Peanut Yield, Market Grade, and Economics with Two Surface Drip Lateral Spacings

Abstract

Surface drip irrigation laterals were spaced next to crop rows and in alternate row middles to document crop yield, market grade and gross/ partial economic returns compared with nonirrigated practices. A surface drip irrigation system was installed at two sites on a Faceville (Site 1) fine sandy loam and a Greenville (Site 2) fine sandy loam with 3 and 1% slope, respectively. The cultivar Georgia Green (GG) was planted in both single and twin-row configuration while the cultivar ViruGard (VG) was planted in only a twin-row configuration. Pod yield, farmer stock grade, and partial economic returns were determined for three growing seasons (2002 to 2004). Surface drip irrigated peanut had greater yield, market grade, and gross revenue compared with non-irrigated regimes. Subtracting the cost of the drip tubing showed that laterals spaced at 0.91 m are not cost effective ($-132/ha) while those spaced at 1.83 m returned an average $120/ha compared with the non-irrigated treatment. The cultivar GG had 425 kg/ha higher pod yield compared with VG (4035 kg/ha). Within irrigated lateral treatments, peanut planted in twin-row orientation had 1% higher market grade and lower OK compared with single row orientations. Pod yield and market grade was more stable at Site 2 compared with Site 1 which was probably due to slope and aspect characteristics associated with each site and not necessarily with soil series. The use of surface drip irrigation with peanut can be economically feasible if pod yield increases by at least 675 kg/ ha and growers place drip tubing in alternate row middles.

Yield and Economics of Shallow Subsurface Drip Irrigation (S3 DI) and Furrow Diking

“…Field tests were conducted using shallow subsurface drip irrigation (S 3 DI) on peanut, cotton, and corn to investigate yield potential and economic sustainability. Previous researchers showed that S 3 DI can be easily installed at 3‐ to 5‐cm soil depth with low initial investment and provide flexible irrigation schedules without using large pumps and wells that are typical with overhead irrigation systems (18,19,20). In addition, yield potential was over 2, 3, and 7 times greater than non‐irrigated crops of peanut, cotton, and corn, respectively, depending on irrigation timing and amount (19,20).…”

Longevity of Shallow Subsurface Drip Irrigation Tubing under Three Tillage Practices

“…Drip irrigation can precisely deliver water, nutrients, and chemicals to the crop root zone. Previous research (Sorensen and Lamb, 2008, 2009) has shown that surface drip irrigation (SDI) can be installed with low initial investment and labor, be used on a variety of crops, and increase crop yield compared with nonirrigated areas. Burying the drip tubing 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface (shallow subsurface drip irrigation– S 3 DI) can significantly reduce rodent damage (Sorensen et al, 2010).…”

“…Subsurface (SSDI) and surface (SDI) drip irrigation on crop rotations in the southeast has been effective in increasing crop yield when compared with nonirrigated crop production (Sorensen et al, 2000; Sorensen and Lamb, 2008, 2009; Sorensen et al, 2010). The use of S 3 DI with conservation tillage techniques on agronomic crops and rotations could be of major interest in conserving water, reducing agronomic inputs, and possibly increasing on‐farm revenue that would benefit the agricultural community.…”

Evaluating Plant Population and Replant Method Effects on Peanut Planted in Twin Rows

“…Market grade has also been shown to increase in twin rows when compared to single rows (Mozingo and Coffelt, 1984;Sorensen et al, 2004;Sorensen et al, 2007Nuti et al, 2008Sorensen and Lamb, 2009).…”

“…Previous research shows that a portion of the yield increase in twin rows compared to single rows is likely due to the reduction in pressure of common peanut diseases including Tomato spotted wilt Tospovirus (TSWV) (Brown et al, 2005;Tillman et al, 2006;Culbreath et al, 2008) and stem rot, caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, (Minton and Csinos, 1986, Sorensen et al, 2004;Sconyers et al, 2007). Market grade has also been shown to increase in twin rows when compared to single rows (Mozingo and Coffelt, 1984;Sorensen et al, 2004;Sorensen et al, 2007Nuti et al, 2008Sorensen and Lamb, 2009).While little research has been completed on true plant stand in twin rows as it relates to pod yield, grade, TSWV incidence, and stem rot incidence, there have been multiple studies on seeding rates in twin rows. Tubbs et al (2011) In that same study no differences in stem rot or TSWV incidence were present between those three seeding rates.…”