Implications of tillage system and planting date on weed management in peanut

Integrated weed management combines cultural practices with herbicides to achieve sustainable weed control while reducing dependence on chemical inputs. However, limited information is available on how these practices interact to optimize weed suppression and minimize yield loss in peanut. Field studies were conducted in 2023 and 2024 to evaluate the effect of tillage systems (conventional or strip-tillage), planting dates (late April, mid-May, or early June), and three herbicide programs on weed management in peanut. Densities of red spiderling and Benghal dayflower were reduced by more than 50% with conventional tillage compared with strip-tillage 28 d after preemergence herbicides were applied. In contrast, sicklepod was not affected by tillage system. Without preemergence herbicides, crowfoot grass and goosegrass densities were more than 60% greater where strip-tillage was practiced, although herbicides minimized these differences. Broadleaf weed biomass was also reduced with conventional tillage but it had no effect on grass biomass following a herbicide application at mid-postemergence. Peanut planted in late April or mid-May had lower Benghal dayflower and grass densities than early June plantings, while planting date did not influence red spiderling or sicklepod density. Flumioxazin applied alone provided ≥80% weed control, and adding diclosulam improved control of Benghal dayflower, but not red spiderling, crowfoot grass, goosegrass, or sicklepod. Yields were similar between tillage systems when a full array of herbicides were applied; however, conventional tillage with reduced herbicide input yielded 23% more than strip-tillage. Overall, conventional tillage allows greater herbicide reduction than strip-tillage, and planting in late April or early May optimizes weed suppression and peanut yield compared with planting in early June.