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The N and K studies should be widely acceptable because farmers are familiar with the need and cost of these elements. The cost of fertilizer is an incentive to adopt practices reducing the amount required, or which make more efficient use of fertilizer applications. Present funding on microelements indicate that significant yield increases occur on those sites with better environments. The wide spread application of micronutrients remains in question.
Perennial Peanut: this crop has been investigated in
ilorida for over 20 years, and appears to have manydesirable qualities. A stand of perennial peanut had been established at the Live Oak Research Station 13 years earlier, and flourished with little care. However, first year attempts to establish it on farm were generally unsuccessful. Immediate though not well integrated-research began on weed control (a primary limiting factor to successful establishment), method of planting, seeding rate, intercropping and grazing. Recent research efforts have better integrated these efforts, and enabled the team to eliminate those which clearly hurt the peanut, like intercropping during the first year.
The high cost of initial establishment and problems in
the'ield have discouraged interest in this crop by clientele members. It is.expected that only clientele who can afford to make the long-term investment required by this crop shall adopt it. At this point, winter and summer grain alternatives appear more promising than does the peanut. Recent trials have revealed that shallow planting depth increases plant stand. This combined with Arbrook can result in a 70-80% stand the Ist. yr.
Because of the long establishment time of the peanut, intercropping trials were initiated in-recently established stands to determine if farmers could make use of this land while the peanut was taking root. Summer corn intercrops failed in newly established stands because weed control was made difficult. Winter grain intercropping appears p omising with both rye and wheat. Two years.' data suggest the peanut forage yield is lowered as nitrogen applied to the grains increases. Overseeding small grains increases annual forage