Improving peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production strategies through use of cover crops and organic management

Abstract

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production is typically dependent on numerous chemical inputs for fertilization and pest control. Field trials were conducted to observe decomposition and nutrient effects of three cover crops on a subsequent peanut crop. All displayed potential for releasing significant amounts of nutrients and increasing nutrient uptake by the peanut crop, but there was little impact on peanut yield and crop quality under standard management. Field trials were also conducted to evaluate eleven peanut cultivars and three approved fungicide formulations for foliar disease management and six cultivation regimes for weed control in peanut under organic management. Florida-07, Georgia-06G, and Tifguard exhibited the best combination of disease resistance and yield potential, while all fungicide treatments improved yields over the control only under heavy disease pressure. All levels of tine cultivation (plus sweep cultivation and hand-weeding) provided sufficient weed control and profit maximization over the control.