Tillage

Peanuts can be produced successfully with many different tillage systems, but in any system, they do better on a slight bed. If subsoiled and bedded, knock the bed down so that at least a 16” wide flat bed is available (lower than typical cotton bed). If land is disked flat, throw up a bed with coulters on the planter. Bottom plowing is not recommended unless absolutely necessary to turn down potash (to reduce competition for Ca uptake in the pegging zone) or bury residue on non-rotated fields.

Strip-tillage has given equivalent yields on lighter soils and we have been able to control weeds without preplant incorporated (PPI) herbicides under irrigated strip-tillage conditions. Strip-tillage into a cover crop or other crop residue reduces tomato spotted wilt. Use coulters on the strip-till planter to establish a slight planting bed. Planting between the previous rows is recommended to minimize roots and stalks in the pegging zone. In general there are fewer worm problems in strip-till peanuts.