SOIL FERTILITY 163 



lowed the problem of maintaining the fertility of peanut soils is much less 

 acute. In view of the fact that a large percentage of the nutrients absorbed 

 by the peanut plant is found in the tops (table 1), the removal of the hay 

 from peanut soils becomes a questionable practice. This is especially true 

 because the organic-matter level of many soils used for growing peanuts 

 is critically low and could, in part, be replenished were the peanut vines 

 returned to the soil. 



The practice of interplanting peanuts with corn has been followed in 

 some localities. One or both crops may be harvested for market or may 

 be hogged-ofif . Experiments at three locations in Alabama were conducted 

 to study the effect of interplanting corn and peanuts upon the yield of 

 cotton and corn grown in a 2-year rotation. The results of these tests 

 (table 13) show that the yields of cotton were higher following inter- 

 planted corn and peanuts than when grown after corn alone. Further- 

 more, the value of the interplanted corn plus peanuts was considerably 

 greater than the corn grown alone. It should be pointed out that the 

 greatest increases in cotton yields were observed at the two locations 

 where the peanut vines were returned to the land. 



SUMMARY 



There appears to be universal agreement on what constitutes an 

 "ideal" soil for growing peanuts. A soil well adapted to the production of 

 this crop has been characterized by many as a well-drained, light-colored, 

 loose, friable sandy loam, well supplied with calcium and with a moderate 

 amount of organic matter. 



A study of the soil-fertility investigations with peanuts reveals a mul- 

 titude of inconsistencies. Many workers have indicated that the peanut 

 plant is quite unpredictable in its response to fertiHzation. While such 

 would often appear to be the case, it seems that many of the apparent 

 anomalies associated with the fertilization of peanuts have arisen through 

 failure to evaluate fully the environmental conditions under which the 

 experiments were conducted. Furthermore, due consideration must be 

 given to the unique growth and fruiting habits of the peanut in interpret- 

 ing experiment results. Recent fundamental studies dealing with the nu- 

 trition of peanuts have been very helpful in interpreting some of the pea- 

 nut fertility research data. More of such investigations are greatly needed. 

 Most southern experiment stations currently recommend that peanuts 

 be grown following other well-fertilized crops. When such a practice is 

 followed, much of the experimental evidence suggests that little may be 

 gained from additions of nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium directly to 



