Commodities: Fieldcrops: Peanuts: 2007 Peanut Update
Replant Decisions
John P. Beasley, Jr.
Ten or more years ago we could stand a few skips in the field and still make respectable yields. With the increase of tomato spotted wilt, this is no longer possible. Getting a good stand of peanuts initially and quickly is an important part of obtaining high yields and grades. A final plant stand of four or more plants per foot of row is the desired goal. Sometimes things go wrong, such as planters not calibrated correctly, planting too deep or too shallow, not enough soil moisture, or cold soils. Peanut seed are among the most delicate seed to handle. Rough handling or exposing seed to extremely high temperatures can have an adverse effect on seedling vigor and emergence. On occasion, there may be a seed quality problem. You should save an unopened bag from each lot of seed you have planted until the end of the planting season. If there is a question on seed quality this may help. We would like to see an acceptable stand within 10-14 days after planting. This should be our goal and we need to do everything possible to obtain a rapid uniform emerging stand of peanuts. Find out as much as possible about the seed you’ve purchased including seed count per pound and germination percent.
If an adequate stand is not obtained by 21 days, do a field inspection and look for rotted or decaying seed or abnormal seedlings. Replanting, in part, is not a complete solution to a problem, but hopefully an adequate management decision. The University of Georgia Extension Service recommendation is to offset planters 2-3 inches to the side of the existing row and replant with 40-50 pounds of seed per acre. Replanting in the existing row is not recommended because the same problems may occur again with Aspergillus crown rot or Rhizoctonia seedling disease. In general, replanting a shorter maturing variety with an already emerged late maturing variety is not acceptable. Too many environmental factors come into play to predict the outcome of this practice. Normally it will be extremely difficult to determine optimum maturity for harvest when there has been a replant situation, resulting in significant yield and grade loss. The more expensive, but more reliable option would be to rework the beds and completely replant the field. This practice would depend on the initial planting date and moisture availability. Do everything possible to avoid replanting peanuts.