I recently was in a conversation with a farmer with light green peanuts. While peanuts can have that look at this time of year if they are actively growing, it is important to check root systems for nodulation. If you have fewer than 15 nodules on the taproot 45 days after planting, you should consider applying nitrogen. We have looked at ammonium sulfate for many years, and that is what I recommend at a rate of 500 pounds per acre if the plants are yellow and it is obvious that roots do not have very many, if any, nodules. That is expensive, but peanuts need as much nitrogen as a corn crop would on that soil. Of course, nitrogen fixation is very inexpensive compared with applied nitrogen. We have several tables and discussion about this in 2026 Peanut Information.
It turns out that the farmer in question had peanuts in a new ground situation but was only able to apply inoculant in the hopper with seed. Some roots had nodules and others did not. That is what I would expect, given peat-based inoculant is distributed erratically on seed. Fortunately, this farmer increased the number of packets in the hopper to help overcome the issue. The farmer also applied 200 pounds of AMS last week after our conversation. The following is what I settled on with my recommendation. The price of AMS is considerably higher than the calculations we have in 2026 Peanut Information. In short, I think the farmer has done everything possible to maintain yield potential in that field. The peat-based inoculant is critical in this recommendation. If the peanuts were yellow without any inoculant, I would stay with the 500-pound AMS recommendation as soon as possible.
What I found in research years ago with inoculants is as follows. I’m using estimates as I recall the actual numbers. 3000 pounds in new ground without inoculant or without AMS (yellow plants). 4000 pounds with peat-based inoculant and no AMS. 5000 pounds with in-furrow inoculant and no AMS. I think you are at the 4000 mark without AMS. Add another 500 pounds of yield with your 200 pounds of AMS. I don’t think you will need to do more.
This content is sourced from
NC Cooperative Extension Cabarrus County Center
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
