The ENSO effect on peanut yield as influenced by planting date and soil type

• Using a crop model, we examined ENSO effect on peanut yield in southeastern US.
• The ENSO effect was significant for initial and terminal planting dates only.
• The influence of soil type on ENSO effect was significant for lighter soils only.
• The ENSO effect was strong at regional level.
• The ENSO effect was weaker and spatially less consistent at sub-regional level.

Information regarding climate variability might help peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growers optimize their management strategies under different climate scenarios and maximize their production. This study examined the impact of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on peanut yield for southeastern USA as influenced by soil type and planting date for two spatial levels – region and sub-region. Rainfed yields were simulated for 32 peanut growing counties in this region using the CSM-CROPGRO-Peanut model and the historical weather data of 50 years. The simulations were carried out for several scenarios comprising nine planting dates and seven soil types. Yields were separated by ENSO phase, and tests were performed for each planting date and soil type to examine if pod yields were different across the ENSO phases. Results showed that both planting date and soil type could significantly influence the effect of ENSO on peanut yield. The yield differences among ENSO phases were minimal for the peanuts planted during the middle part of the planting window (May 8 through May 22). The differences, however, were substantial for the planting dates in the initial and terminal parts of the window (April 16 through May 1 and May 29 through June 12). The influence of soil type on the ENSO effect was significant only for soils with the water holding capacity of less than 0.1 and for crops planted during the initial and terminal parts of the planting window. The ENSO effect was weaker and spatially less consistent at sub-regional level, but strong at the regional level.