SOIL FERTILITY 135 



but cause a reduction in peanut quality. However, under the conditions 

 reported in figure 1, this harmful effect of potash on peanut quality was 

 overcome by maintaining an adequate level of calcium in the soil. 



Other studies in Georgia (6, 7, 8, 13), Florida (S, 65, 105), Alabama 

 (1, 49), Mississippi (14), South CaroHna (83) and elsewhere (67) have 

 given no consistent results with potash fertilizers, and it would be im- 

 possible to: rnake a recommendation regarding the use of potash which 

 would ,be applicable under all conditions. Generally the consensus among 

 the southeastern experiment stations is that it is preferable to apply rela- 

 tively large amounts of potash to the other crops grown in the rotation 

 rather than to supply this material directly to peanuts. However, on soils 

 extremely low in potassium or where heavily fertilized crops are not in- 

 cluded in the rotation, it may be desirable to apply some potash directly 

 to the peanuts. 



There is evidence that potash applied to peanuts may be harmful if 

 the material is not used properly. Experiments in North Carolina (20) 

 have shown that stands of peanuts were significantly reduced when 

 either muriate of potash or potassium metaphosphate was placed directly 

 underneath the seed. Furthermore, when potash was applied on top of the 

 row (in the pegging zone) as late as June 15, yields were decreased and 

 a large number of undeveloped- kernels or "pops" resulted. The practice of 

 applying potash to the top of the row as the plants come through the 

 ground has been found to be satisfactory in some localities (20). Investi- 

 gators in Virginia (31) have observed no reduction in peanut stands 

 when potash fertilizers were placed in bands at least 2 inches to the side 

 of the seed and below the seed level. Thus side placement at planting or 

 top dressing at emergence would appear to be the best method of applying 

 potash fertilizers directly to peanuts. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH CALCIC MATERIALS 



The calcium requirements of the peanut plant have long been recog- 

 nized. Jones (61) in 1885, describing a soil suitable for the growing of 

 peanuts, said, "Unless (the soil) contains a goodly percentage of lime in 

 some form in an available state, no land will produce a paying crop of 

 pods, although it may yield large luxuriant vines." In a subsequent dis- 

 cussion, Jones pointed out that a soil must contain adequate calcium in 

 order to insure "solid pods." Thus, the need for and function of calcium in 

 the production of peanuts was recognized some 65 years ago and perhaps 

 earlier. 



