Sudeep Singh Sidhu

Prohexadione calcium is commonly used to control excessive peanut vine growth ( Arachis hypogaea L.) by limiting internode elongation. To determine prohexadione calcium impact on peanut growth and productivity, a 2‐year field study was conducted in 2023 and 2024 at the West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, FL. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included prohexadione calcium at 105, 140, and 175 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ , applied as single and split applications, versus untreated control. All treatments significantly reduced plant height, with the greatest reduction (15.8 cm) at 175 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ split application. Chlorophyll content was significantly greater in all treated plots versus the control. The 105 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ split application resulted in significantly greater normalized difference vegetation index than its single‐application counterpart. Peg strength increased from 4.09 N in the control to 5.57 N with 140 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ split application. However, treatment pod yield and digging efficiency did not differ significantly. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships between peg strength and pod yield ( r = 0.51), peg strength and digging efficiency ( r = 0.51), and digging efficiency and pod yield ( r = 0.82). This suggests split application of prohexadione calcium at reduced rates effectively managed vine growth and enhanced crop development, while 140 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ effectively improved peg strength. The yield data alone, which was not significantly different among treatments, suggests prohexadione calcium is uneconomic ($53 ha ⁻¹ for 140 g a.i. ha ⁻¹ chemical plus $16 ha ⁻¹ per application) unless further research demonstrates positive results.

Cotton profitability hinges on not only lint yield but also fiber quality. Various cotton quality factors are considered for cotton fiber quality premium. This article discusses the cotton fiber quality characteristics in relation to industry premiums and overall profitability, as well as conditions that impact these qualities, such as variety selection, environmental conditions, and crop management. Written by Sudeep S. Sidhu, Gabrielle A. Comitre, and Hardeep Singh, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, September 2026.

Excessive vine growth in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) can limit fungicide spray penetration, reducing protection against foliar diseases. Prohexadione calcium suppresses vine growth and may improve spray distribution, but its effects on fungicide coverage in peanut remain unclear. A 2‐year field study (2024–2025) was conducted at the West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, FL, to evaluate prohexadione calcium applied at 75% and 100% of the labeled rate on plant height, specific leaf area (SLA), and spray coverage. Prohexadione calcium significantly reduced plant height and SLA, indicating a more compact canopy with thicker leaves. SLA declined from 14.6 to 12.2 cm ² g ^{− 1} at the 100% rate. Mid‐canopy spray coverage increased at the 100% application rate, whereas lower canopy coverage was unaffected. These results demonstrate that prohexadione calcium can improve spray coverage in the peanut mid‐canopy. Future research should investigate whether these changes lead to reduced disease severity and yield benefits.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is a major yield-limiting factor in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production because Fe availability is often low in agricultural soils. Although Fe is abundant in the Earth’s crust, only a small fraction remains soluble and available for plant uptake. In coarse-textured sandy soils with low buffering capacity, maintaining adequate Fe availability throughout the growing season is particularly difficult. Inorganic Fe fertilizers, such as iron sulfate, tend to precipitate rapidly under these conditions and become unavailable shortly after application. Therefore, synthetic Fe chelates are required to maintain Fe in solution and improve plant availability. Among these, Fe-EDDHA was selected for this study because of its high stability across a wide soil pH and its ability to retain soluble Fe in the soil solution. This study evaluated the effects of Fe-EDDHA application method, including in-furrow, banding, and foliar spray, and application rate on peanut pod yield, soil Fe dynamics, and plant tissue nutrient concentrations in sandy soils. A three-year field study was conducted in North Florida during 2022, 2024, and 2025. The highest pod yield, approximately 2,850 kg hm-2, was obtained with the in-furrow application of 5.60 kg hm-2. Kernel quality parameters were not affected by treatment but were significantly influenced by year. Pod yield in 2024 was lower than in the other years, at approximately 2,000 kg hm-2, likely due to less favorable field conditions. Soil Fe concentration was influenced by treatment in all years, with banded and foliar applications resulting in lower residual soil Fe, suggesting greater plant uptake. Tissue Fe concentration was not affected by treatment in 2022 but showed significant time-dependent treatment differences in 2024. Overall, the in-furrow method was most effective for maximizing pod yield, whereas foliar spray at 2.80 kg hm-2 was most effective for maintaining higher leaf Fe concentration during the season.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a major crop in the southeastern United States, particularly in sandy soils where potassium (K) leaching reduces fertilizer-use efficiency and increases production costs. Controlled-release potassium (CRK) fertilizers have the potential to improve nutrient retention. However, their agronomic performance relative to conventional K sources and blended combinations under field conditions remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of CRK, conventional K fertilization, and their blended combinations applied at two agronomic rates on peanut yield, quality, and seasonal soil and tissue nutrient dynamics under sandy soil conditions.,This two-year field experiment (2022 and 2023) was conducted at the University of Florida’s North Florida Research and Education Center-Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak, FL, using a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. Peanut yield and quality were not affected by K fertilizer source or application rate but were significantly influenced by year-to-year climatic variability (p <0.01). Soil and tissue nutrient dynamics responded to the K source and rate. Full-rate CRK and CRK-conventional blends (168.1 kg K2O ha-1) maintained higher late-season soil K and adequate tissue K, whereas the reduced-rate CRK-conventional blend (112.1 kg K2O ha-1) supplied sufficient early-season soil K but declined later in the season and was associated with lower Ca and S uptake, yet without reducing yield or kernel quality. These results suggest that applying 112.1 kg K2O ha-1 through a CRK-conventional blend can maintain K availability in sandy soils while reducing the risk of excess uptake of competing nutrients.

This publication discusses warm and cool germination tests for cotton seed quality and ways to interpret these results. A warm germination test is a good predictor of seed germination when cotton is grown under favorable conditions. Cool germination test results only provide an indication of the performance of a given seed lot when planted under unfavorable conditions. This publication is intended for growers, crop advisors, and Extension agents. Written by Sudeep S. Sidhu, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, April 2026.

This publication discusses the current management and cultural practices for peanut production. This article is intended to share the latest information about peanut production and management with farmers, crop consultants, and Extension agents. Written by S. S. Sidhu, D. L. Wright, B. Tillman, N. Dufault, I. M. Small, I. L. Esquivel, Z. Grabau, H. Singh, E. Matcham, E. A. Borgato, J. Capasso, S. Kumar, and E. Carter, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

This publication focuses on the use of controlled-release potassium (CRK) fertilizer in sandy soils for peanut production. It will provide an overview of the mechanisms and benefits of using this new technology in peanuts. Written by Vikash Verma, Tom Reed, and Sudeep S. Sidhu, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, January 2026.

Multiple federal and state agencies provide assistance to qualified agricultural producers following a natural disaster, such as a hurricane. However, the programs change over time, and many producers are not aware of the programs available. The purpose of this publication is to list and briefly describe disaster assistance resources available to agricultural producers in Florida after Hurricane Idalia. To the extent that some information remains the same, this publication could provide guidance to Extension agents, nongovernmental organizations, and producers impacted by future hurricanes. The information was compiled from websites, government documents, and discussions with government agency representatives following Hurricane Idalia.

Integrating a perennial forage grass like bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Flugge) into the traditional rotation of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) and peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) increases yields and reduces irrigation needs in the Southeast United States. However, the long‐term effects of this sod‐based rotation (SBR) on soil properties remain unclear. Eighteen years after establishing SBR and the traditional rotation, we collected samples to a depth of 120 cm in 30‐cm increments and measured soil carbon and other soil properties (e.g., Mehlich‐extractable nutrients). Soil C was 6% higher with SBR in the top 30 cm of soil after 18 years, with no impact on soil C in deeper soil layers. Similarly, there was no effect of SBR on other soil properties (soil texture, pH, and Mehlich‐extractable P and Mg), except for lower soil K in SBR. Our results indicate a limited effect of SBR on soil C and other properties in this system where SBR is not grazed and where strip tillage and cover cropping were implemented in both rotations.