Water use, Canopy Closure and Soil Temperature of Three Peanut Varieties Across Two Row Patterns.

Row planting pattern and variety can have a significant impact on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) yield. However, little information is available on the physical differences between varieties and planting pattern. A study was established in three locations during 2005 and two locations in 2006 in southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle. The experiment had a factorial arrangement consisting of three peanut varieties (AP-3, ANORDEN, and GA 02-C), two tillage systems (narrow and wide strip-till), and two row patterns (single and twin-rows) with three replications. Soil moisture content was measured hourly during the growing season with capacitance probes installed to a depth of 30 cm. Soil temperature was monitored in the top 5 cm of each plot. Canopy closure was estimated as percent ground cover using a digital camera.