Impact of cultural control practices and fertilization on snail abundance and peanut yield

Abstract

The invasive land snail Bulimulus bonariensis has become a significant pest in the Southern United States. This pest poses a threat to various crops, including cotton, citrus, and peanut, leading to potential yield losses, irrigation issues, and food contamination. This study investigated the effects of tillage and calcium fertilization on snail populations in peanut. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four plot replications using the peanut cultivar Georgia 12Y. Treatments combined tillage methods with dolomitic lime or gypsum fertilization. The results showed that conventional tillage with the addition of dolomitic lime significantly reduced the number of snails compared to tillage plus gypsum, no-tillage plus dolomitic lime, and no-tillage plus gypsum. A slight increase in yield was noted in plots with tillage and gypsum application. These findings highlight the potential of tillage, especially when combined with dolomitic lime, as an effective strategy for managing B. bonariensis in peanut.

Core Ideas

• The invasive snail, Bulimulus bonariensis, poses a significant economic threat to peanut crops in Southeastern United States.
• Tillage has been shown to significantly decrease adult snail population in peanut.
• Conventional tillage combined with dolomitic lime reduced snail populations compared to other treatments.