--. 7

7 If

I

Soil Fertility Experiments with Peanuts in Alabama 1973-1986

Y

Bulletin 594 May 1988 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn Uniiversitv Lov~ca T Frobish, Director Auburn Universitv. Alabama

CONTENTS
Page
GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE.......................... 4

PHOSPHORUS-POTASSIUM (P-K) EXPERIMENTS ...................
GYPSUM EXPERIMENTS....................................

5
8

Use of Recommended Rates...... ....... ............. Rates of Gypsum.......................................12 "420 Landplaster" versus Gypsum .........................

8 14

Gypsum versus Basic Slag.............
LIMING EXPERIMENTS.....................................14

..............

14

Spring-Applied Lime....................................16 Calcitic versus Dolomitic Limestone......................... Limestone versus Basic Slag................................19 Lime Suspensions......................................19
LIMING AND GYPSUM EXPERIMENTS.........................

16

21 27 27

Lime versus Gypsum...................................23
INOCULATION AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS ......... MISCELLANEOUS FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS .....................

Micronutrient Mixture .................................. Boron (B) Fertilizer ............. ....................... "Pop-up" Fertilizer...................................... Magnesium (Mg) Fertilizer ...............................
REDUCED TILLAGE EXPERIMENTS............................

27 29 29 29
31

LITERATURE CITED .................
APPENDIX ................................................

.......................

33
35

FIRST PRINTING 4M, MAY 1988

Information contained herein is available to all without regardto race, color, sex, or national origin.

Soil Fertility Experiments with Peanuts in Alabama,
1973-1986
D.L. HARTZOG and J.F. ADAMS'

ARE a major farm income producer in several southeastern Alabama counties. The crop has been grown for many years under some sort of production allotment system regulated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. This system has resulted in a nearly constant acreage of planted peanuts not only for the years covered in this report, table 1, but also for the last 3 decades. Farmers have tried to offset constant acreage with higher per acre yields by using improved varieties and better management practices. Except when severe weather conditions were limiting, average peanut yields in Alabama have continued to climb during the last 25 years. The continued increase in yields is attributed to improved varieties, better control of certain diseases and insects, improved digging and harvesting machinery, and improved soil management practices.
'Respectively, Agronomist-Peanuts and Assistant Professor of Agronomy and Soils.

PEANUTS

TABLE 1. TOTAL ACREAGE AND YIELD PER ACRE OF PEANUTS IN ALABAMA DURING 1974-86

Acres No. 197.3 .............................. 191,000 1974...............................201,000 1975 .............................. 202,000 1976...............................210,000 1977...............................211,000 1978...............................209,000 1979...............................210,000 1980...............................200,000 1981...............................222,000 1982...............................177,000 1983...............................180,000 1984...............................219,000 1985................................200,000 1986...............................219,000

Year

Yield/acre Lb. 2,030 2,360 2,600 2,390 2,740 2,640 2,785 1,325 2,715 2,950 2,525 2,960 2,950 2,260

4

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Effective soil management requires knowledge of the relationship between crop yield and quality and soil fertility levels. The Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station first researched lime and fertilizer needs of peanuts during the early 1900s on farmers' fields (3). Subsequently, the Wiregrass Substation near Headland became the focal point for peanut research in Alabama, and it continues to be a major center for such research. However, it was recognized early that soil fertility research must also be conducted on farmers' fields in peanutproducing areas because of the diversity of soils on which peanuts are grown and because peanut yields are affected by previous cropping systems. After fertilizer and liming recommendations for peanuts became based on soil testing, it became evident that the research information on which soil testing is based must be updated continually. This need was met in 1967 by initiating a cooperative soil-fertility, on-farm research program that involved growers, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. The early findings were impressive, and results of the first 5 years (120 experiments) were published in 1973 (4). The project has continued and has researched many facets of soil fertility that are of interest to peanut growers. Major findings have been published separately in professional journals (1,2,5), but most farmers and local agricultural advisors do not have ready access to these publications. Thus, this bulletin compiles the results of all onfarm soil fertility experiments with peanuts since 1972 into a single volume to make this record available to growers and their advisors. GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Soil samples received by the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory were screened to select fields that were applicable for conducting the research. Farmers contributed to the cooperative venture by following their normal practices of producing peanuts, except for the specific research treatment imposed at each test site. Harvesting of plots was a joint effort by each farmer and the researcher. Yields and grades of peanuts were determined by the researcher. Soon after harvest, soil samples were taken from each untreated plot and analyzed by the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Test procedures and results are presented individually for each of the following: Phosphorus-Potassium (P-K) Experiments, Gypsum Experiments, Liming Experiments, Liming and Gypsum Experiments, Inoculation and Nitrogen Fertilizer Experiments, Miscellaneous Fertilizer Experiments, and Reduced Tillage Experiments.

SOIL FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS WITH PEANUTS5

PHOSPHORUS-POTASSIUM (P-K) EXPERIMENTS These experiments were located on soils that varied widely in soiltest P (4 to 90 pounds per acre) and in soil-test K (9 to 220 pounds per acre). Each test site consisted of eight plots, and each plot consisted of six 100-foot rows spaced 3 feet apart. Four plots were fertilized with 0-10-20 at a rate of 400 pounds per acre, and four plots remained unfertilized. The Florunner variety was planted on all sites except one. Although most of the 37 experimental sites tested "Low" or "Very Low" in either P or K, yields were increased by P-K fertilizer at only 6 sites, table 2. Clearly, the soil-test ratings did not correctly predict yield increases from fertilizer in most cases, and these data can be used to define more accurately soil-test P and K levels where additional fertilizer is needed for maximum yield. Although both P and K were added to all fertilized plots, the yield increases were caused by the K component. For example, yield increases from fertilizer occurred with soil-test P ranging between 4 and 47 pounds per acre (greatest yield increases occurred with soiltest P at 42 and 47 pounds per acre). Soil-test K for these same sites ranged between 9 and 28 pounds per acre, with the greatest yield increases occurring with soil-test K at 9 to 11 pounds per acre. Although soil-test P varied between 2 and 90 pounds per acre, there was no correlation between soil-test P and yield increases from the fertilizer. Soil-test K varied between 9 and 210 pounds per acre and was highly correlated with yield increases. By graphing yield as a function of soil-test K, the critical level of soil-test K for maximum yield was calculated to be 30 pounds per acre, see graph, page 8. Yield increases from K fertilizer varied from 350 pounds per acre (soil-test K = 18 pounds per acre) to 1,260 pounds per acre (soil-test K = 11 pounds per acre). Percentage of sound mature kernels (SMK) was unaffected by the fertilizer. The efficiency with which Florunner peanuts obtain P and K nutrients from the soil is demonstrated by the results of these experiments. The experiments failed to determine the critical soil-test P level for deficiency, but they did identify the critical soil-test K as about 30 pounds per acre. There was one fertilizer experiment with the Florigiant variety (site 117). Although soil-test K was only 19 pounds per acre, application of 400 pounds per acre of 0-10-20 failed to affect yield or grade. This result suggests that the Florigiant variety is about as efficient as the Florunner variety in obtaining-potassium from the soil.

TABLE 2. EFFECT OF A PHOSPHORUS (P) AND POTASSIUM (K) FERTILIZER (400 POUNDS PER ACRE OF 0-10-20) ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

no.

Sie Farmer

County

Soil type

P/acre Lb.

Soil test K/acre Lb.
9

Yield/acre

Grade

fertilizer
Lb.

Fertilizer

fertilizer
Pct.
71 76 66

Fertilizer

Lb.
3,120*

Pct.
72 75 65

181 202 189 169 211 210 230 208 158 229 337 116 212 190 191 274 131 132 156 207 134 159 231 157

D. Hartzog B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. R. Beaty C. Trawick B. Deloney, Jr. Deal Bro. J.C. Caraway J. & T. Beasley C. Trawick D. Hartzog B. & W. Holland C. Trawick F. Fuquay M. Johnson J. Burke J. Stanford M. Barnette Parker Farms J. & L. Fenn Parker Farms J. & R. Taylor Deal Bro. Parker Farms

Barbour Dale Dale Barbour Henry Dale Dale Barbour Henry Henry Barbour Houston Henry Barbour Henry Barbour Henry Henry Henry Barbour Henry Henry Dale Henry

Wagram is 'Troup is Troup is Fuquay is Troup is Alaga is Bonifay is Fuquay ls Fuquay ls Troup is Dothan is Riverview si Troup is Fuquay is Fuquay ls Lucy ls Dothan fsl Dothan si Fuquay ls Dothan si Varina si Wagram ls Dothan is Pine Fiat is

42 12 9

9
10

2,510 1,820

1,870

47 25 18
4

11 13 18
21

1,240

3,330* 2,700*
2,500*

2,840 2,040 2,670
3, 210

2,640 2,380* 2,950

66
74 69 68

70*
75 73* 69

11

23

40
4 4 33

24
28 28 30

3,710

3,420
4,190 3,150

74

75

21,910 3,900 3,740
3, 080

25
47 17 15

31,620* 4,070 3,920 3,360 41,080 3,)920
2, 630

74
75 78 70

75
73 77 72

34
36 36 40

31,660 3,520 3,790

75
62 69 76

72
65 67 76

34
22 61 29 21 23 2 49

41
41 41 42 43 43 42 45

2,530

2,720 3,270 3,350

4,290

2,710 3,300 3,410
4, 010

74
72 71 76 74 72 76 73

74
73 72 76 73 72 76 74

4,)040

4,)040 3,820 4,470

3,480 41,410

Continued

TABLE 2 (CONTINUED). EFFECT OF A PHOSPHORUS (P) AND POTASSIUM (K) FERTILIZER (400 POUNDS PER ACRE OF 0-10-20) ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site S
no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

Soil test P/acre K/acre Lb. 19 15 31 14 15 47 65 27 89 39 22 20 37 17 49 Lb. 45 52 52 54 55 59 64 65 68 74 86 182 217 241 19

Yield/acre fertilizer Fertilizer Lb. 4,030 3,280 4,340 4,280 5,720 4,500 2,740 3,860 4,150 4,850 4,170 2,870 4,850 2,950 2,240 Lb. 4,110 3,320 4,380 4,390 5,790 4,450 2,960 4,360 4,190 4,670 4,110 2,710 4,690 2,870 2,250

Grade fertilizer Pct. 76 75 78 76 74 76 78 77 72 71 69 73 78 74 66 Fertilizer Pct. 73 76 80 75 73 77 77 76 69 72 69 70 78 74 65

232 199 233 168 130 133 209 167 192 270 273 226 314 336 1171

R. & B. Price L. Spivey J. & L. Harden M. Strickland H. Hicks Parker Farms J.L. Falkner G. & R. Holland M. Strickland B. Deloney, Jr. W. Shelley S. Bradshaw Wallace Jr. College B.W. Danzey E.E. White

Pike Henry Pike Crenshaw Henry Henry Henry Henry Crenshaw Dale Houston Houston Dale Henry Dale

Lucy Is Faceville sl Red Bay Is Orangeburg sl Dothan sl Pine Flat Is Faceville sl Orangeburg sl Brogdon ls Dothan ls Saucier sl Dothan sl Tifton sl Orangeburg sl Eustis ls

'Florigiant was the variety in this experiment. *Yield increases were significant at 10 percent level.

8

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Auburn University for several years has recommended that fertilizer for peanuts be applied to other crops in the rotation. Results of experiments in this report, however, show that K fertilizer applied directly to peanuts is needed where soil-test K is less than 30 pounds per acre. GYPSUM EXPERIMENTS Soil fertility experiments on farmers' fields and at the Wiregrass Substation have shown that calcium (Ca) is the most common yieldlimiting soil nutrient for peanut production. The experiments reported establish the minimum level of soil test Ca needed for maximum yield and grade of the Florunner variety. They also evaluate and compare available sources of Ca that are used to increase levels of soil
Ca.

Use of Recommended Rate The recommended rate of gypsum (calcium sulfate) for peanuts is 500 pounds per acre applied as a topdressing at early bloom. The ef-

Relative yield 1.5
Depth to Bt
" => 28 inches p =< 28 inches

1.0

-"

Qo 0

,,

0.5

"
Quadratic Y = 0.39 + 0.037

-..00056X 2 0

Plateau: · Y = 0.98 R 2= 0.55

0
0

n

n

n

n

20

40

60

80

100

Soil-test K, pounds per acre
Relative yield of Florunner peanuts versus soil-test K levels of the unfertilized plots.

TABLE 3. EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF PEANUTS

Site

Soil-test

Yield/acre
gypsum

Grade

no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

pH

Ca/acre Lb.

No

Gpsm Lb. 2,970* 1.140* 1,750* 2,880* 3,910* 2,160 1,850 2,830* 2,870* 2,620* 2,1310* 2,220* 4,350* 2,510 4,480 2,350 2,460* 4,310 2,720 21,650 3,)080 3, 470 2,780 2,860 2,800 3,200 3,)420

gypsum
Pct. 63 61 58 66 65 67 65 62 57 60 66 68 62 69 72 72 68 74 72 72 66 67 64 73 75 76 72

Nysmo

Gpu Gpu Pct. 74* 74* 67* 73* 66 75* 71 75* 64* 72* 75* 71 70* 75* 72 74 77* 74 71 76* 69 71 70* 73 77 77 74 Continued

Lb. 1, 570 320 430 1,010 3,220 1,840 1,450 11,780 1,210 1,240 1,330 1,300 2,)690 2, 070 4,)640 2, 220 2,110 4,290 2,860 2,160 2,880 2,930 2,640 3,020 3,)440 2,-870 3,580

217 144 218 272 183

138 152
125 238 237

Florunner variety G. & A. Carter T. Baxter C. Trawick Deal Bro. MO. Johnson

Pike Henry Henry Dale Henry

Troup Bonifay Troup Troup Fuquay Lucy

Q. Brown J. Stanford
W. Griffin Parker Farms Deal Bro.

Barbour
Henry

isis Is is Poarch si
Red Bay si

Is

Coffee
Henry Dale Barbour Pike Pike Barbour

is

139

J. Brown
H. Lee R. & B. Price D. Spivey Deal Bro. B. Ward G. Crowley

186 292 143 259

Americus Bonifay Fuquay Wagram Troup Orangeburg

is is isis is is

149
145 118

Q. Brown J. Smith

137
219 280 307 127 126 154 155 153 Ilu

Dale Barbour Henry Houston
Pike Henry

Cowarts si Smithdale si Dothan si Dothan si
Red Bay Esto

is

F. Newman Mobley Farms R. Harris J. C. Hardwick P. Martin D. & L. Hartzog Fuller-Crowley G. Crowley U. ~UIVt;V

Henry
Dale

Norfolk fsi
Bonifay

is

Henry Coffee Barbour
Coffee.

Red Bay si Red Bay si Red Bay si
Bonifay

is

Henry UQ1 UVUI

Dothan is ~L V1 dllLCCUUL 13

Is

4.6 5.2 5.8 5.0 5.3 4.9 5.2 4.9 4.8 5.3 5.1 5.0 5.3 5.2 5.3 4.7 5.4 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.3 5.7 5.5 5.2 4.9 5.6 5.2

70 80 100 100 110 120 120 130 140 140 140 160 160 160 190 190 200 210 220 220 230 240 240 250 270 290 300 11

TABLE 3 (CONTINUED). EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF PEANUTS

Site no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

pH

Yield/acre Soil-test Ca/acre Ca/acregypsum No SpH Gypsum Lb. Lb. 3,210 2,400 4,380 4,290 3,180 2,600 2,650 2,040 3,070 4,540 2,110 5,160 3,780 2,500 3,320 3,620 3,530 4,580 2,400 2,440 4,780 3,690 4,240 3,070 3,300 Lb. 3,190 2,270 4,500 4,560 3,220 2,650 2,670 2,180 3,030 4,510 2,180 5,150 3,730 2,360 3,170 3,750 3,360 4,310 4,410* 3,250* 4,670 4,110 4,440 2,970 3,260

Grade No Pct. 75 66 69 76 75 66 67 75 74 72 63 72 74 76 75 65 64 71 53 64 73 73 75 74 76 Gypsum Pct. 76 69 68 76 76 65 65 76 72 73 62 72 75 75 74 64 65 73r 70* 70* 75 76* 74 77 75 Continued X m Z -

322 119 303 296 120 188 338 121 309 242 122 291 282 128 243 244 245 266 292 306 263 343 295 323 283

Florunner variety D. Hartzog Barbour J. Senn Pike L. Richardson Pike T. Beasley Henry W.R. Davis Crenshaw D. Beasley Henry Wallace Jr. College Dale W.R. Davis Crenshaw G. Caylor Coffee J. Solomon Henry J. Adams Henry G. Crowley Houston D. Averett Coffee Parker Farms Henry J. Solomon Houston McAllister Farms Houston F. Britt Coffee Sunbelt Runner variety Dale Deal Bro. Sunrunner variety R. & B. Price Pike R. Harris Dale Deal Bro. Dale D. Hartzog Barbour T. Beasley Henry Barbour D. Hartzog D. Averett Coffee

Fuquay Is McLaurin ls Cowarts sl Fuquay Is Lakeland ls Orangeburg sl Bonifay Is Lakeland ls Orangeburg ls Orangeburg ls Dothan sl Dothan sl Red Bay sl Norfolk sl Red Bay sl Dothan fsl Red Bay sl Cowarts sl Troup ls Bonifay ls Cowarts sl Dothan ls Fuquay ls Fuquay ls Red Bay sl

5.9 6.3 6.0 6.0 5.6 5.8 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.6 6.2 6.0 6.1 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.9 5.6 5.3 5.6 5.4 6.1 5.3 6.0 6.1

310 360 360 390 410 450 480 490 490 530 560 590 670 680 900 1,030 1,140 270 160 210 220 250 340 390 780

C
C

0 Z

TABLE 3 (CONTINUED). EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF PEANUTS

Site S
no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

Soil-test pH Ca/aere Lb.

Yield/acre gypsum Lb. 380 4,150 2,590 930 700 4,210 3,290 3,400 4,700 4,110 3,640 4,020 3,980 3,870 2,950 Gypsum Lb. 2,470* 4,210 2,440 4,050* 2,790* 4,310 3,110 3,560 4,880 3,640 3,610 3,990 4,140 3,960 3,220 gypsum Pct. 52 68 50 24 47 70 66 73 70 66 75 71 60 76 76

Grade Gypsum Pct. 66* 71 62 66* 65* 69 69 74 69 66 76 68 64* 76 77

Florigiant variety 129 M. Barnett Henry Gritney Is Early Bunch variety 184 E.E. White Orangeburg sl Henry 185 C. Weeks Houston Lucy ls NC-7 variety 294 R. & B. Price Pike Troup ls 308 R. Harris Dale Bonifay ls 302 L. Richardson Pike Cowarts sl 310 G. Caylor Coffee Orangeburg ls 281 D. Averett Coffee Red Bay sl 298 McAllister Farms Houston Faceville sl 327 Mcallister Farms Houston Orangeburg sl 326 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Saucier sl GK-3 variety 325 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Saucier sl 349 Falkner Farms Henry Orangeburg sl GK-7 variety 344 D. Hartzog Barbour Dothan ls 324 D. Hartzog Barbour Fuquay ls *Different between treatments at 10 percent level of significance.

5.1 5.7 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.9 6.1 5.9 6.3 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.1 6.1 6.0 L~ U

130 420 440 160 200 340 420 570 720 790 1,000 1,030 460 330 410 ~flll

12

ALABAMA

AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT

STATION

feet of this rate on yield and grade of several peanut varieties is illustrated by data in table 3. The Florunner variety was grown on soils ranging in soil-test Ca between 70 and 1,140 pounds per acre. Of the 14 experimental sites with soil-test Ca at 160 pounds per acre or less, gypsum increased both yield and percent sound mature kernel (SMK) at 9 and either yield or SMK at 4. One of six experiments with soil-test Ca between 190 and 220 pounds per acre had both yield and SMK increased by gypsum, while one had only increased SMK. Gypsum applications on soils testing more than 220 pounds per acre of available Ca had no effect on yield or grade. A single experiment with Sunbelt runner showed no effect of adding gypsum to a soil with a soil-test Ca of 270 pounds per acre. Two of seven experiments with the Sunrunner variety had soil-test Ca of less than 220 pounds per acre, and both showed yield and SMK increases from gypsum application. In the other five experiments, which had soil-test Ca of 220 pounds per acre or more, gypsum failed to affect yield, but did increase grade at one site where soil test Ca was 250 pounds per acre. A single experiment with the Florigiant variety showed a yield increase of 1 ton per acre and an SMK increase of 14 percentage points from gypsum applied to a soil with only 130 pounds of soil-test Ca. Of eight experiments with NC-7, two were on soils with available Ca of 200 pounds per acre or less. Both showed dramatic increases in, both yield and grade. The other experiments had soil-test Ca of 340 or more, and neither yield nor grade was affected by a gypsum application. There were two experiments with Early Bunch and one each with GK-3 and GK-7. Soil-test Ca was 410 pounds or more, and gypsum failed to affect yield or grade. Rates of Gypsum There has been little incentive in the past to determine if gypsum rates lower than the recommended 500 pounds per acre would be equally effective. Thus, gypsum rates of 250 and 500 pounds were compared on the Florunner variety in seven fields in which soil-test Ca ranged from 100 to 360 pounds per acre. With soil-test Ca at 290 and 360 pounds per acre (sites 155 and 119), neither rate of gypsum affected yield or SMK, table 4. Of the five experiments with yield and/or SMK increases, the 500-pound rate was not superior to the 250-pound rate.

TABLE 4. EFFECT OF RATES OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site Farmer County Soil type

pH

Soil test Ca/acre

gypsum

No

Yield/acre 250 lb.
gypsum

500 lb.
gypsum

No
gypsum

Grade 250 lb.
gypsum

500 lb.
gypsum

272 Deal Bro. Dale Troup is 5.0 138 Q. Brown Barbour Poarch sl 4.9 139 J. Brown Barbour Fuquay is 5.1 237 Deal Bro. Dale Bonifaylis 5.3 238 Parker Farms Henry Americus is 4.8 155 Fuller-Crowley Coffee Bonifay is 5.6 119 J. Senn Pike McLaurin is 6.3 'Means in a row followed by the same letter are not different at *Tetet different at 10 percent level of significance.

Lb. Lb. 100 1,010b 120 1,840b 140 1,3301) 140 1,240b 140 1,2101) 290 2,870 360 2,400 the 10 percent level of

Lb. Lb. 2,340a 2,880a' 2,300a 2,l6Oab 2,330a 2,310a 2,690a 2,620a 2,630a 2,870a 2,890 3,200 2,420 2,270 significance.

Pct. 66 67 66 60 57 76 66

Pct. 74* 75* 75* 72* 64* 77 68

Pct. 73* 75* 75* 72* 64* 77 69

14

ALABAMA

AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT

STATION

"420 Landplaster" versus Gypsum Three experiments were conducted with the Florunner variety to compare the effects on yield and SMK of regular, finely ground gypsum and a granular calcium sulfate compound known as "420 landplaster" (marketed by U.S. Gypsum, Inc). The materials were compared at 250- and 500-pound-per-acre rates. Two application methods and dates were compared: (1) broadcast at planting with no incorporation, and (2) applied in 12- to 14inch bands over the row about 60 days after planting (early bloom). All three sites had low soil Ca, and each was ideal for evaluating sources, rates, and application times. Yields were generally doubled or tripled and SMKs were increased 5 to 15 percentage points by the calcium treatments, table 5. Equal increases were obtained by both Ca sources, at both Ca rates, and by both application dates. Gypsum versus Basic Slag For low rates of Ca to be effective in correcting Ca deficiency in peanuts, the Ca compound must be reasonably soluble in water. Gypsum, for example, is soluble enough to supply all the Ca that a peanut crop needs. A liming material, in contrast, is not soluble in water but is soluble in acid. It has long been known that lime will be dissolved by an acid soil if the two are mixed intimately. However, little lime dissolves if it is surface-applied on a soil and left undisturbed. Basic slag was a popular liming material in Alabama for many years, and its effectiveness as a calcium source was compared with gypsum in a single experiment with the Florigiant variety. Results of a test designed to compare these sources show tremendous increases in yield and SMK from topdressed gypsum at early bloom, but no effect from an equal application of basic slag, table 6. This experiment confirms that a liming material is not a suitable Ca source when applied as a topdressing at early bloom. LIMING EXPERIMENTS Liming acid soils of southeastern Alabama has long been known to be beneficial for peanut production. It has been assumed that liming improved peanut yields and grades for these reasons: (1) reduced aluminum toxicity, (2) reduced manganese toxicity, (3) increased molybdenum availability, (4) increased nitrogen fixation by rhizobia, and (5) increased calcium availability.

U,)

0
TABLE 5. COMPARISON OF 420-LANDPLASTER AND GYPSUJM AS CALCIUM SOURCES FOB FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no.

Soil test pH Ca/acre Lb.

No Ca Lb. 1,010 1,240 1,210 1,010 1,240 1,210

Yield per acre 250-lb. rate nd Landaster p

Gypsum

500-lb. rate LandLaster Gypsum

Grade 250-lb. rate N Ca Pct. 66 60 57 66 60 57 plasterlaster Pct. Pct. 76* 73* 63* 74* 75* 60 74* 75* 63* 74* 72* 64*
Land-

500-lb. rate
Landplaster Pct.

m

Gypsum

x
Pct. 75* 70* 61* 73* 72* 64*
-v

Lb. 2,740* 3,070* 2,650* 2,990* 3,060* 2,730*

272 237 238 272 237 238

5.0 5.3 4.8 5.0 5.3 4.8

100 140 140 100 140 140

Lb. Lb. Lb. Calcium applied at planting 3,850* 2,060* 2,620* 2,680* 2,810* 2,750* 2,430* 2,740* .2,650* Calcium applied at early bloom 2,340* 3,420* 2,880* 2,690* 3,090* 2,620* 2,630* 2,510* 2,870*

m

74* 75* 63* 78* 71* 63*

z

*Treatments different from no Ca at 10 percent level of significance.

z m
-4

TABLE 6. A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS' PER ACRE OF GYPSUM OR BASIC SLAG APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORICIANT PEANUTS

Site n. Farmer

n.p

County

Soil type

H

Soil-test C aacre Lb. 130

None Lb. 380

Yield per acre Basic Gpu slag Gpu Lb. 580 Lb. 2,470*

None Pct. 52

Grade Basic slag Pct. 42

G Gypsum Pct. 66*

129 M. Barnett Henry Gritney sl 5.1 *Treatments different at 10 percent level of significance.

16

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

The unique fruiting habit of the peanut plant makes it particularly susceptible to calcium deficiency and Auburn University has long recommended liming materials as effective calcium sources for peanuts. However, there is no convincing evidence that properly applied lime has any beneficial effect on peanuts beyond that of being a good calcium source. Spring-Applied Lime Sites for the liming experiments were selected with soil pH below 6.0. The experiments consisted of eight plots, four limed and four unlimed. Dolomitic limestone was applied at 1 ton per acre after the land was turned in the spring and just prior to planting. It was broadcast and disked in to a depth of about 4 inches. Unlimed plots were sampled for soil testing in the fall after harvest. The Florunner variety was planted in all tests except one (site 129). Yield and/or grade increases were caused by liming with soil pH ranging between 4.3 (site 241) and 5.4 (site 197 and 145), table 7. At the same time, yields and grades were unaffected by liming at other sites with soil pH between 4.7 (site 149) and 5.8 (sites 128 and 188). Thus, there was considerable overlapping of soil pH where liming improved yields and grades at some sites, but not at others. By listing the sites in order of increasing soil-test calcium, the relationship between liming effect and soil-test Ca becomes clear, table 7. For example, liming increased yield at 11 of 14 sites with soil-test Ca at less than 150 pounds per acre without regard to soil pH. Percentage SMK was increased at 11 of the 14 sites. Of the 11 sites with soil-test Ca at 150 to 200 pounds per acre, liming increased yields at 5 sites and increased SMK at 6. Among the 11 sites with soil-test Ca of 210 to 260 pounds per acre, 1 had a yield increase and 2 had SMK increases from liming. Lime was without effect on yields and grades where soil-test Ca exceeded 260 pounds per acre. Calcitic versus Dolomitic Limestone Most soils in southeastern Alabama are inherently low in available soil magnesium (Mg), and some farm advisors assume that Mg is needed as a soil supplement. If this were true, the most economical and effective source would be dolomitic limestone. However, Alabama research has not previously found an incidence of Mg deficiency in peanuts, and this is the general experience wherever peanuts are grown. Clearly, peanuts are unusually effective in obtaining Mg from soils that are quite low in that essential nutrient.

TABLE 7. EFFECT OF LIMING ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site

Farmer

County

Soil type

pH

Ca/acre Lb. 50 80 80 100 100 110 110 120 130 130 130 130 140 140 150 150 160 160 160 160 180 190 190 200 200 210 220 220 230
IV

Yield/acre

Grade

lime
Lb.
710 320

No

Lime

lime
Pct.
66 61 46 63 65 67 69
65 66

No

Lime

Lb.

Pct.
70* 74* 59* 70* 73* 75* 74*
71

225 144 224 182 179 199 220 152 165 222 150 125 166 171 147 197 198 178 143 241 221 149 268 145 175 146 196 177 280

C. Trawick T. Baxter D. Hartzog D. Hartzog J. & L. Fenn L. Spivey White & Sowell J. Stanford D. & L. Hartzog L. Spivey J. Kelly W. Griffin A. Drinkard M. Thrash B. Deloney, Jr. M. Murphy D. Hartzog M. Strickland D. Spivey C. Alley Parker Farms Q. Brown M.C. Douglas B. Ward H. Adams T. & H. Littlefield Parker Farms H. Adams Mobley Farms

Henry Henry Barbour Barhour Barbour Henry Henry Henry Barbour Henry Henry Coffee Pike Pike Dale Henry Barbour Crenshaw Barbour Houston Henry Barbour Houston Henry Barbour Houston Henry Barbour Henry

Troup ls Bonifay Dothan sl Bonifay ls Cowarts ls Faceville sl Dothan Is Lucy ls Varina ls Faceville sl Red Bay sl Red Bay sl Orangeburg fsl Troup is luka ls Bonifay ls Dothan si Orangeburg sl Orangeburg ls Faceville sl Esto ls Smithdale sl Dothan ls Dothan sl Gritney sl Dothan is Esto ls Orangeburg sl Norfolk fsl
Don~ay IVI.I~lupny Is

~

4.8 5.2 4.7 5.2 5.1 5.2 4.9 5.2 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.9 5.3 5.1 5.1 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.2 4.3 5.2 4.7 5.4 5.4 5.2 5.0 5.3 5.5 5.3

2,390*
2,)440*
21,420* 3,270* 3,)590*

1,310 2,370 2,500
2,150

2,510 1,450 3,310 1,780
2, 320

2,960

3,540* 1,900* 31,720 2,920*

71*
69 74*

1,780
2,190

3,470*
2,)580*
3, 840 3,110

68 63
62

3,080 3,200
3,240 3,270 2,)070 3,710 2,)090
1,910

2,600*
3,830 4,650
2,390*

71*
74 72 74 75 76*

73 74 75 74 71

2,220
3,050
2,110

3,060 4,570* 31,750*
2,140

69
69

71

72*
74* 73* 75 75

3,290
2, 800*

69 62 72 75

2,280 2,>670
3,190

3,030* 2,430

68
67 72 69 68 66

76*
73* 74 67 71 70*
v

2,210

3,470
2,)630

2,880

2,740

enr

Continued

TABLE 7 (CONTINUED). EFFECT OF LIMING ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

no.

Sie Farmer

County

Soil type

pH 4.9
5.3

Soil-test Ca/acre Lb. 230
230

Yedar lime Lb. Lime Lb. lime Pct.
75 70

rd Lime Pct.
75 72

162 T. & H. Littlefield Houston Sunsweet is 201 J.B. Beck Houston Tifton si 223 T. Fain Geneva Esto fsl 148 R.W. Hughes Houston Dothan si 127 J.C. Hardwick Henry Red Bay si 126 P. Martin Coffee Red Bay si 180 Golden Bro. Henry Gritney si 154 D. & L. Hartzog Barbour Red Bay si 200 J. Best Houston Orangeburg si 164 B. Lindsay Henry Dothan is 163 M. Griffin Henry Orangeburg is 160 D. Noweil Dale Red Bay si 153 G. Crowley Henry Dothan is 161 D. Beasley Henry Dothan is 142 Thomas & Hopkins Houston Norfolk si 183 M.O. Johnson Henry Rumford is 141 W. L. Trawick Henry Dothan Is 269 R. Beaty Barbour Fuquay is 140 S. Farmer Henry Dothan si 188 D. Beasley Henry Orangehurg si 128 Parker Farms Henry Norfolk si 129' M. Barnett Henry Gritney si 'Florigiant was the variety in this experiment. *Treatments different at 10 percent levelfgnificance.

33,020

5.0 5.3 5.5 5.2 5.3 4.9
5.3
5.2

230 240 240 250 260 270
270
280

5.5
5.1 5.2 5.2 5.6 5.7 5.5 5.5

280
290 300 320 330 400 410 420

5.6
5.8 5.8

450
450 680

3,500 1,370 3,750 2,640 3,020 1,590 3,440 3,770 2,)800 2,150 3,>020 3,580 2,550 2,770 3,480 3,820 4,940 2,980 2,600 2,)500
380

3,290 3,620 1,740* 3,620 2,740 3,050 2,490 2,930 4,110 2,660 2,260 3,040 3,850 3,010 2,770 3,240 3,880 4,900 3,180 2,500 2,420
2,850*

74
78

73
78

65
73 62 75

67
72 69* 76

76
76

76
76

73
71 72 73 71 69 77 75

74
73 73 73 71 69 77 75

76
66 76

75
65 76

5.1

130

52

63

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

19

Six experiments were conducted on soils in which calcitic limestone was compared with dolomitic limestone, table 8. At each site, there were four unlimed plots, four plots limed with dolomitic limestone, and four limed with calcitic limestone. Soil-test Mg ranged between 7 and 28 pounds per acre. Only the lowest Mg site (7 pounds per acre) showed an advantage for dolomitic over calcitic limestone. No other incidence of yield response to added Mg amendment was found for peanuts. Limestone versus Basic Slag There are several industrial by-products on the market that are effective liming materials. One is a waste material from steel manufacturing, generally called basic slag. Because of the decline of steel making in Alabama, there is now much less interest in the use of basic slag as a liming material than in earlier years. To demonstrate the effectiveness of basic slag as a calcium source for peanuts when properly applied, five experiments were conducted on soils ranging in soil-test Ca from 130 to 410 pounds per acre, table 9. The Florunner variety was planted in each experiment. The test area consisted of four unlimed plots, four limed with dolomitic limestone, and four limed with basic slag. Each liming material was spread on turned land at a rate of 1 ton per acre and incorporated into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil by disking. No other land preparation was used prior to planting. This procedure ensured that the liming material remained in the pegging zone during fruiting where its calcium was needed for pod-fill. Either yield or grade was increased by both lime sources on the two soils with soil-test Ca at 130 or 140 pounds per acre, table 9. There was no yield or SMK increase with soil-test Ca at 280 pounds per acre or higher. This was consistent with results of other liming experiments, tables 7 and 8. It was noted earlier that topdressing with basic slag at early bloom was ineffective in supplying Ca for pod filling, table 6. However, the results reported in table 9 show that if basic slag is incorporated in the pegging zone prior to planting, it will react with the acid soil and release adequate Ca for a crop of peanuts that same year. Lime Suspensions During the latter half of the 1970s, there was much interest in applying limestone as a slurry. The concept was based on (1) utilizing liquid-fertilizer equipment more effectively and (2) using high-

N

0
TABLE 8. A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF CALCITIC AND DOLOMITIC LIMESTONES ON YIELD GRADE OF

AND

FLORUNNER
None Pct.

PEANUTS

Site
no.

Farmer

County Pike Houston Dale Henry Houston Barbour

Soil

type

pH .1 .0 3.1

171

146

Mi. Thrash T.&H.
Littlefield B. Delonev. Jr.

Troup is Dothan is luka is Red Bay sl Dothan si Smithdale si

Soil test Ca/acre Mg/acre Lb. Lb. 140

7

None Lb. 3.080
2.670

Yield/acre Calcitic Dolomitic Lb. Lb.
3.340 2,680 3260 2,180 3.840* 2,430 3,110 2140

Grade Calcitic Dolomitic Pet. Pct.

74

73

72

147

210

130 150 J. Kelly 4.8 130 148 .W. ughes 3.3 24 149 Q. Brown 4.7 190 *Treatmlent different from control at 10 percent level of significance.

10 14 16 1
28

3.200
2.320

72
72

3,340*
360

3.470*
360

73
63

72
73

73 73*

74
7

3.73i0
2.220

74 74*

79

73

TABLE 9. A COIPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF 1 TON PER ACRE OF SPRING-APPLIED LIMESTONE AND BASIC SLAGON' YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

C
Sie

Farmer

Sie.Si

County

Soil

type

etYield/acre pHoCa/es NntLm
pH C-ar Nn ie

Lb.
163 166 16 D. & L. Hartzog A. Drinkard Barbour Pike

Lb.
3.310 2,190

Lb.
3.7i20 2,600* 260 2, 77i0 3,880

asc slag Lb.

Naai
None

Grade Lime Pet. slag' Pet. mn

Pet.
66

V'arina ls

Orangeburg fsl
Dta Norfolk sl s Dothan is

3.2 3.3
52 3.6

130 140 20 330 410

3.470 2,610*
2,,0 820
3.980

73
71

141

Thomas & Hopkins .LnsyHny

W. Trawick L.

Houston
Henry

2, 770 280
3,820

3.3

77

6

71* 74
71 7 77i

x
m

74

70

737142 Z 76
0

*Treatm~ent different fr'om control at 10 percent significance level.

z

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

21

grade, finely ground limestone. The suspensions usually consisted of about 50 percent limestone, 48 percent water, and 2 percent clay (as a suspension stabilizer). Although the per-pound cost of lime was greater in suspension than in dry form, proponents argued that suspensions were also more effective because of more even distribution and the higher neutralizing value of the lime's extra fineness. For lime slurries to approach economic competitiveness with regular agricultural limestone, dealers proposed that the slurry be added at a rate of 1,000 pounds per acre. This would supply about 500 pounds of actual limestone. Since peanuts appeared to be a suitable candidate for the use of lime slurries, seven experiments were conducted on low-calcium soils in which lime slurries were compared with dry limestone. Each test site consisted of four plots with each of the following six treatments: (1) no lime, (2) 1,000 pounds per acre of lime slurry (500 pounds of actual lime), (3) 500 pounds per acre of dry, extra fine limestone, (4) slurry at a rate recommended by the Auburn Soil Testing Laboratory, (5) dry, extra fine limestone at recommended rate, and (6) agricultural grade limestone at recommended rate. The lime slurry was applied by a commercial applicator, and the dry materials were applied with a small tractor-drawn fertilizer spreader. All were applied on turned land and incorporated into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil; Florunner peanuts were planted shortly thereafter. Results show that recommended rates of both dry and slurry lime (1,000 pounds per acre) increased yields and/or grades in five of the seven experiments, table 10. In contrast, the slurry rate (500 pounds per acre) of lime increased yields in only two cases (sites 198 and 221) and grades in three. The determining factor in each case was lime rate and not lime source. Thus, there was no additional benefit realized by having the limestone suspended in water. LIMING AND GYPSUM EXPERIMENTS Although numerous experiments have demonstrated that properly applied limestone is an effective calcium source for peanuts, it is not certain that lime is always incorporated as it should be. The principle is that the incorporated limestone should be in the top 3 to 4 inches of soil during pod filling time. The limestone should, of course, contain sufficient fines to react with the acid soil and release its calcium. Farmers usually lime their peanut fields at the convenience of lime vendors and spreaders. This may be in the fall, winter, or spring. The

TABLE 10. EFFECT OF LIME SUSPENSIONS ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no.

Soil test pH Ca/acre Lb.

No lime Lb. 1,310
2,150 1,780

224
199 222

4.7
5.2 5.0

80
110 130

Grade Yield per acre Recommended rate' 500 lb./acre No Recommended rate' 500 lb./acre Slurry Dry Slurry Dry Agr. lime Slurry Dry Slurry Dry Agr. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. D. Hartzog, Barbour County, Dothan sandy loam 1,550 1,900 2,520* 2,220* 2,420* 46 55 53 56* 56* 59* L. Spivey, Henry County, Faceville sandy loam
2,310 1,720 -

D

2,960* 2,920*

-

67 68

71 69

-

75*
-

-

L. Spivey, Henry County, Faceville sandy loam
69

M. Murphy, Henry County, Bonifay loamy sand 197 5.4 150 3,240 3,610 3,540 3,660 3,710 3,830 74 76 D. Hartzog, Barbour County, Dothan sandy loam 198 5.2 160 3,270 3,920* 4,210* 4,440* 4,530* 4,650* 71 77* Parker Farms, Henry County, Esto loamy sand 221 5.2 180 2,090 3,280* 3,980* 3,410* 3,490* 3,750* 62 70* Parker Farms, Henry County, Esto loamy sand 196 5.3 220 3,190 3,100 3,530 3,530 3,510 3,470 69 70 'Lime rate recommended by the Auburn Soil Testing Laboratory." *Treatment different from control at 10 percent level of significance.

75 75* 67* 67

74 76* 73* 73

75 75* 74* 70

75 76*

c C

73* 67 r,

m z -I
o

z

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

23

land preparation that follows lime spreading varies among farmers, and may not always result in lime being in the pegging zone when it is needed by the peanut. In an effort to sample the effectiveness of farmers' liming programs for peanuts, several fields were chosen that had been limed either the fall, winter, or spring before planting peanuts. Thus, soil samples prior to liming were unavailable. Each limed test area was divided into eight plots: four received 500 pounds per acre of gypsum at early bloom and the other four received no treatment. Several varieties were grown. Of the 13 experiments with Florunners, gypsum caused a small yield increase in two, one of which (site 287) also had higher SMK, table 11. Gypsum increased yield and SMK in 1 out of 11 Sunrunner experiments and 2 of 8 NC-7 experiments. Gypsum had no effect in a single experiment with GK-3, but increased yield in a lone experiment with GK-7. In summary, there were yield increases from gypsum in just 6 of the 36 experiments. Since properly applied lime is a highly effective Ca source, the responses to gypsum over and above lime were probably due to inadequate lime in the pegging zone because of the method used to mix lime with the soil. The lime ended up out of reach of the pegs. Lime versus Gypsum To determine if limestone was as effective as gypsum as a calcium source, several experiments were conducted in which lime and gypsum were compared directly or gypsum was evaluated as a supplement to lime, table 12. In each case, lime was broadcast at 1 ton per acre on turned land and incorporated by disking into the upper 3 to 4 inches of soil just ahead of planting Florunners. Gypsum was topdressed about 60 days after planting (early bloom) in 12- to 14-inch bands over the rows at rate of 500 pounds per acre. Yields were increased by liming in nine experiments. Of the five Ca-deficient sites where lime and gypsum were compared, lime was superior in two cases (sites 144 and 143) and equal in the others (sites 152, 125, 145). Of the eight Ca-deficient sites where gypsum was evaluated as a supplement to lime, gypsum failed to increase yield or grade in every case. The conclusion to be reached from these experiments is that if lime at recommended rates is properly incorporated into the soil and left in the upper 3 to 4 inches during pegging time, there is no need for supplemental soluble calcium sources.

TABLE 11. EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF PEANUTS PLANTED ON FRESHLY LIMED SOIL

no.e

Farmer

n.pH

SieSi-etYield/acre County

Soil typeSolts

Ca/acre

gypsum

No

Grade
Gypsum gypsum

No

Gypsum

Lb. 262 261 287 317 300 288 260 123 285 258 316 346 304 286 290 318 264 284 265 347 315 339 345 305 Florunner variety Deal Bro. C. Trawick H. Martin Deal Bro. H. Lee B. Deloney, Jr. J. Stanford L. Falkner R. Holland D. Reeves Wallace Jr. College J. Solomon J. Bostick Sunrunner variety H. Martin B. Deloney, Jr. Deal Bro. J. Stanford R. Holland D. Reeves Parker Farms Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College G. Whatley J. Bostick Dale
Henry Houston

Lb. 3,650 3, 770 3,100 3,340 4,380
3,830

Lb. 4, 130* 3,470 3,570* 3,580 4,470
3,630

Pct. 74 73 51 70 73 75 76 78 73 77 76 77 73 58 74 71 77 73 76 74 77 71 72 75

Pct. 76 73 72* 69 73 73 75 80 74 76 76 77 76 69* 75 72 76 74 76 74 77 71 71 77 Continued

Fuquay sl
Troup ls Varina ls

Henry Pike Dale Henry Henry Henry Houston Dale Henry Henry
Houston

Dothan sl Wagram ls Bonneauii s Greenville sl Norfolk sl Norfolk fsl Dothan sl Tifton sl Orangeburg sl Dothan sI
Varina ls

6.4 5.9 6.4 7.2 6.0
6.5

6.1 6.1 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.7 6.5 6.5 6.3 7.3 6.1 6.3 6.6 6.2 6.3 6.7 6.5 6.6

240 380 460 520 600 610 620 720 760 940 11,050 1,250 11,360 460 530 600 660 680 770 800 970 980 1,100 1,670

2,640 3,700 4,380 4,250 3,940 2,810 3,660 2,760 3,930 4,020 3,070 4,440 3,680 3,930 3,470 3,020 3,050 3,)490

2,650 3,870 4,350 4,000 3,980 2,940 3,690 3,250* 3,870 4, 050 2,940 4,600 3,730 3,980 3,670 2,990 2,960 3,420

Dale Henry Henry Henry Houston
Henry

Dale
Dale

Houston Henry

Bonneau ls Dothan sl Greenville sl Norfolk fsl Dothan sl Tifton ls Tifton sl Bonifay ls Dothan sl Dothan sl

TABLE 11 (CONTINUED). EFFECT OF 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF GYPSUM APPLIED AT EARLY BLOOM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF PEANUTS PLANTED ON FRESHLY LIMED SOIL

no.

Site

Fre
Fre

County

Soil type

pH

Soil-test Ca/acre Lb.

gypsum
Lb. 3,780 2,820 3,200 4,570 4,100 2,930 4,850 3,630 3,940 3,410 3,260 2,960

Yield/acre NoypNo Lb.

Grade gpum Pct. 58 66 61 66 71 63 72 65 66 62 66 72 Gpu Pct. 60 72* 69* 67 72 66* 71 67 61 63 70 72 LV

Gypsum

NC-7 variety Deal Bro. Henry Dothan si B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Bonneau is H. Lee Pike Wagram is H. & S. Hall Houston Troup ls D. Reeves Houston Dothan sl Wallace Jr. College Dale Bonifay is Wallace Jr. College Dale Tifton si C. Turner Geneva Bonifay is GK-3 variety 320 Deal Bro. Henry Dothan si 341 Wallace Jr. College Dale Bonifay is GK-7 variety 321 Deal Bro. Henry Dothan si 340 Wallace Jr. College Dale Bonifay is *Treatment different at 10 percent significance level. 319 289 299 301 267 342 313 348

7.3 6.3 6.1 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 7.4 6.4 7.4 6.6

570 580 650 730 800 990 1,040 1,360 650 830 640 1,130

3,300 3,330* 4,100* 4,580 4,050 3,280 4,690 3,680 3,820 3,520 3,670* 2,720

TABLE 12. A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF 1 TON PER ACRE OF SPRING-APPLIED LIMESTONE, 500 POUNDS PER ACRE OF EARLY-BLOOM-APPLIED GYPSUM, AND BOTH SPRING-APPLIED LIME AND EARLY-BLOOM-APPLIED GYPSUM ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

Yield per acre Soil test pH Ca/acre Lb. 50 80 100 100 120 130 160 190 200 220 240 250 270 300 400 450 680 None Lb. 710 320 2,500 2,370 1,450 1,780 2,070 2,220 2,110 2,210 2,640 3,020 3,440 3,580 3,480 2,600 2,500 Lime Lb. 2,390* 2,440* 3,590* 3,270* 1,900* 2,580* 3,060* 2,180 2,800* 2,630* 2,740 3,050 2,930 3,850 3,240 2,500 2,420 Gypsum Lb. 1,140* 1,850* 2,830* 2,510 2,350 2,460* 2,780 2,860 2,800 3,420 2,650 2,360 Lime + gypsum Lb. 2,430* 2,250* 3,890* 3,420* 2,200* 3,140* 2,610* 2,520 2,850 3,700 3,150 None Pct. 66 61 65 63 65 62 69 72 68 68 64 73 75 72 69 66 76

Grade Lime Gypsum Lime + gypsum Pct. 70* 74* 73* 70* 71* 71* 72* 73 76* 71* 67* 72 76 73 69 65 76 Pct. 73* 71* 75* 75* 74 77* 70* 73 77 74 65 75 Pct. 73* 76* 71* 70* 73* 72* 78* 75* 75 72 69 -

225 C. Trawick Henry Troup ls 4.8 144 T. Baxter Henry Bonifay s 5.2 179 J. & L. Fenn Barbour Cowarts ls 5.1 182 D. Hartzog Barbour Bonifay ls 5.2 152 J. Stanford Henry Lucy Is 5.2 125 W. Griffin Coffee Red Bay sl 4.9 143 D. Spivey Barbour Orangeburg ls 5.2 149 Q. Brown Barbour Smithdale sl 4.7 145 B. Ward Henry Dothan sl 5.4 177 H. Adams Barbour Orangeburg 5.5 127 J.C. Hardwick Henry Red Bay sl 5.5 126 P. Martin Coffee Red Bay sl 5.2 154 D. & L. Hartzog Barbour Red Bay sl 4.9 153 G. Crowley Henry Dothan ls 5.2 183 M.O. Johnson Henry Rumford ls 5.7 188 D. Beasley Henry Orangeburg sl 5.8 128 Parker Farms Henry Norfolk sl 5.8 *Treatment different at 10 percent significance level.

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

27

INOCULATION AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS Peanuts rely on nodulating rhizobia to obtain nitrogen (N) from the air and then make it available to the plant. This is a highly efficient method of obtaining N and is considerably less expensive than applying equivalent rates of commercial N fertilizers. Since there is continuing interest among growers to add fertilizer N or to introduce a superior strain of rhizobia, an effort was made to determine if more effective rhizobia were plausible for improved production. Twelve fields that were isolated from peanut production by distance or by forest or by both and where peanuts had not been grown for at least 15 to 20 years were chosen for study. Florunner seed were inoculated at planting with a highly effective rhizobia strain and planted in four plots at each site. Another four plots were planted without the inoculum. In addition, still another four plots were fertilized with ammonium nitrate at a rate of 100 pounds per acre of N at 10 of the 12 sites. A thirteenth site compared N fertilizer with no fertilizer. In no case did inoculation of seed affect either yield or grade of Florunners, table 13. Ammonium nitrate, on the other hand, actually lowered yield at two sites, but was without effect at the others. The results of these experiments further confirm that neither seed inoculation nor N fertilizer is needed for maximum yields. MISCELLANEOUS FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS Because questions continually arise about secondary nutrients, micronutrients, and speciality fertilizers, experiments evaluating some of these have been conducted from time to time. Micronutrient Mixture Six fields were selected at random for evaluating a micronutrient mix containing boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc. The mix was added beside the row soon after Florunners had emerged to a stand. The results of these experiments, reported in table 14, show no benefit in yield or grade at any site. Except for boron, micronutrients have not been found to be beneficial for peanut production in Alabama.

TABLE 13. EFFECTS OF NITROGEN

(N) FERTILIZER

AND SEED INOCULATION ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no. 227 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Lucy Is 228 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Alta Vista fsl 234 Deal Bro. Dale Dothan is 235 Deal Bro. Dale Dothan is 236 C. Trawick Henry Troup is 239 R. & B. Price Pike Lucy is 240 J. & L. Harden Pike Red Bay Is 252 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Dothan is 253 B. Deloney, Jr. Dale Gritney Is 254 C. Trawick Henry Troup Is 255 Deal Bro. Dale Lucy Is 256 Deal Bro. Dale Fuquay Is L. Pope Coffee Dothan is 257 *Treatment different at 10 percent level of significance.

None Lb. 2,910 2,600 3,170 3,930 4,190 4,040 4,170 4,740 4,620 3,690 3,890 2,600 2,690

Yield per acre N fertilizer Inoculation Lb. 2,600 2,620 3,510 4,340 3,990 3,930 4,010 3,880* 4,580 3,470 2,070* Lb. 3,030 3,130 4,210 4,210 3,760 4,320 4,890 4,730 3,420 4,070 2,410 2,610

None Pct. 71 74 74 76 74 75 79 72 74 73 75 75 74

Grade N fertilizer Pct. 69 71 75 77 71 74 79 69 73 72 73

Inoculation Pct. 71 72 76 72 75 78 71 75 72 75 74 74

TABILE 14. EFFECT OF A MIXTURE OF MICRONUTRIENTS' ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Yield/acre no. Farmer County Soil type pH None Lb. 4,170 5,140 2,070 2,630 2,500 3,470 Micronutrients Lb. 4,190 5,220 2,150 2,450 2,390 3,320
None

Grade2 Micronutrients Pct. 66 76 79 76 71 66

194 213 172 204 214 195

J.L. Falkner A. Dorman J.H. Lewis M. Strickland J. Luster C. Turner

Henry Crenshaw Houston Crenshaw Crenshaw Geneva

Red Bay sl Orangeburg fsl Orangeburg sl Orangeburg sl Norfolk fsl Dothan ls

5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.4 6.5

Pct. 66 75 78 73 74 69

1Micronutrient rates per acre were: 10 pounds zinc sulfate, 10 pounds polybor (boron), 5 pounds manganese sulfate, 5 pounds copper sulfate, and 0.25 pound sodium molybdate. 2 There was no incidence of hollow-heart (boron deficiency).

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

29

Boron (B) Fertilizer Boron (B) deficiencies have been reported for peanuts in Alabama (4), but they are not common and have been essentially eliminated by the use of boron-containing fertilizers. Before it became almost impossible to find a B-deficient peanut field in Alabama, several experiments were conducted with B fertilizer on Florunners. Boron was added as sodium borate (20 percent B) in a preplant herbicide or in early sprays of fungicide for leafspot control. The rate was 0.5 pound of B per acre. The symptom of B deficiency is known as "hollow-heart," an internal defect of the nut. Of the nine experiments reported here, in which soil-test B ranged from 0.032 to 0.11 pound per acre, "hollowheart" affected 1 to 2 percent of harvested nuts in five experiments. This is high enough to cause growers to be penalized. In each case, however, a 0.5-pound rate of B completely eliminated symptoms of hollow-heart, table 15. Previous experiments in Alabama had shown that hollow-heart was unlikely to occur unless soil-test B was less than about 0.1 pound per acre. Within the B deficiency range of this experiment, the percentage of hollow-heart did not appear to increase particularly at the lower levels of soil-test B. "Pop-up" Fertilizer Because early growth and yield of some crops are sometimes enhanced by "pop-up" or starter fertilizer applications on soils testing high in P and K, a single experiment was conducted with Florunners and "pop-up" fertilizer. A solution of 11-37-0 was applied in the drill at planting at a rate of 9 gallons (or 100 pounds) per acre. The results, given in table 16, show no effect on yield or grade. Magnesium (Mg) Fertilizer Because soils of southeastern Alabama are typically low in soil-test Mg, some believe that a Mg fertilizer would improve peanut yields in that area. However, there are no research data to support this supposition. A single experiment was conducted on a low-Mg soil in which magnesium sulfate was added at a rate to supply 50 pounds per acre of Mg. Although soil-test Mg was only 7 pounds per acre, it was clearly enough for maximum yield, table 17.

TABLE 15. EFFECT OF BORON (B) FERTILIZER ON YIELD, GRADE, AND HOLLOW-HEART OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no. 174 173
151

Farmer B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr.
T Deloney, Jr. B. atr;er

County Dale Dale
Dale

Soil type Alaga ls Troup ls Lucy ls s.4 oia Troup ls Troup ls Alaga ls Trouplis Faceville ls IlvulJ 1~

Soil-test B/acre Lb. 0.032 .034
.036

Yield/acre No B B Lb. 2,130 2,030
,0

Grade
No B B

Hollow-heart
No B B

2,740
2,830 2,890 2,650 2,610 2,870 U)VVV

2,1750
,5

Lb. 1,950 1,850

Pct. 75 67
77 77

Pct. 77 64
78

Pct. 2.0 1.0
0.0 000/15

Pct. 0.0 0.0
0.0

205 193 216 211 203 IIV

B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney,. Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. C. Trawick J.L. Falkner U~

Dale Dale Dale Henry Henry UQ1~

.040 .043 .086 .090 .11 'vvr

2,840 3,310 2,670 2,570 2,840 I)U

76 73 73 75 78

77 75 72 75 78

2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

TABLE 16. EFFECT OF

"Pop-up"

FERTILIZER' ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site

Farmer

County

Soil type

Soil test P/acre Lb.
30

K/acre Lb.
162

Yield/acre No FNo fertilizerfertilizer Lb.
3,190

Grade Pct.
72

271

J.H. Lewis

Houston

Dothan sl

3,210

Lb.

Pct.
73

'Nine gallons (100 pounds) per acre of 11-37-0 in the drill.
TABLE 17. EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM (MG)' FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

no.e

Farmer

n.Mg/acre

County

Soil type

Soil

No Mg Lb. 2,310

Yield/acre

Grade___________

Mg Lb. 2,340

No Mg Pct. 71

Mg Pct. 71

136

B. Deloney, Jr. Coffee

McLaurin ls

Lb. 7

'Magnesium sulfate to supply 50 pounds per acre Mg.

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

31-

REDUCED TILLAGE EXPERIMENTS
A major potential for cost reduction in peanut production is to re-

duce the number of times a tractor and its equipment pass over the field. Fewer passes also lessen the likelihood of excessive soil compaction. These are the major reasons behind instituting cultivation systems known as "no till," "minimum till," or "reduced tillage." Some of these programs have been immensely successful. Acceptance of reduced tillage systems to peanut production has been slow in developing. This was partially because peanuts need a good, firm seedbed and partially because of the belief that disease control requires the moldboard burying of crop residue, a belief that was not founded on convincing research data. However, the economical and erosion-control advantages of reduced tillage systems are so great that they should be evaluated for peanut production. That was the purpose of a project initiated in 1982, table 18. Cooperating growers were chosen because of their interest in reduced tillage and their access to suitable equipment. Individual farms performed all production operations except harvesting and grading of the nuts. Each experiment consisted of eight plots: four
TABLE 18. EFFECT OF REDUCED TILLAGE ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS

Site no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

Yield/acre Cony. Reduced tillage tillage Lb. 4,170 4,860* 3,830 3,650* 4,050 5,260 2,600 4,220* 2,540* 4,370* 3,990 3,620 3,660 2,940 3,030* 4,820 2,970* 2,940 4,040 2,870

Grade Cony. Reduced tillage tillage Pct. 75 72 74 74 75 72 60 70 62 69 75 70 73 78 73 75 76 63 69 72 Pct. 74 71 74 73 73 71 59 69 66 71 76 70 71 77 72 75 75 67* 70 74

Lb. 3,940 Fuquay Is Pike 246 R. & B. Price 4,200 Orangeburg is Pike 248 J. Harden 3,980 Norfolk sl Pike 249 H. Lee 5,100 Norfolk is Pike H. Lee 250 4,260 Bonifay is Pike K. Harden 251 5,410 Bonifay sl Pike J. Harden 276 2,800 Houston Varina sl H. Raley 277 4,860 Houston Dothan sl G. Crowley 275 2,220 Lucy is Henry R. Holland 278 3,370 Fuquay is Henry G. Croft 279 Orangeburg is 4,090 Pike 311 J. Harden 3,570 Fuquay Is Pike J. Harden 312 Orangeburg ls 3,870 Pike G. & S. Ellis 297 3,380 Bonifay is Dale B. Deloney, Jr. 329 3,920 Dothan sl Henry W.O. Gulledge 330 Orangeburg sl 4,810 Dale J. Snell 331 3,390 Dothan sl McKay Farms' 2 Dale 332 Orangeburg Is 3,080 Henry W.O. Gulledge 333 3,730 Houston Dothan sl W.O. Gulledge3 334 2,930 Fuquay is Henry W.O. Gulledge 335 'Planted with peanuts in grain sorghum residue. 2Planted with peanuts in corn residue. Planted with peanuts in soybean residue. *Treatment different at 10 percent significance level.

32

32

ALABAMA

ALABAMA AGRICLTRLEPIMNSAIO

AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT

STATION

were moldboard plowed and disked in a conventional manner, and the other four were seeded directly into small-grain stubble (wheat, rye, or oats) with a Brown-Harden Ro-Till® or a KMC Ripper-Planter®. No plot was cultivated after planting; weeds were controlled by herbicides. Plots were monitored throughout the season for weed and disease infestations. Although weeds were more numerous on reduced-till plots early, they were controlled by herbicides in all cases. There was one site (site 250) in which early crabgrass control was delayed, and this apparently resulted in a lower yield for reduced tillage. There were no indications of differences in disease intensities because of til lage systems. Yields were lowered at four sites (250, 275, 330, and 332) and increased at four (247, 248, 278, and 279) by reduced tillage. One of the yield increases occurred in a field that was planted to peanuts the previous year after 35 years ofbahiagrass (site 247), table 19. Except for the severe crabgrass infestation and its delayed control at site 250, no explanation can be offered as to why yields were increased or decreased by reduced tillage. Nevertheless, these results suggest that tillage has a significant future role in peanut production.
TABLE

19.

EFFECT OF REDUCED TILLAGE ON YIELD AND GRADE OF FLORUNNER PEANUTS FOLLOWING BAHIAGRASS

Site no.

Farmer

County

Soil type

Yield/acre Conv. Reduced tillage tillage 5,290* 4,360

Grade Cony. Reduced tillage tillage 74 76 73 76

247 C. Green Pike Fuquay Is 4,900 328 J.B. Beck Houston Ocilla sl 4,390 *Treatment different at 10 percent significance level.

SOIL FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS WITH PEANUTS

33

LITERATURE CITED (1) ADAMS,
FRED AND DALLAS HARTZOG. 1979. Effects of a Lime Slurry on Soil

pH, Exchangeable Calcium, and Peanut Yields. Peanut Sci. 6:73-76. (2) AND D.L. HARTZOG. 1980. The Nature of Yield Responses of Florunner Peanuts to Lime. Peanut Sci. 7:120-123.

(3)

DUGGAR, J.E, E.E COUTHEN, J.T WILLIAMSON, AND D.H. SELLERS. 1917.

Peanuts-Tests of Varieties and Fertilizers. Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 193.

(4)
(5)

HARTZOG, D.L. AND FRED ADAMS. 1973. Fertilizer, Gypsum, and Lime Ex-

periments with Peanuts in Alabama. Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 448.
HILTBOLD, A.E., D.L. HARTZOG, R.B. HARISON, AND FRED ADAMS. 1983. In-

oculation of Peanuts on Farmer's Fields in Alabama. Peanut Sci. 10:79-82.

SOIL FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS WITH PEANUTS

35

APPENDIX
SOIL-TEST VALUES OF CHECK PLOTS IN EXPERIMENTS ON FARMERS' FIELDS

Site No. 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 257 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168

Farmer B. & W. Holland E.E. White G. Crowley J. Senn W.R. Davis W.R. Davis J. Adams J.L. Falkner Mobley Farms W. Griffin P. Martin J.C. Hardwick Parker Farms M. Barnett H. Hicks J. Stanford M. Barnett Parker Farms Parker Farms T. Baxter B. Deloney, Jr. J. Smith Q. Brown J. Brown S. Farmer W.L. Trawick Thomas & Hopkins D. Spivey T. Baxter B.L. Ward T. & H. Littlefield B. Deloney, Jr. R.W. Hughes Q. Brown J.R. Kelly B. Deloney Jr. J. Stanford G. Crowley D. & L. Hartzog Fuller-Crowley Parker Farms Parker Farms J. & T. Beasley J. & R. Taylor D. Nowell D. Beasley T. & H. Littlefield M. Griffin B. Lindsay D. & L. Hartzog A. Drinkard G. & R. Holland M. Strickland 'P 9,U T:cclC:,lr(

County Houston Dale Houston .Pike Crenshaw Crenshaw Henry Henry Henry Coffee Coffee Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Coffee Pike Barbour Barbour Henry Henry Houston Barbour Henry Henry Houston Dale Houston Barbour Henry Dale Henry Houston Barbour Coffee Henry Henry Henry Henry Dale Henry Houston Henry Henry Barbour Pike Henry Crenshaw

Soil pH 5.9 6.3 5.0 6.3 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.1 5.2 4.9 5.2 5.5 5.8 5.1 5.9: 5.1 6.2 5.8 5.9 6.2 5.1 5.3 4.9 5.1 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.0 5.1 5.3 4.7 4.8 6.2 5.2 5.2 4.9 5.6 5.8 6.3 6.1 5.7 5.1 5.2 4.9 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.9 5.9

Soil-test values (lb./acre) Mg K P Ca 440 410 210 360 410 490 560 720 430 130 250 240 680 130 420 200 590 360 460 470 180 220 120 140 450 410 330 160 80 200 210 150 240 190 130 250 120 300 270 290 280 600 380 420 290 320 230 280 280 130 140 450 720 33 49 38 23 131 118 49 31 37 47 61 32 84 62 15 34 22 47 21 50 17 48 14 57 93 25 61 17 43 56 60 37 49 16 54 25 16 79 28 16 61 49 40 23 79 151 84 49 52 29 15 27 14 30 19 110 67 83 81 37 95 115 81 70 95 181 55 55 41 41 59 43 24 32 71 40 29 105 71 87 34 26 68 70 55 68 99 156 40 50 50 154 26 41 45 24 43 87 83 132 120 58 41 51 65 54

Year

43 1973 81 1973 28 1973 93 1973 55 1973 63 1973 104 1973 209 1973 34 1973 15 1973 12 1973 32 1973 142 1973 18 1973 79 1974 8 1974 19 1974 95 1974 100 1974 81 1974 7 1974 40 1974 8 1974 7 1974 67 1974 30 1974 68 1974 11 1974 8 1974 32 1974 10 1975 14 1975 18 1975 28 1975 16 1975 35 1975 9 1975 12 1975 38 1975 42 1975 49 1975 62 1975 27 1975 43 1975 25 1975 18 1975 18 1975 47 1975 21 1975 18 1975 19 1975 111 1976 93 1976 Continued

36

ALABAMA

AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT

STATION

SOIL-TEST VALUES OF CHECK PLOTS IN EXPERIMENTS ON FARMERS' FIELDS

Site No. 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 IVV

Farmer R. Beaty R. Beaty M. Trash J.H. Lewis B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. H. Adams & Sons F. Robinson H. Adams M. Strickland J. & L. Fenn Golden Bros. D. Hartzog D. Hartzog M.O. Johnson E.E. White C. Weeks H. Lee M.O. Johnson D. Beasley B. Deloney, Jr. T. Fuquay M.O. Johnson M. Strickland B. Deloney, Jr. J.L. Falkner C. Turner Parker Farms M. Murphy D. Hartzog L. Spivey J. Best J.B. Beck B. Deloney, Jr. J.L. Falkner M. Strickland B. Deloney, Jr. L. Spivey J. & L. Fenn J.C. Caraway J. L. Falkner B. Deloney, Jr. C. Trawick C. Trawick A. Dorman J. Luster C. Trawick B. Deloney, Jr. G. & A. Carter C. Trawick F. Newman White & Sowell Parker Farms L. Spivey J YVVL

County Barbour Barbour Pike Houston Dale Dale Barbour Henry Barbour Crenshaw Barbour Henry Barbour Barbour Henry Henry Houston Pike Henry Henry Dale Barbour Henry Crenshaw Dale Henry Geneva Henry Henry Barbour Henry Houston Houston Dale Henry Crenshaw Dale Henry Barbour Barbour Henry Dale Henry Henry Crenshaw Crenshaw Henry Dale Pike Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry ~~VUVCV I

Soil pH

Soil-test values(lb./acre) Ca P K Mg 13 47 39 33 25 27 20 39 31 14 42 116 42 15 16 47 67 58 51 89 9 47 17 89 11 8 19
-

5.7 160 5.5 180 5.1 140 5.8 400 6.3 280 6.5 390 5.2 200 4.9 230 5.5 220 5.1 160 5.1 100 5.3 260 6.2 320 5.2 100 5.3 110 5.7 420 5.8 440 5.0 160 5.7 400 5.8 450 6.2 250 6.7 590 5.1 120 6.2 650 6.4 330 320 5.4 6.5 1,160
5.3 5.4 5.2 5.2 220 150 160 110

'68 59

13 11 16 78 43 21

90 46 30 55 9 24 49 66 48 62 75 116 10 36 36 68 16 62 56
-

21 14 7 77 37 14 27 20 40 24 11 21 16 19 14 82 33 19 85 85 48 60 11 119 71 42 91
-

1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1976 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977 1977
1978 1978 1978 1978

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

i

i i

i

i

i

i

5.3 5.3 5.9 6.0 6.0 5.9 5.7 6.0 5.7 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.7 5.6 6.4 5.5 5.8 4.6 5.8 5.6 4.9
5.2 5.0

270 230 220 440 900 220 270 430 160 420 220 190 240 510 740 190 300 70 100 220 110
180 130

14 36 12 61 76 12 15 29 11 65 18 25 25 33 75 30 24 20 32 81 28
-

68 116 9 74 72 9 52 42 23 64 18 13 34 67 92 15 16 25 32 43 73
-

49 47 28 77 82 28 75 57 17 83 35 49 31 37 180 34 31 11 149 12 19
-

1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1978 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979 1979
1979 1979

i

i

i

1

r I

r 1

( 1

Continue(
d

SOIL

FERTILITY

EXPERIMENTS

WITH

PEANUTS

37

VALUES WITH IN SOSOIL FERTIL-TEST OF CHECKNTS PLOTS EXPERIMENTS ON FARMERSANUTSFIELDS

Site No. 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276

Farmer T. Fain D. Hartzog C. Trawick S. Bradshaw B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. C. Trawick Deal Bro. Deal Bro. R. & B. Price J. & L. Harden Deal Bro. Deal Bro. C. Trawick Deal Bro. Parker Farms R. & B. Price J. & L. Harden Alley J. Solomon J. Solomon McAllister Farms F. Britt R. & B. Price C. Green J. Harden H. Lee H. Lee K, Harden B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. C. Trawick Deal Bro. Deal Bro. L. Pope D. Reeves Deal Bro. J. Stanford C. Trawick Deal Bro. Deal Bro. J. Stanford D. Reeves Deal Bro. D. Reeves M.C. Douglas R. Beaty B. Deloney, Jr. J.H. Lewis Deal Bro. W. Shelley J. Burke G. Crowley J. Harden

County Geneva Barbour Henry Houston Dale Dale Henry Dale Dale Pike Dale Dale Dale Henry Dale Henry Pike Pike Houston Henry Houston Houston Coffee Pike Pike Pike Pike Pike Pike Dale Dale Henry Dale Dale Coffee Houston Dale Henry Henry Dale Dale Henry Houston Dale Houston Houston Barbour Dale Houston Dale Houston Barbour Houston Pike

Soil pH 5.0
4.7

Soil-test values(lb./acre)Year K Mg Year Ca P 230
80

57
-

171
-

39
-

1979
1979

u'

4.8 6.5 6.1 5.9 6.2 4.9 4.9 5.7 5.7 5.0 5.0 5.5 5.3 4.8 5.7 5.9 4.3 5.6 5.9 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.0 6.9 5.4 5.3 6.0 5.8 6.2 6.0 6.5 5.3 6.1 5.9 6.4 5.4 6.1 6.6 5.6 6.4 5.4 5.5 5.9 5.9 5.0 5.9 6.3 6.1 5.8

50 1,240 490 760 430 210 300 340 480 330 350 250 140 140 310 470 160 530 900 1,030 1,140 560 640 590 680 960 1,130 230 370 430 400 330 610 940 190 620 380 240 220 660 770 270 800 190 420 390 700 100 1,180 860 1,410 580

30 20 22 18 4 4 2 19 31 8 15 20 16 40 39 33 27 45 48 35 123 42 30 26 24 161 129 45 15 79 8 6 81 62 20 58 80 4 20 53 63 19 74 51 55 39 30 19 22 15 80 110

14 182 81 106 28 21 43 45 52 68 45 47 41 38 69 55 62 52 94 56 115 48 37 46 77 92 62 85 121 67 44 40 122 97 27 131 57 29 28 135 115 31 112 66 33 74 162 34 86 40 130 73

4 1979 220 1980 50 1980 107 1980 92 1981 13 1981 16 1981 49 1981 95 1981 16 1981 12 1981 44 1981 11 1981 8 1981 55 1981 99 1981 48 1981 92 1981 57 1981 65 1981 99 1981 115 1982 66 1982 305 1982 124 1982 104 1982 114 1982 28 1982 56 1982 42 1982 62 1982 59 1982 172 1982 206 1982 20 1982 120 1982 49 1982 74 1982 22 1982 113 1982 181 1982 29 1982 169 1982 37 1982 79 1982 69 1982 108 1982 9 1982 47 1983 212 1983 113 1983 60 1983 Continued

38
vv

ALABAMA

AGRICULTURAL

EXPERIMENT

STATION

SOIL-TEST VALUES OF CHECK PLOTS IN EXPERIMENTS ON FARMERS' FIELDS

Site No. 277 278
279

Farmer H. Raley R. Holland
G. Croft

County Houston Henry Henry Henry Coffee Coffee Coffee Henry Henry Houston Houston Dale Dale Dale Houston Pike Pike Pike Henry Henry Pike Houston Pike Pike Houston Pike Pike Henry Henry Dale Dale Dale Coffee Coffee Pike Pike Dale Dale Dale Dale Henry Henry Henry Henry Henry Barbour Barbour Barbour Dale Dale Houston Houston Dale Henry

Soil pH 6.9 6.4 6.1 5.3 5.9 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.3 6.0 5.3 5.3 5.2 6.0 6.0 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.0 6.4 5.9 6.0 6.5 6.5 5.6 5.7 5.5 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.3 7.2 7.3 7.3 7.4 7.4 5.9 6.0 6.0 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.2 5.9 5.7

Soil-test values(lb./acre) Ca P K Mg 1,490 750 380 230 570 670 780 680 760 460 460 610 580 530 590 160 160 160 340 390 430 720 650 600 730 340 360 1,360 1,670 210 240 200 490 420 720 1,000 1,040 1,030 970 1,050 520 600 570 650 640 310 390 410 1,030 1,000 790 1,030 586 450 57 83 55 26 82 42 44 33 29 79 79 14 21 22 52 46 36 46 16 24 18 56 184 181 39 24 25 30 28 103 100 101 65 37 118 82 44 37 42 42 9 6 13 5 6 30 28 24 32 30 66 54 46 17 115 120 66 94 157 208 225 61 65 81 92 73 80 72 92 50 50 50 49 40 41 47 63 58 98 51 54 190 159 41 39 37 73 62 65 105 91 217 105 105 44 63 38 63 56 51 79 76 97 106 83 77 79 117 109 1983 114 1983 167 1983 20 1983 53 1983 83 1983 105 1983 180 1983 220 1983 168 1983 159 1983 119 1983 105 1983 111 1983 114 1983 22 1983 23 1983 21 1983 67 1984 63 1984 58 1984 88 1984 97 1984 88 1984 86 1984 88 1984 97 1984 137 1984 109 1984 50 1984 60 1984 48 1984 72 1984 86 1984 75 1984 104 1984 355 1984 328 1984 365 1984 166 1984 124 1985 160 1985 143 1985 184 1985 180 1985 44 1985 55 1985 58 1985 116 1985 119 1985 142 1985 199 1985 43 1985 100 1985 Continued

280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330

Mobley Farms D. Averett D. Averett D. Averett R. Holland R. Holland H. Martin H. Martin B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. G. Crowley R. & B. Price R. & B. Price R. & B. Price T. Beasley T. Beasley G. & S. Ellis McAllister Farms H. Lee H. Lee H.D. & S. Hall L. Richardson L. Richardson J. Bostick J. Bostick R. Harris R. Harris R. Harris G. Caylor G. Caylor J. Harden J. Harden Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Deal Bro. Deal Bro. Deal Bro. Deal Bro. Deal Bro. D. Hartzog D. Hartzog D. Hartzog B. Deloney, Jr. B. Deloney, Jr. McAllister Farms J.B. Beck B. Deloney, Jr. W.O. Gulledge

-- -^-------

SOIL FERTILITY EXPERIMENTS WITH PEANUTS
SOIL-TEST VALUES OF CHECK PLOTS IN EXPERIMENTS ON FARMERS' FIELDS

39

Site No. 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 vvv

Farmer J. Snell McKay Farms W.O. Gulledge W.O. Gulledge W.O. Gulledge B.W. Danzey D. Hartzog Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College Wallace Jr. College D. Hartzog D. Hartzog G. Whatley J. Solomon Parker Farms C. Turner Falkner Farms ULIU~V UVL~V~V II

County Dale Dale Henry Houston Henry Henry Barbour Dale Dale Dale Dale Dale Barbour Barbour Houston Henry Henry Geneva Henry UCIIV

Soil pH 5.9 6.2 6.0 6.3 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.0 6.7 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.1 6.1 6.5 6.7 6.2 6.4 6.1 V

Soil-test values (lb./acre)Year Ca P K Mg Year 550 610 670 810 490 950 390 480 980 1,130 830 990 250 330 1,100 1,250 800 1,360 460 71 47 28 63 43 17 4 49 33 42 39 39 9 14 103 22 37 23 33 156 81 126 91 81 241 28 80 216 181 169 138 34 40 165 234 135 73 104 105 139 131 107 191 183 46 62 95 72 73 67 50 56 158 163 59 75 88 1985 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986 1986

\\ ith in

agr icul-

tula ii
eX erx
serves(2

Seireb unit inl0
ttl~tj( ) So t1it are,

A~th~ll1'1 i esiy0
h1t

the liceds ot field crop,)-) liv estock, foretstry,
1 and

tic

ulturil producers 1gion inin each rt Ala,1i1i. evrx citiZel of the Stile has ait Sttice in this research h2 pr )grin, Sinc e ally
advantagteL

1

t
t4

ft-()I It

t(2\ v

and

Illote

(icl tt n

il xxix s oft produc ing atnd hmttdling firm produ~c ts dired lx henefits the consumting puhlie.

(js
a i

2

® Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn.
E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter.
Tennessee Valley Substation. Belle Mina. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville. North Alabama Horticulture Substation, Cullman. Upper Coastal Plain Substation, Wintield. Forestry Unit, Fayette County. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton. Forestry Unit, Coosa County. Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill. Plant Breeding Unit. Tallassee. Forestry Unit, Autauga County. Prattville Experiment Field, Prattville. Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction. The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place, Union Springs. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden. Forestry Unit, Barbour County. Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville. Wiregrass Substation, Headland. Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton. Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Covington and Escambia counties. 20. Ornamental Horticulture Substation, Spring Hill. 21. Gult Coast Substation, Fairhope. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 9. 10. 11. 12. 13 14. 15. 16 17 18. 19.