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Growth habit of rhizoma peanut affects establishment and spread when strip planted in bahiagrass pastures

Abstract:

Planting rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) in strips in bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pastures may be an economical approach to increase sward nutritive value, decrease dependence on N fertilizer, and promote sustainable mixed-species pastures. Released cultivars and germplasms of RP range in growth habit from decumbent to upright, differences that may affect their spread and response to defoliation in grass pastures. The objectives were to quantify initial establishment characteristics and subsequent spread of RP entries following strip planting. Treatments were the factorial combinations of two defoliation practices after planting (haying or grazing every 28 d) and four RP entries (Arblick, Ecoturf, Florigraze, and UF Peace). By the year after planting, decumbent types Arblick (51%) and Ecoturf (48%) had greater RP ground cover than upright-growing UF Peace (34%), but they were not different in cover than the intermediate type Florigraze (40%). Haying resulted in greater cover than grazing (51 vs. 31%). Spread of RP into adjacent bahiagrass was reduced by grazing compared with haying during the year of planting (0 and 0.24 m, respectively) and year after planting (0.34 and 0.67 m, respectively). Results suggest that decumbent Ecoturf and Arblick and intermediate growth habit Florigraze can be established successfully in strips in bahiagrass pasture, and establishment is favored when swards are used for hay rather than grazing during the first 2 yr.