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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82549
Title: FEASIBILITY OF USING COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR MANAGING IRRIGATION FOR PEANUTS

Author
item Davidson, James
item Bennett, Clyde
item TYSON, TED - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item BALDWIN, J - UGA
item BEASLEY, J - UGA
item BADER, M - UGA
item TYSON, T - UGA

Submitted to: American Peanut Research and Education Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Based upon a 3 year replicated study (crop years 1994-1996) on both sandy and medium textured soils, computer programs were very effective in managing irrigation scheduling for peanut production. Computer programs EXNUT and MMOISNUT scheduled irrigation on a timely basis. On the average economic returns were $490/ha higher for the plots irrigated in accordance with these two programs than for the non-irrigated plots. During CY1994 on the medium textured soil,serious compaction problems negated the benefits of irrigation. During CY1995, poor fertility and high disease pressure on the sandy soils negated the benefits of irrigation. Removing these confounded data changed the average $490/ha benefit to $923/ha. During CY 1996 using Folicur, the economic benefits of irrigation using these programs averaged $110/ha and $1013/ha for sandy and medium textured soils respectively. No aflatoxin (oppb) was found in peanuts managed by these two ocomputer programs while aflatoxin (4-2500ppb) was found in the non- irrigated peanuts during CY1995. Shelling outturns, seed germination and other quality factors were generally better for the peanuts managed by these 2 computer programs than for non-irrigated peanuts. Based upon this study and past research studies that indicated only marginal economic returns resulted from irrigation by traditional methods, these computer computer programs are very feasible for scheduling irrigation on peanuts. Education of users of these computer programs and use of fungicides such as Folicur should minimize the negative aspects of irrigation for abnormal fields.