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Title: WINTER-ANNUAL GRAZING AND TILLAGE SYSTEM EFFECTS ON PEANUT PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN

Author
item SIRI-PRIETO, G - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald
item Raper, Randy

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2004
Publication Date: 10/31/2004
Citation: Siri-Prieto, G., Reeves, D.W., Raper, R.L. 2004. Winter-annual grazing and tillage system effects on peanut production in the soughern coastal plain [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America Annual Meetings. Paper Number 42193. CDROM. Available from ASA/CSSA/SSA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Integrating livestock with peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) offers a profitable alternative for producers but winter annual grazing could result in soil water depletion and soil compaction. We conducted a 3-yr study on a Dothan loamy sand (Plinthic Kandiudults) to develop a dryland conservation tillage system for integrating peanut with winter-annual grazing of stocker cattle. Winter annual forages and tillage systems were evaluated in a strip-plot design. Forages were oat (Avena sativa L.) and annual ryegrass (Lolium mutiflorum L.). Tillage systems included: moldboard and chisel plowing; and combinations of non-inversion deep tillage (none, in-row subsoiling or paratilling) with/without disking. We evaluated soil compaction, soil water content, peanut yield, and annual net returns. Peanut following oat increased soil water extraction (15%) and yields (21%) compared to following ryegrass. Strict no-tillage resulted in the lowest yields (2.29 Mg ha-1, 42% less than the mean) and non-inversion deep tillage (especially in-row subsoiling) was required to maximize water use and yields with conservation tillage. Net return from annual grazing ($185 ha-1) represented 40% of the total return for the best treatment (no-tillage with in-row subsoiling following oat ($462 ha-1). Winter-annual grazing using non-inversion deep tillage in a conservation tillage system following oat can benefit peanut growers, allowing extra income without sacrificing yields.