Establishing Soil Moisture Sensor Thresholds for Furrow Irrigated Peanuts in Mississippi.

Irrigation scheduling techniques that optimize yield, quality and water use efficiency for furrow irrigated peanut [Arachis hypogea (L.)] have not been determined.  The objective of this study was to evaluate irrigation scheduling methods that optimize peanut yield, quality, and water use efficiency in furrow irrigated environments.  A field study was conducted in 2015 at Stoneville, MS on a Bosket sandy loam.  Peanuts were planted on 40 inch raised beds and irrigated using FAO-56 (atmospheric modeling) at a 2-inch deficit or with watermark soil moisture sensors at a threshold of -50, -75 and -100 centibar (cbar).  Relative to FAO-56, sensor based irrigation scheduling improved peanut yield and water use efficiency by 13% and 89%, respectively.  Our results indicate peanut yield, quality, and water use efficiency is optimized at an irrigation threshold of -100 cbar.