Rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP), arachis glabrata Benth is a warm season perennial legume, that has good yield, high nutritive value, drought tolerance, persistence, and can tolerate close grazing, however, establishment could require up to 2 yr or more with row planting. A split-split plot experiment was established during 2004 and 2005 to study the influence of four RPP entries (Ecoturf, PI 262826, PI 262833, and Floragraze), two planting rates (1680 and 3360 kg ha-1) and three planting methods (broadcast, disc, and roll; broadcast, crimp, and roll; and 67 cm row spacing furrows and roll) on establishment. For the first four months after planting RPP spread [percentage ground cover(GC) with leaf exposed] was affected independently by planting method (P<0.001) and peanut entry (P<0.05). Crimp and roll generally provided the fastest spread when compared with row planting. Initially PI 262826 and Florigraze peanut spread more rapidly than Ecoturf and PI 262833. A significant interaction between planting method and rate revealed that the higher planting rate (3360 kg ha-1) with the disk and roll and crimp and roll planting methods provided the highest peanut spread initially after planting when compared with row planting. After four months, all planting methods, entries, and rates provided nearly 100% GC with leaf exposed. In 2004 and 2005, five months after planting, percentage canopy GC, revealed the crimp and roll planting method resulted in higher (P<0.05) RPP spread compared with the other treatments until September, at which time no difference (P>0.05) was found between planting methods. High planting rate also increased (P<0.05) RPP spread initially over the low rate, but the difference disappeared after eight months. These data indicate RPP can be successfully established within one year in central Florida.
See more of Management and Quality of Miscellaneous Crops
See more of C03 Crop Ecology, Management & Quality
See more of The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)