Strip Tillage for Single and Twin-Row Peanut.

Soil degradation and rising production costs have prompted grower interest in conservation tillage with high residue cover crops for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).  The objective was to evaluate single and twin-row peanut production across three different strip tillage implements with and without a cover crop.  Surface residue following planting, peanut yield, and total sound mature kernels (TSMK), for the cultivar ‘Georgia 06G’, were compared across cover crop treatments [fallow; rye (Secale cereale L.)], tillage implements (KMC, Orthman, Unverferth) and row configurations (single, twin) at two locations (Headland, AL; Tifton, GA) during the 2012 to 2014 growing seasons.  Soil types were a Dothan sandy loam and Orangeburg loamy sand in Headland and a Tifton loamy sand in Tifton.  Surface residue counts varied by location and cover crop treatment with values ranging from 15 to 83% at Headland and 1 to 81% at Tifton.  In the fallow treatment at Headland, the KMC implement retained 36% more residue than the Orthman and Unverferth implements, while retaining 11% more residue than the Unverferth in the rye treatment.  Peanut yields averaged 6% and 19% greater for twin-rows compared to single rows at Headland and Tifton over all three growing seasons.  A significant year X row configuration interaction (P = 0.0190) was observed at Tifton that was attributed to a 29% yield decrease for single rows compared to twin rows in 2014.  Average TSMKs all were above 72 each year at both locations.  Results indicate successful peanut production can be achieved with conservation tillage and high residue.