To grow peanuts well, the selection and application of fertilizers must be correct.
The growth characteristics of peanuts are different from those of other crops. Peanut roots can develop rhizobia, which can fix nitrogen from the air for the growth of peanuts. Therefore, peanuts do not require large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer will cause peanut plants to grow excessively, only developing vines and leaves, with fewer flowers and less pegging, ultimately affecting the yield. During the growth process of peanuts, the demand for phosphorus, potassium and calcium fertilizers is higher. Phosphorus fertilizer can promote the growth of peanut roots, flowering and pegging. Potassium fertilizer can make peanut stems strong, reduce lodging and make the pods plumper. Calcium fertilizer can reduce empty shells and shriveled seeds of peanuts and increase the number of seeds.
When growing peanuts, the application of base fertilizer is the most crucial fertilization. If the base fertilizer is used in sufficient quantity, the peanut plants will grow steadily throughout their growth period. Prioritize the use of well-rotted organic fertilizers, such as well-rotted farmyard manure. Organic fertilizers can improve soil structure and provide nutrients continuously. When using organic fertilizers, ensure they are fully decomposed; otherwise, unrotted fertilizers may generate heat in the soil, damaging the peanut roots and seeds. Base fertilizer can be used in combination with balanced compound fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The fertilization should be done before plowing, spreading the fertilizer evenly on the ground and then burying it deep into the soil through plowing to ensure a uniform mixture of the fertilizer and soil. Do not pile the base fertilizer directly near the seeds to prevent excessive fertilizer concentration, which may cause seed burning or seedling rot.
From the emergence of peanut seedlings to the period before flowering is the seedling stage. During this stage, the main growth is of the root system and the plant. If the base fertilizer is applied adequately and the soil fertility is normal, no additional fertilizer is needed during the seedling stage. However, if the soil in the field is poor and the peanut seedlings grow weakly with yellow leaves, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be supplemented. Nitrogen fertilizer should only be used in small quantities, as excessive use can cause excessive growth of the plant, affecting flowering and fruiting in the later stage. It is sufficient to maintain stable soil nutrients during the seedling stage without deliberately promoting growth.
The flowering and pegging stage is a crucial period that determines the yield of peanuts. During this period, peanuts produce a large number of flowers and the pegs penetrate the soil to form pods. At this stage, the application of nitrogen fertilizer should be reduced, and the focus should be on supplementing phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. According to the growth situation in the field, an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium-containing fertilizers can be applied as top dressing. At the same time, calcium fertilizer can be supplemented. Calcium fertilizer can ensure the normal development of peanut pods, reducing the occurrence of empty shells and small peanuts. When applying fertilizer, it can be scattered near the roots of peanuts, then shallowly hoed and covered with soil, or applied with water to facilitate absorption by the peanut root system.
During the pod formation and fruit enlargement stage of peanuts, the fruit pods start to grow larger and the seeds become more plump. During this period, the main task is to ensure the supply of potassium fertilizer to make the peanut seeds full and prevent the plants from prematurely declining. If the leaves turn yellow and fall off too early, it will affect the accumulation of nutrients, resulting in smaller fruit pods. During this period, no more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied. Nitrogen fertilizer will cause the plants to continue to grow vigorously, with nutrients only being supplied to the leaves and not to the fruit pods. At the same time, maintaining stable soil moisture is beneficial for the absorption of fertilizers and the enlargement of fruit pods.
When growing peanuts on a daily basis, there are specific usage directions for common fertilizers. Organic fertilizers can improve the soil and provide long-lasting nutrients, making them suitable for use as base fertilizer. Compound fertilizers have comprehensive nutrients and are convenient to use, making them suitable for base fertilizer and early fertilization. Superphosphate mainly supplements phosphorus and promotes peanut flowering and pod formation. Sulfate of potash mainly supplements potassium and increases the fullness of peanut seeds. Calcium fertilizer is mostly used during the flowering and podding stage to reduce peanut shellings. Farmers can reasonably combine and use fertilizers based on their own soil conditions and fertilizer sources.
In actual farming, many farmers tend to have incorrect fertilization habits. The first type is to only apply nitrogen fertilizer, believing that a tall plant indicates good growth, but eventually it leads to excessive growth without fruiting. The second type is to apply too much fertilizer at once, causing root and seed burn, resulting in uneven emergence. The third type is to completely avoid using calcium fertilizer, causing many empty shells in peanuts and resulting in low yields. The fourth type is to neglect management and fertilization in the later stage, causing early senescence of peanuts and failure for the fruit pods to grow properly. The fifth type is to apply fertilizer too close to the seeds, affecting the emergence. All these mistakes will directly reduce the yield of peanuts.
Here is a simple and effective method for fertilizing peanuts. For the base fertilizer, use organic fertilizer combined with balanced compound fertilizer to ensure the basic nutrients. During the flowering and podding stage, supplement with phosphorus, potassium, and calcium to increase the number of fruits. During the podding stage, potassium fertilizer should be the main component to ensure full grains and prevent premature aging. Throughout the growth period, control the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and avoid over-application or excessive application. If the soil is fertile, apply less fertilizer; if the soil is poor, increase the amount appropriately. Make flexible adjustments.
Fertilizing peanuts is not complicated. The key lies in choosing the right type of fertilizer and applying it at the right time. By properly combining fertilizers and avoiding incorrect operations, peanuts can emerge uniformly, have more roots, fewer empty shells, and achieve stable yields. Farmers manage according to the actual growth period and do not need to blindly apply fertilizers. This way, they can reduce costs and increase the overall yield of peanuts.
