Rotating peanut into established bahiagrass pastures: identifying sustainable tillage operations

Abstract

Integrating bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge) into peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production systems can improve soil structure, and increase peanut yield. A study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 in north Florida to evaluate practices for planting peanut into bahiagrass with three tillage methods i.e.; strip till (ST), ST and high residue cultivation (ST/HRC), and conventional (CT) tillage. Tillage times were 30 d before planting (DATE1) and at planting (DATE2). Peanut grown under CT out-yielded ST/HRC (6940, 6580, and 6370 kg ha(-1) for CT, ST, and ST/HRC, respectively), but there was no difference in economic return across treatments (adjusted revenue avg. = US $2478 ha(-1)). Tillage DATE2 increased total root length compared with DATE1, particularly for CT and ST. The ST/HRC had increased total root length below 30 cm for DATE1. When peanut was planted into bahiagrass, conservation tillage practices maintained adjusted revenue comparable with CT while providing environmental benefits.