May 1994                                          SCSB# 380

RESEARCH-BASED SOIL TESTING INFORMATION
AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR PEANUTS ON COASTAL PLAIN SOILS

Chapter 1 Soil Sampling C. C. Mitchell Background Tillage practices influence nutrient distribution in soil with depth. Long-term fertilization under reduced tillage can result in P and K accumulations in the surface 4 inches of the soil profile whereas regular moldboard plowing and disking result in a relatively uniform distribution of P and K to the depth of plowing (Randall 1980). Routine chisel plowing can result in uniform P and K incorporation. Incorporating P to a depth of 2 to 3.5 inches with a disk does not result in any greater downward movement, than with no-tillage (Touchton et al. 1982). Reduced tillage practices in peanut production have not been widely adopted. Moldboar plowing remains the accepted practice for controlling diseases and preparing a seedbed (Hartzog et al. 1990). Because of this practice, nutrient distribution is relatively uniform within the plow layer, and preplant soil sampling for soil pH and extractable P, K, Mg, Ca, and micronutrients would be no different from sampling for any other crop. Therefore, soil samples should be taken from the surface 6 to 8 inches. The possible exception is soil testing for Ca. The production of high yielding, quality peanuts requires a high Ca level in the pegging zone (0 to3 inches) during bloom and subsequent pegging. This is covered in more detail in chapter 6. Recommendations Plow-layer samples should be collected any time prior to planting for preplant, broadcast lime and fertilizer application. Recommended lime should be applied after turning the land and mixed with the surface 3 to 8 inches. If a preplant sample is not taken or if recommended lime is turned under or not applied, a pegging zone soil sample should be taken in the upper 3 inches of soil prior to pegging. Topdress gypsum applications should be based on results of this sample. References RANDALL, G. W. 1980. Fertilization practices for conservation tillage. Proc. of Iowa’s 32nd Annual Fertilizer and Ag. Chemical Dealers Conf. Jan. 8-9, 1980. DesMoines, IA. EC-1498. Coop. Ext. Serv. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA. TOUCHTON, J. T., W. L HARGROVE, R. R. SHARPE, AND F. C. BOSWELL. 1982. Time, rate and method of phosphorus application for continuously double-cropped wheat and soybeans. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46: 861-864. HARTZOG, D. L, J. O. DONALD, A. K. HAGAN, T. W. TYSON, L. CURTIS, J. C. FRENCH, J. R. WEEKS, J. EVEREST, A. MILLER, J. R. CREWS, AND J. L. JOHNSON. 1990. Peanut production in Alabama. Ala.Coop. Ext. Serv. Cir. ANR-207. Auburn University, AL. Background information and references for this section were prepared from information compiled by W. O. Thom, University of Kentucky, and presented at a joint meeting of SRIEG-18 and NCR-13 at St. Louis, MO, November 7-9, 1988. Document Prepared by: Leigh H. Stribling, lstribli@acesag.auburn.edu Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University

return to top of page

return to contents