May 1994                                         SCSB# 380



RESEARCH-BASED SOIL TESTING INTERPRETATION

AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS 

FOR PEANUTS ON COASTAL PLAIN SOILS





C. C. Mitchell (Editor)



For a complete list of regional project
committee members and other contributing authors,

see LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS




  

    
    
Foreword


    
In 1989, an informal group of extension and experiment station
    scientists from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia met in Headland,
    Alabama. The meeting was led by Director Gale Buchanan of the
    Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station. The purpose of this
    meeting was to compare soil test methodology, calibration, and
    fertilizer recommendations for peanuts on Coastal Plain soils
    common to all three states where runner-type peanuts are grown
    and to review pertinent research projects on peanut fertility.
    There was some concern that soil analyses, calibration, interpretation,
    and recommendations changed at state lines for peanuts on very
    similar soils and that current research results had not been
    utilized in soil testing programs for peanuts on Coastal Plain
    soils. As a result of this group’s efforts, a subcommittee
    of SERA-IEG-6 (formerly SRIEG-18), “Soil Testing and Peanut
    Fertility,” was established. Gary Gascho (GA) was appointed
    chairman of this subcommittee.



    The subcommittee met again in 1990, 1991, and 1992 with additional
    peanut researchers and extension specialists from Florida, Georgia,
    Alabama, and North Carolina. This regional publication is a review
    of the pertinent research discussed at the meetings and a consensus
    opinion regarding sampling procedures, soil test calibration
    for P, K, Ca, Mg, and micronutrients, and suggested fertilizer,
    lime, and gypsum applications. The interpretation guidelines
    and recommendations presented in this report are intended to
    guide soil testing programs for peanuts on Coastal Plain soils.
    Differences will continue to exist from state to state and region
    to region because of farming traditions, regional economic differences,
    political influences on recommendations, and recognized differences
    in soils, climates, and peanut varieties. The Peanut Fertility
    Committee of SERA-IEG-6 presents this publication as a guide
    and justification for research-based changes in local soil test
    interpretations and recommendations for peanuts.


    
Note on Units

    Because most state soil testing programs are oriented toward
    user services, interpretation guidelines and recommendations
    are often reported in English units of pounds per acre. Calibration
    research is often reported in mg kg-1 mg dm-3,
    or mg L-1 of extractable nutrient and kg ha-1
    of applied nutrients. This report is intended for use by soil
    testing laboratories making interpretations and recommendations
    for peanut producers. Therefore, soil test extractable nutrients
    are converted (where appropriate) and reported in mg kg-1
    or mg L-1 depending upon source of the data. Fertilizer
    recommendations are expressed in terms of pounds per acre of
    P205, K20, Mg, Ca, etc.


    
C.C. Mitchell, Editor

    May 1994


    


    
Table of Contents


    

    
This bulletin from the Southern Extension and
    Research Activity Information Exchange Group-6 (SERA-IEG-6) included
    researchers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
    Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico,
    South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It is being electronically
    published with the approval of the Directors of the Southern
    Agricultural Experiment Stations. Under the procedure of cooperative
    publications, it becomes in effect, a separate publication for
    each of the cooperating stations listed.


    Information contained herein is available to all persons regardless
    of race, color, sex, or national origin.

    
Document Prepared by: 

    Leigh H. Stribling, lstribli@acesag.auburn.edu

    Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 

    Auburn University 

  



  

    
    
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