RESPONSE OF VIRGINIA-TYPE PEANUTS UNDER CONSERVATIONAL TILLAGE TO GYPSUM

When peanut is grown under conservational tillage systems which leave residue on the surface, yields are lower than under conventional tilla ge. There is evidence that nutrition plays a roll in the lower yields. In this study, Virginia-type peanuts were grown under conventional an d conservational tillage to determine tillage influence on soil and le af Ca levels and to evaluate yield response to extra gypsum. The Virgi nia-type peanut cultivar NC 6 was grown under conventional till (CT) a nd conservational (NT) systems with three cultivation levels and two g ypsum application levels applied to the NT system. Yields were lower i n the NT system than in the CT system. Yields in the NT system did not respond to cultivation or gypsum rate. Seed and pod Ca increased with increased gypsum application as did soil Ca. Soil Ca increased with g ypsum application. The lack of yield response to cultivation suggests that yield losses occur because of differences early in the growing se ason. Additional work is needed to overcome the peanut yield loss asso ciated with tillage systems which leave residue on the soil surface.