The relationship of certain land management systems to productivity and pod breakdown disease incidence in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) was studied in Virginia during 1971–74. Main treatments were three dates of moldboard plowing prior to planting peanuts in the rotations. Splitplot treatments were 2-year rotations: (I) peanuts followed by rye (Secale cereale) winter cover crop then corn (Zea mays) followed by rye winter cover crop; (II) peanuts followed by rye winter cover crop then soybeans (Glycine max) followed by no winter cover crop (except weeds); (III) peanuts followed by rye winter cover crop then no summer crop (residue of unharvested rye) nor cover crop planted; (IV) peanuts followed by rye winter cover crop then corn followed by fallow in winter, weeds prevented.

Dates of plowing treatments affected peanut productivity most. Gross crop values and yields in plots plowed in December were 7%, and 18-to-20%, respectively, higher than when plots were plowed in March or May. Sound mature kernel contents also were lower for the later plowing dates.

Differences among rotation treatment means occurred only when plots were plowed in May. Gross crop values were higher for rotation I than for rotation III and IV. In 1974, gross crop values obtained from plots plowed in March in rotation IV were equivalent to those from plots plowed in December.

None of the treatments differentially affected pod breakdown disease significantly. However, the percentage of rotted pods averaged somewhat lower in plots plowed in December.