Re-examination of Growth Regulators for Managing Vine Growth in Newly Released Runner Peanut Cultivars

Summary

Re-examination of growth regulators for managing vine growth and increasing yield potential in Runner-type peanuts in Georgia.

Situation

Sustainability of the Georgia Peanut Crop depends largely on the consistency of a peanut variety to produce across many different micro climates throughout the peanut growing region of Georgia. In recent years, there have been several new varieties developed that perform exceptionally well across many environments and have more desired disease resistance packages. However, growers have been slow to except these new varieties due to their excessive vine growth. Excessive vine growth has caused issues in managing diseases and other pests along slowing harvest down due to the increase in biomass.

Response

Statewide peanut trials were conducted and data compiled over a multi-year period to re-examine the utility of growth regulators to manage vine growth in runner-type peanut. Prohexadione Calcium (PC) is commonly used on Virginia type peanuts to manage their excessive vine growth and promote higher digger efficiency. However; minimal acres of runner type peanuts have had PC applied due to their more compact growth habit, cost of PC ($60.00/A), and negligible yield response. With this in mind, research trials were conducted to examine PC at reduced rates compared to the full labeled rate to determine if reduced amounts of PC could effectively manage the growth of runner-type cultivars along with increasing yield while remaining economical. Cultivar and treatment responses were evaluated based on canopy growth, yield, and grade. Results and recommendations are provided to agricultural agents in each county who in turn educate growers on which varieties perform best for their growers.

Impact

Evaluation of reduced rates of Prohexadione Calcium was a success for growers dealing with excessive vine growth in both managing the crop canopy and increasing yield. These results supported previous growth regulator research on Virginia-type peanut where all rates of Prohexadione Calcium significantly reduced canopy growth compared to the untreated control. The reduction in canopy density reduced digging losses along with increasing infield drying and harvesting efficiency. Furthermore, yield increased significantly for all rates compared to the untreated check with reduced rates performing similarly to the full rate. With vine management and yield increases being similar for reduced rates compared to the full rate, growers now have an economically viable option in dealing with new cultivar with excessive vine growth. Since these trials were conducted, growers have utilized the growth regulator (1/2 rate on average) on an estimated 35,000 acres in 2018 compared to zero acreage in 2016 resulting in an estimated $1 million in the retail Ag industry in Georgia in 2018. The use of the growth regulator also increased yields an average of 600 lb/A (@$0.20/lb) resulting in an increase in gross revenue of $4.2 Million for Georgia growers on the 11% irrigated acres that adopted this new research.

State Issue

Plant Production

Details

• Year: 2018
• Geographic Scope: State
• County: Tift
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources