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Title: PROPAGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PERENNIAL PEANUTS FOR GROUND COVERS ALONG ROADSIDES

Author
item Abdul Baki, Aref
item BRYAN, HERBERT - UNIV FL
item KLASSEN, WALDEMAR - UNIV FL
item CODALLO, MAHARANIE - UNIV FL

Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2002
Publication Date: 7/1/2002
Citation: ABDUL BAKI, A.A., BRYAN, H.H., KLASSEN, W., CODALLO, M. PROPAGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PERENNIAL PEANUTS FOR GROUND COVERS ALONG ROADSIDES. PROCEEDINGS OF FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 2002. VOL. 115. PP. 267-262.

Interpretive Summary: In the tropical and subtropical areas of Florida and the Gulf Sates, thousands of miles along highway sides, ramps and roadsides in public parks and residential areas are planted into turf grass. Management of turf grass in these areas is neither economical nor environmentally friendly because of high-cost maintenance due to the requirement for mowing, watering, and fertilizer. Several varieties and accessions of perennial peanuts have the potential to replace grass in these areas. As a ground cover, perennial peanuts do not require mowing, watering or fertilizer thus serving as a low-maintenance, sustainable cover. They produce their own nitrogen, recycle nutrients, prevent soil erosion on the steep slopes, and produce beautiful flowers. This publication describes a simple procedure to produce propagation material for large-scale planting. Beneficiaries of this research are the Department of Transportation, the National, State and Local Parks Service, the public and the environment.

Technical Abstract: Some Arachis pintoi cultivars and accessions have the potential for use as ground covers along roadsides and highway ramps. They tolerate drought conditions, grow well in both sandy and calcareous soils of low fertility, fix N, recycle nutrients, prevent soil erosion through a thick above-ground cover and an intensive root system, produce beautiful flowers, remain green all year round, and do not require any mowing or fertilizer. Availability of propagation material has been a limiting factor in expanding their use, especially on a large scale. We describe a practical method for producing two types of propagation material - rooted plugs and mats. We further describe the planting and establishment of a roadside demonstration plot in a residential area of North Miami, FL, using Arachis pintoi, cv. Amarillo and accession No. 7154, as evidence of the great potential and attractiveness of this species as a ground cover along roadsides and highway ramps in southern Florida. Rooted plugs are less costly to produce and transport than mats. On the other hand, it takes less time and management to get an established stand from mats than from rooted plugs.