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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #147572
Title: FIVE YEARS OF SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION ON PEANUT: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

Author
item Sorensen, Ronald - Ron
item Butts, Christopher - Chris
item Rowland, Diane

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2003
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L., Rowland, D. 2004. Five years of subsurface drip irrigation on peanut: what have we learned?. American Peanut Research and Education Society Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary: Not required for "abstract only".

Technical Abstract: A subsurface drip irrigation system was installed in 1998 on a Tifton loamy sand (Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudult) with five crop rotations, two drip tube lateral spacings, and three irrigation levels. Crop rotations ranged from continuous peanut (Arachis hypogeae L) to four years between peanut rotated with cotton (Gossypium hirusutum L) and maize (Zea mays L). Laterals were spaced underneath each crop row (narrow) and alternate row middles (wide). Crops were irrigated daily at 100, 75 and 50% of recommended water use values. Continuous peanut yields averaged 3100 kg/ha while peanut in rotation averaged 4860 kg/ha. Peanut planted in an alternate year rotation with either cotton or maize averaged 4236 kg/ha across all irrigation levels while at the 75% irrigation level pod yield averaged 4600 kg/ha. Longer peanut rotations of three and four years averaged 5073 kg/ha. Yield of peanut, in rotation and with narrow spaced drip tube laterals, averaged 5034 kg/ha and wide spaced laterals averaged 4690 kg/ha. Peanut in rotation and irrigated at 75% had essentially the same pod yield (4964 kg/ha) as the 100% irrigated (4916 kg/ha) implying a 25% water savings for the same yield. The 50% irrigated area had 4% lower yields compared with the 100 and 75% irrigated area. Overall, with best management practices of good crop rotation (at least two years between peanut crops), drip tube under every row, and irrigating at 75%, peanut yield averaged 5515 kg/ha. Worst case scenario of continuous peanut, irrigated at 50%, and drip tube laterals at wide spacing showed peanut yield of 2850 kg/ha or a 46% yield decrease.