Spring Peanut Cultivation Techniques

Spring peanuts have a relatively long growing period and do not require planting immediately after wheat is harvested, as summer peanuts do. Slight variations in the planting date—whether a few days earlier or later—have little impact, so it is essential to sow only after temperatures have stabilized.

When is the best time to sow spring peanuts?

In summary, peanuts are a warm‑season crop, so temperature must be suitable. The optimal soil temperature for sowing is around 12°C, while the ideal temperature range for flowering is 23–28°C, with a minimum of 19°C.

Typical peanut sowing period: When sowing, planting can begin once the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm remains consistently above 15°C for five consecutive days. Be sure not to sow if the temperature falls below 11°C, as this can lead to seed rot and seedling death; even if the seeds do germinate, the resulting seedlings will be weak, negatively affecting yield. Generally, peanuts are planted from mid-to-late April to early May—around the time of Guyu—which is the optimal sowing window. With plastic mulch, sowing can be advanced to mid-to-late March. However, climatic conditions vary by region, so planting dates should be adjusted according to local circumstances, always ensuring that sowing does not occur when temperatures are too low.

Soil preparation and amendment prior to spring peanut sowing

1. Tillage timing: Deep plowing should be carried out in late autumn or early winter to promote soil maturation, accumulate rainfall and snowmelt, and conserve soil moisture; it must be completed no later than before the Qingming Festival of the following year. Deep loosening can be performed prior to sowing.

2. Tillage depth requirements: The tillage depth shall not be less than 20 cm; in general, sandy soils and waterlogged lowlands are not suitable for deep tillage. On plains with thick soil layers and good soil quality, as well as on semi‑hilly loamy soils, deep tillage is recommended, with a depth of 30–50 cm. For hilly, dry, and infertile lands, deep tillage is not advisable; a depth of 25 cm is preferred. Surface vegetation should be incorporated below the 10‑cm plow layer, with a coverage rate of at least 95%. The tillage depth must be uniform and consistent, and the land surface should be leveled after tillage, with no areas left unturned or missed.

3. Ridge and Bed Formation: After the soil thaws in early spring, promptly form ridges and beds. Before ridge‑forming, rake the field to level and refine the soil, ensuring a smooth, compact surface that retains moisture. Maintain a ridge spacing of 80–85 cm, with straight, evenly surfaced ridges and finely textured soil; each ridge should be 10 cm high and have a top width of 55–60 cm.

Fertilization of Spring Peanuts

To achieve high yields in spring peanut cultivation, it is essential to adhere to a balanced fertilization regime that integrates soil fertility maintenance with nutrient application. By maintaining a balanced nutrient supply, soil fertility can be steadily enhanced, ensuring both high and stable yields. This requires combining organic and chemical fertilizers, integrating pre‑crop and in‑season applications, and prioritizing base fertilizer while supplementing with topdressing. For spring peanuts yielding 400–500 kg per mu, the recommended in‑season fertilization ratio is “half the nitrogen, double the phosphorus, and the full rate of potassium.” On this basis, additional mineral nutrients should be applied as needed, depending on local soil fertility conditions. In terms of application methods, deep and layered base fertilization, separate placement of seed fertilizer, early root‑zone topdressing, and split foliar applications are all advisable. Prior to planting, peanut seeds should be inoculated with rhizobium.

Optimal Planting Density for Spring Peanuts

Reasonable planting density is an important practice for making full use of solar energy, maximizing land potential, and increasing yields. The principle of appropriate planting density is: plant more sparsely on fertile soils and more densely on less fertile ones. On plots with deep soil layers, high fertility, ample fertilization, and reliable irrigation, plants tend to be vigorous, so a sparser planting is advisable; conversely, on poorer soils, a denser planting is preferred. For spring‑sown peanuts, which have a longer growing period and taller plants, the sowing density should be slightly reduced compared with summer‑sown peanuts. Common‑type and intermediate‑type peanuts are tall with a broad fruiting zone and a large nutrient‑absorbing area per plant, so they are best planted at lower densities—about 7,800 to 9,100 hills per mu. In contrast, “pearl‑bean” type small peanuts have a shorter growing season and smaller plants, so they can be planted more densely—at approximately 9,000 to 10,000 hills per mu.