield, 8 kg ha−1 yr−1 excess N, 45 kg less N applied, and 50% less tubing installed. Cotton managed by AM-GC also had a low (9.2) ratio of accumulated shoot N per 100 kg of lint.