WEED MANAGEMENT IN PEANUT USING STALE SEEDBED TECHNIQUES

Field studies were conducted from 1991 through 1993 to determine the e ffects of stale seedbed management practices on weed control in peanut . Main plots were four levels of stale seedbed management: deep till ( 23 cm) and plant the same day (standard system), deep till 6 wk early and shallow till (7.6 cm) at 2 wk intervals prior to planting, deep ti ll 6 wk early and application of glyphosate (1.1 kg ai ha(-1)) 1 wk pr ior to planting, and deep till 6 wk early without additional treatment prior to planting. Sub-plots were three levels of weed management fol lowing peanut planting; intensive, basic, and cultivation alone. Stale seedbed management practices stimulated weed emergence when followed by other control measures prior to planting. Populations of Florida be ggarweed. Texas panicum, and yellow nutsedge were lower when stale see dbeds were shallow tilled at 2 wk intervals prior to planting, resulti ng in greater peanut yields. Weeds on nontreated stale seedbeds were d ifficult to control once peanut was planted and reduced yields. Stale seedbed management practices generally had no effect on the quantity o f foreign material contaminants originating from weeds, soil, or peanu t plant in harvested peanut. These results indicate that shallow tilla ge on stale seedbeds can reduce weed populations prior to planting and increase peanut yields.