Peanuts grown under plastic film mulch see doubled returns

After peanuts are covered with plastic film, soil temperature can be raised and sowing improved; using solar radiation energy can increase effective accumulated temperature by 200-300, with effects of drought resistance, disease prevention and weed suppression, maturing 10-15 days earlier than open-field peanuts, increasing yield by 20%-50%, and achieving returns of over a thousand yuan per mu. 

Film-mulched peanut cultivation techniques: 

1. Select good varieties 

Choose medium-to-late maturing varieties with large individual yield potential, well-developed root systems, disease resistance, lodging resistance, good quality and high yield. Our city selects Haihua No. 1. 

2. Select good land 

Choose fertile, flat, evenly fertile sandy loam with smooth drainage and irrigation; in mountainous areas it can also be planted in gaps between young trees. 

3. Fertilize by formula 

Apply 3000 kg of farmyard manure, 15 kg of ammonium sulfate, 10 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 5 kg of potassium sulfate per mu. Fertilizer should be applied deeply, with a certain isolating layer from the seeds, to prevent seed burning. 

4. Fine land preparation 

Plots to be mulched must be deep-plowed before winter or in early spring, with a plowing depth of about 20 cm, to deepen and mature the plow layer. When harrowing, pay attention to removing residual stubble, clods, and stones from the soil, making the soil fine and the ground flat, achieving a loose top and firm bottom. 

5. Make beds 

Bed width 1 m, bed height 10-12 cm, bed surface width 70-80 cm, small row spacing on the bed surface 35-40 cm. 

6. Sow at the right time, ensure full stand 

For film-mulched peanuts, sow at the right time according to soil moisture and temperature conditions. In our city this is generally from April 20 to May 5, sowing 9000 hills per mu, hill spacing 15 cm, 2 seeds per hill, maintaining 18,000 plants per mu, then covering with soil. To prevent weeds, use 250 g of 43% Lasso emulsifiable concentrate, mixed with 50 kg of water, and spray on the bed surface, then cover with 0.005 mm ultra-thin plastic film, carrying out sowing, soil covering, herbicide spraying, and film mulching as continuous operations, to ensure a full stand in one pass. 

7. Strengthen field management 

1. Inspect the field and protect the film  After mulching, inspect frequently; if the film is lifted by wind, press it down firmly with soil to ensure the film remains intact. 

2. Remove film to help seedlings emerge  When peanut seedlings just emerge, manually break the film to help them emerge, then seal the seedling holes with fine soil. When seedlings grow one true leaf, check again; if the first pair of lateral branches is found growing under the film, promptly lift them onto the film by hand to let the lateral branches grow robustly. After seedlings emerge completely, clear the plants and harden the seedlings; in plots with severe missing plants, germinate seeds and replant. 

3. Control underground pests  In plots with severe underground pests, when making ridges, apply 0.5-1 kg of 5% phorate granules per mu mixed with 15 kg of fine soil and broadcast into the soil. 

4. Spray paclobutrazol  For vigorously growing peanuts, at full flowering stage spray 75 g of paclobutrazol per mu mixed with 50 kg of water, which can control aboveground growth, promote root development, increase pegs penetrating downward, increase pod plumpness and 100-pod weight, and can increase yield by 15%-48%.

5. Irrigate in time  In plots with irrigation conditions, during flowering and pod-filling stages, if plow-layer soil moisture is found below 40%, irrigate in time to ensure more flowers, more pods, and plump pods.