Some input-output relations in peanut cultivation at Katherine, N.T

Abstract

In an experiment at Katherine, Northern Territory, in 1961-62 and 1962-63 the response of peanuts to variation in ploughing depth, frequency of inter-row cultivation, and seeding rate was measured. This agronomic study was combined with measurements of rates of work and fuel consumption under comparable conditions for the tillage operations involved. From these data were calculated the break-even prices for peanuts above which the yield response offset the additional cost of the more intensive treatment, i.e., deeper ploughing, more frequent inter-row cultivation, or higher seeding rate. Increasing the depth of ploughing from two to eight inches, the number of inter-row cultivations from one to three and the seeding rate from 30 to 45 lb an acre were all profitable at prices that would justify peanut production in the Katherine area.