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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #106069

Title: IMPACT OF PLANT SPACING AND POPULATION ON YIELD FOR SINGLE-ROW NON-IRRIGATED PEANUTS (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

Author
item Sternitzke, Donald
item Lamb, Marshall
item Davidson, James
item Bennett, Clyde

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2000
Publication Date: 12/31/2000
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Every year poor germination and seedling emergence reduces plant population and creates an economic dilemma for many peanut farmers. On one hand, if poplulation is not increased they will suffer yield and economic loss. On th eother hand, if population is increased by replanting, costs associated with this operation can exceed the economic benefits of greater yield. This paper identifies the breakeven plant population where replant benefit equals replant cost. When properly interpreted and applied, farmers can use this information in their decisio-making process to reduce costs and increase net income.

Technical Abstract: In 1997 and 1998 field experiments were conducted in Terrell County, GA to determine the effect of plant population on peanut pod mass, yield, and replant decision-making. This problem is frequently encountered by growers because of poor seed vigor and seedling emergence. Conventional tillage practices prepared plots for growing non-irrigated peanuts in sandy (Americus) soil. To simulate poor emergence non control plot peanuts emerging on 0.91m beds planed at 4.80cm/seed were hand-thinned to average intrarow spacings (AIS) of 22.9, 30.5, 38.1, 48.3, and 61.0cm/plant. Four replicates per treatment generated data were used to regress pod mass and yield with AIS. Pod mass per plant logarithmically increased with AIS. In contrast, pod yield decreased 26.5 kg/ha-cm for 9