Planting Date and Row Pattern Effects on Peanut Pod Yield and Quality.

Peanut are produced across a wide geographic area in the state of Mississippi.  While the historical production area in the state is similar in climate and soil characteristics to traditional Southeastern U.S. production areas, much of the recent expansion in acreage has occurred in the Mississippi Delta and the northern half of the state; areas which are different in both climate and soil types to traditional runner peanut producing regions and are also limited by the length of the growing season. As a result, planting date is an important consideration for growers in these areas. This study was designed to determine optimum planting date for Mississippi peanut growers, the yield penalty associated with planting after this date, and if there is an advantage to a twin row planting pattern versus the traditional single row pattern.  Peanut cultivars Georgia-06G and Georgia-09B were planted in both twin rows and single rows at four planting dates per site-year in Poplarville, MS in 2014 and in Starkville, MS in 2014 and 2015.  At each site-year, the earliest planting date occurred when 10-cm soil temperature reached 20 degrees Celsius, and subsequent planting dates occurred at approximately one week intervals following initial planting.  Twin rows resulted in a 6.8 percent yield advantage over single rows.  The optimum planting date was the earliest date, which average 8-May across site-years.  A pod yield penalty of 67.7 kg ha^-1 was observed in twin rows, while a penalty of 53.0 kg ha^-1 was observed in single rows, for each day planting was delayed after optimum.  To maximize yield potential as it relates to planting date, Mississippi growers should plant peanuts as soon as possible after soil temperature reaches 20 degree Celsius.