University of Georgia, American Peanut Council and Cotton Incorporated Georgia Cotton & Peanut Project

As of 2022, 39 cotton and peanut growers were identified. Fieldprint Calculator data was collected by meeting with growers on an annual basis.

As if 2022, cotton and peanut sustainability metrics are in the beginning steps of processing to develop trends across the two crops in Georgia.

Data analysis determined that soil conservation, soil carbon, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions are four metrics which could be improved upon for cotton and peanut in Georgia. Cotton had better scores for soil-based metrics while peanut was more efficient in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Cotton, with its increased nitrogen fertilization requirement, increases the amount of nitrous oxide that is emitted into the atmosphere - therefore contributing to the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted and energy used on-farm. Peanut, on the other hand, is a legume and can convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available nitrogen. Peanut, unlike cotton, is typically grown under conventional tillage management and the fruit is grown underground which causes increased soil disturbance during harvest, therefore increasing soil erosion rates and decreasing soil carbon.