Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108486
Title: EVALUATION OF TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS FOR STALE SEEDBED TILLAGE IN PEANUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA).

Author
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll
item MULLINIX,, B - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2000
Publication Date: 7/22/2000
Citation: Johnson, W.C., Mullinix, B.G. 2000. Evaluation of tillage implements for stale seedbed tillage in peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Weed Technology. 14:519-523.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut farmers in southeastern U. S. commonly spend in excess of $75/A for weed control. Despite these investments in weed control, annual losses from weeds in peanut were estimated to be $16.7, $9.5, and $49.2 million in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, respectively. Effective herbicides are available for use on peanut. Currently, there are 19 herbicide active ingredients registered for use on peanut, with six registered since 1990. The high cost of weed control and continued exorbitant region-wide losses due to weeds necessitates the development of a more integrated approach to managing weeds that is effective and more economical than current weed management systems. One component of an integrated weed management system in peanut that offers opportunities for improvement is the cultural weed control practice of stale seedbed weed control. Previous studies have shown shallow tillage is more effective than nonselective herbicides for stale seedbed weed control. Studies were conducted from 1995 to 1997 near Tifton, GA to evaluate shallow tillage implements and tillage frequency for stale seedbed weed control in peanut. Tillage implements evaluated were a power tiller, disk harrow, field conditioner, and sweep cultivator. Plots for each implement were tilled once or twice prior to planting peanut. Results from seed counts from soil samples, mid-season weed counts, and peanut yield showed similar responses among implements and frequency of tillage. These results indicate no advantage of any shallow tillage implement for stale seedbed weed control when compared with the nontilled control. The implement of choice should be based on cost of operation and compatibility with the overall peanut production system.

Technical Abstract: Studies were conducted from 1995 to 1997 near Tifton, GA to evaluate shallow tillage implements and tillage frequency for stale seedbed weed control in peanut. Tillage implements evaluated were a power tiller, disk harrow, field conditioner, and sweep cultivator. Plots for each implement were tilled once or twice prior to planting peanut. Results from seed counts from soil samples, mid-season weed counts, and peanut yield showed similar responses among implements and frequency of tillage. These results indicate no advantage of any shallow tillage implement for stale seedbed weed control when compared with the nontilled control. The implement of choice should be based on cost of operation and compatibility with the overall peanut production system.