Common Name:

General Information

Arachis glabrata is a herbaceous perennial plant with erect to decumbent unbranched, above-ground stems 5 - 35 cm long, arising from a mat of rhizomes. The rhizomes form a dense mat in the top 5 cm of soil, and arise from the deep, woody taproot[].
The plant is a persistent, very productive, high-quality forage, well-adapted to the often infertile, acid soils and heavy grazing pressures encountered in the humid and sub-humid tropics and subtropics[]. It has been recommended as a green manure crop in Brazil[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay in a large triangular area between 13°S and 28°.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Plants are productive from about latitudes 30°N and 30°c to near the equator. They have persisted in areas receiving rainfall as low as 750 mm per year but are probably best suited to areas receiving 1,000 - 2,000 mm[]. Unlike many tropical legumes, it can compete successfully with sward-forming grasses[]. It grows best when mean monthly temperatures are above about 20°c. Although tops are cut by frost, plants regrow vigorously with the onset of warmth and moisture[]. During very dry conditions, top growth may die off, but rhizomes mostly survive, providing a nucleus for recovery[].
Grows successfully on soils with textures ranging from sands to clays provided they are well-drained[]. While apparently preferring acid soils, it has produced good yields on neutral to slightly alkaline soils[]. It grows well on soils low in phosphorus[]
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].
When planting in new areas, it is generally not necessary to inoculate the rhizomes[].

Four cultivars have been released in Florida: 'Arb', 'Arblick', 'Florigraze' and 'Arbrook'. 'Arb' and 'Arblick' were selected initially, based on productivity and spreading ability respectively; 'Florigraze' was selected because it combined both characteristics, and 'Arbrook', the most recent release, because it is more drought-tolerant than 'Florigraze' but is of similar productivity[]. One accession known as the Maiwa peanut (probably the Australian accession CPI 12121) has persisted well in Indonesia[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant has potential for soil conservation and can be grown under some tree crops to provide nitrogen[]. It is showing promise growing under coconuts in Indonesia[].
The plant has been recommended as a green manure in Brazil[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Despite often dense flowering, few seeds are set, except in some accessions prior to dense sward development[]. Seedlings are usually quite large before they form rhizomes[].
The plant is best propagated from rhizomes. While pieces of rhizome as short as 5 cm may strike, it is generally considered best to plant 30 cm square pieces of rhizome mat about 1.8 metres apart[]. Alternatively, the rhizomes can be teased out, broadcast over the soil surface and disked in[]. Rhizomes are planted at a depth of 3 cm in clay soils to 6.5 cm in coarse sands[]. A clean seed-bed is preferable, to minimize competition for the developing plants[]. Ideally, rhizomes should be produced in sandy soils for ease of digging[]. Planting appears to be most successful when rhizomes are dormant[].
With adequate temperature and moisture, shoots usually emerge 2 - 3 weeks after planting; dense swards develop as rhizomes form and extend the margins of the stand at up to 2 metres per year in the absence of competition, or 5 - 30 cm per year with grass competition[].

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