Peanut Seedling Disease Trial

This peanut seedling disease trial was established to simply evaluate organic seed/soil treatments at plant for any sign that they might prevent a complex of seedling diseases that affect peanut seed germination.  Typically, a conventional grower has a chemical seed treatment to prevent disease, but organic growers have had very few options and so it is not unusual to be forced to replant. At $1.30 per lb. and most peanut farmers planting over 100#’s per acre, cost add up quickly!

This growing season has had strange weather and because of that the test was planted later than wanted. Both air and soil temperatures jumped significantly in May meaning we needed to irrigate before planting – which created its own set of problems. It was hoped we could put these seeds into cold, wet soils to simulate a West Texas April/early May planting but sometimes things don’t work even in the best planning.  Even though it wasn’t ideal we saw a few differences that will help us to adjust what we do in the future for more testing. Listed below are the treatments and rates for the products tested. #7 and #10 serve as checks, #7 is bare seed and #10 is conventionally treated seed with Dynasty, Syngenta Co.  

Plots were 2 rows X 25’ with 100 seed planted per row or 4 seed per 1’ of row.  There were 4 replications of each plot, randomized. Planting date was May 20, 2022, into a previous irrigated site.  0.75 inches rain fell on May 23 and plots were sufficiently moist for good germination.  Peanut seed ‘crack’ was observed on May 26. 

Trt. #	Company	Product	Trt.	Per acre
1	Ecological Laboratories	Quantum-EXP 1	IF	64 oz/ac
2	Summit Agro	AVIV	Seed	10-30 oz/100-gallon water. Soak and dry
3	Summit Agro	AVIV	IF	10-30 oz/100-gallon water.
4	Certis Bio	Double Nickel	IF	Double Nickel LC @ 8 fl oz/acre
5	Certis Bio	Double Nickel	IF	Double Nickel LC @ 16 fl oz/acre
6	American Plant Food	Sigma 5-3-2 Bio	PPI	1000 lbs./ac
7	NA	Untreated Check	NA	NA
8	Corteva	Bexfond	IF	14 oz/ac
9	Valent	EndoPrime (EndoMaxx is organic of EndoPrime but not available at treatment)	IF	2oz/Ac
10	NA	Treated seed check	NA	NA

Looking at the results, there is no statistically significant difference in any of the treatments, but trends indicate some differences especially above the untreated check #7.  Overall, we want to improve both germination percentage and stand establishment with organic product treatments. Seed germination counts were done on May 31 and no further germination occurred.  Ratings of growth were done on June 3, 6, 9 and 13.  Rating scale was 1 – 4 with a 1 being best. Organic treatments 1, 2, and 4 were all rated above the untreated check #7. This gives us a possibility of further testing to see if they continue to show an advantage.

Trt. #	Company	Product	Trt	Rate	Germ. % 5/31	Plot Rating
10	NA	Treated seed check	Seed	Dynasty powder	52.875	1.750
1	Ecological Lab.	Quantum-EXP 1	IF	64 oz/ac	45.857	1.875
2	Summit Agro	AVIV	Seed	10-30 oz/100-gallon water. Soak and dry	43.750	2.125
4	Certis Bio	Double Nickel	IF	Double Nickel LC @ 8 fl. oz/acre	44.250	2.188
7	NA	Untreated Check	NA	NA	43.750	2.438
3	Summit Agro	AVIV	IF	10-30 oz/100-gallon water.	44.125	2.563
8	Corteva	Bexfond	IF	14 oz/ac	35.500	2.813
6	American Plant Food	Sigma 5-3-2 Bio	PPI	1000 lbs./ac	34.625	3.063
9	Valent	Endoprime	IF	2oz/Ac	32.000	3.125
5	Certis Bio	Double Nickel	IF	Double Nickel LC @ 16 fl. oz/acre	37.250	3.188
					Average	2.513