Row Orientation and Seeding Rate on Yield, Grade, and Stem Rot Incidence of Peanut with Subsurface Drip Irrigation1

Abstract A 2-yr study was conducted on a Tifton loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) soil near Sasser, GA during the 2001 and 2002 growing seasons to determine the effects of three plant row orientations (single, twin, and multi-row) and two plant populations on the pod yield, market grade, and stem rot disease incidence of peanut when irrigated with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI). Seeds were planted at the recommended rate [20 seeds/m; 1.0R (recommended rate)] and half the recommended rate (10 seeds/m; 0.5R). Plots were irrigated daily to replace estimated daily evapotranspiration (ETa). Twin row orientation had the highest pod yield with 5407 kg/ha compared with the other row orientations, which averaged 4897 kg/ha. Market grade (total sound mature kernels, TSMK) for the twin and diamond row orientation was 1% point higher (74.7%) compared with the single row orientation. Pod yield was 8.5% greater for the 1.0R seeding rate compared with the 0.5R seeding rate. Stem rot inc...