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Twin-row plantings give peanuts weed control boost

Sep 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Cecil H. Yancy Jr. Farm Press Editorial Staff

Twin-row peanuts provide a weed-management advantage over single rows, according to a University of Florida study. In seven of 10 studies from 2000-2004, Barry Brecke, University of Florida weed scientist, found twin-rows improved weed control from 3 percent to 40 percent for both conventional and strip-till. In regard to yield, twin-rows had higher yields ranging from 6 percent to 35 percent in five of eight studies. Brecke and his colleagues used conventional- and strip-till.

In his presentation at the American Peanut Research and Education Society annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, recently, Brecke listed higher yields, less tomato spotted wilt virus and rapid canopy closure as the advantages of twin-rows over single rows. Using twin-rows may also allow growers to eliminate late-season herbicide applications, Brecke says.

In his study in northwest Florida, Brecke used Georgia Green and C-99R varieties. Standard herbicide treatments were used in the plots. Brecke looked at sicklepod, common cocklebur, spotted spurge, browntop millet, Florida beggarweed, redweed, southern sida and smallflower morningglory.

Florida beggarweed control in twin-row strip-till ranged from 7 percent to 10 percent better than single rows in three of the five years. In two years of the study, there was no difference in strip-till, twin-row control over single rows in regard to Florida beggarweed control.

Sicklepod control was the most consistent in twin-rows. Its control ranged from 6 percent better than single-row control in 2003 to 30 percent in 2001. Both figures were under conventional-tillage, However, sicklepod was controlled better than single rows under strip-tillage in three out of five years.

“The control depended on the year and on the tillage system as to the amount of control,” Brecke says, “but, overall, we are seeing an advantage with twin-row peanuts.”

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