How to Grow Groundnuts Successfully

Groundnuts, also known as peanuts, are an important oilseed crop that can provide high-quality protein and oil. Groundnuts are widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially in India, China, Nigeria, and the United States. In this blog post, we will share some best practices and tips for growing groundnuts successfully.

Soil and Climate Requirements

Groundnuts can grow well in well-drained sandy loam or sandy clay loam soils with a pH of 6.5-7.0 and high fertility. The optimum soil temperature for germination is 30°C, and the crop requires a long and warm growing season with adequate moisture. Groundnuts are sensitive to frost and drought, so they should be planted after the risk of frost is over and irrigated as needed.

Varieties and Seed Selection

There are many varieties of groundnuts available for different purposes, such as shelling, oil extraction, confectionery, or roasting. Some of the popular varieties are:

• TMV 2: A high-yielding variety with bold seeds and good oil content. It is resistant to rust and late leaf spot diseases.
• JL 24: A medium-duration variety with red kernels and high oil content. It is suitable for rainfed and irrigated conditions.
• K 6: A short-duration variety with white kernels and high shelling percentage. It is tolerant to drought and salinity.
• TAG 24: A high-yielding variety with large pods and kernels. It is resistant to bacterial wilt and root-knot nematode.

The seed selection is very important for groundnut farming, as it affects the germination, growth, yield, and quality of the crop. The seeds should be:

• Healthy, mature, well-filled, and free from pests and diseases.
• Treated with Imidachloprid @ 2 ml/kg seed followed by Tebuconazole 2ds @ 1g or Mancozeb @ 3 gm/kg seed to prevent seed-borne diseases and insect damage.
• Soaked in 0.05% Ethrel solution for 12 hours followed by shade drying if they are dormant.
• Inoculated with Rhizobium bacteria to enhance nitrogen fixation.

Land Preparation and Sowing

The land should be prepared till a fine tilth is attained by ploughing and harrowing. This facilitates root growth, peg penetration, and pod development. Weeds and clods should be removed before sowing.

The sowing time for groundnuts depends on the region and the season. Generally, the crop is sown from mid-October to mid-November for kharif (rainy) season and from December to January for rabi (winter) season. The seed rate varies from 80 to 120 kg/ha depending on the variety and the spacing. The seeds should be sown at a depth of 5 to 6 cm in rows spaced at 30 to 45 cm apart. The plant-to-plant spacing should be 10 to 15 cm.

Fertilizer and Irrigation Management

Groundnuts require a balanced fertilizer application based on soil test results. The crop needs adequate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, zinc, iron, boron, manganese, and molybdenum for optimal growth and yield. The general fertilizer recommendation for groundnuts is:

• Apply 20 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 + 50 kg K2O/ha as basal dose at the time of sowing. Phosphorus should be applied through single super phosphate.
• Apply 10 kg N/ha as top dressing at flowering stage.
• Apply Gypsum @ 500 kg/ha at flowering stage by placement to improve pod filling and quality.
• Apply Zinc sulphate @ 50 kg/ha once in three seasons if zinc deficiency is observed.
• Spray Ferrous sulphate @ 0.5% along with Citric acid @ 0.1% two times with one week interval if iron deficiency is noticed.

The irrigation requirement for groundnuts depends on the soil type, climate, rainfall, and crop stage. The crop should be irrigated at critical stages such as germination, flowering, pegging, pod development, and maturity. The irrigation interval may vary from 7 to 15 days depending on the soil moisture status. The crop should not be over-irrigated or under-irrigated as it may affect the yield and quality.

Weed and Pest Management

Weed control is essential for groundnut farming as weeds compete with the crop for nutrients, water, light, and space. Weeds also harbor pests and diseases that can affect the crop. The weed management practices for groundnuts are:

• Keep the crop weed-free up to 45 days after sowing by intercultivation and hand weeding.
• Apply pre-planting herbicide Fluchloralin @ 2.5 to 3 l/ha or pre-emergence herbicide Butachlor/Metalachlore/Pendimethalin @ 2.5 to 3 l/ha or Oxyflourfen @ 1.5 to 2.0 l/ha followed by one intercultivation and one hand weeding.
• Apply post-emergence herbicide Imazethaphyr @ 750 ml/ha or Quizalofop ethyl @ 1.0 l/ha at 20 days after sowing when the weeds are at two-leaf stage.

Pest management is also important for groundnut farming as pests can cause significant damage to the crop and reduce the yield and quality. Some of the major pests of groundnuts are:

• Aphids: These are small, soft-bodied insects that suck the sap from the leaves and stems of the plants. They also transmit viral diseases such as rosette and mosaic. Aphids can be controlled by spraying Dimethoate @ 2 ml/l or Imidacloprid @ 0.5 ml/l of water.
• Thrips: These are tiny, winged insects that feed on the flowers and young pods of the plants. They cause flower drop, pod distortion, and reduced yield. Thrips can be controlled by spraying Dimethoate @ 2 ml/l or Fipronil @ 1 ml/l of water.
• Leaf miner: These are small, yellowish maggots that mine the leaves of the plants and cause white blotches on them. They reduce the photosynthesis and vigor of the plants. Leaf miner can be controlled by spraying Chlorpyriphos @ 2 ml/l or Spinosad @ 0.5 ml/l of water.
• Termites: These are white, ant-like insects that feed on the roots and pods of the plants. They cause wilting, stunting, and reduced yield. Termites can be controlled by applying Chlorpyriphos @ 4 ml/kg of seed or Carbofuran @ 1 kg/ha at sowing.

Harvesting and Storage

Groundnuts are ready for harvesting when the leaves turn yellow and start shedding. The maturity of the crop can also be judged by breaking a few pods and observing the color of the inner shell. If it is dark brown, it indicates that the crop is mature.

The harvesting of groundnuts should be done carefully to avoid pod loss and damage. The plants should be uprooted with a spade or a plough and left in the field for sun drying for a few days. The pods should then be separated from the plants by hand or by using a thresher.

The harvested pods should be cleaned, graded, and stored in a dry and well-ventilated place. The pods should be treated with Malathion dust @ 10 g/kg or Aluminium phosphide tablets @ 3 g/tonne to prevent insect infestation during storage.

Marketing and Profitability

Groundnuts have a good market demand both in domestic and international markets. Groundnuts can be sold as raw pods, shelled kernels, oil, cake, or processed products such as peanut butter, roasted peanuts, peanut candy, etc.

The profitability of groundnut farming depends on various factors such as yield, quality, cost of production, market price, etc. The average yield of groundnuts in India is about 1.5 tonnes/ha for kharif season and 2 tonnes/ha for rabi season. The average cost of production is about Rs. 30,000/ha for kharif season and Rs. 40,000/ha for rabi season. The average market price is about Rs. 50/kg for pods and Rs. 100/kg for kernels.

Therefore, the gross income from groundnut farming is about Rs. 75,000/ha for kharif season and Rs. 1,00,000/ha for rabi season. The net profit is about Rs. 45,000/ha for kharif season and Rs. 60,000/ha for rabi season.

Conclusion

Groundnut farming is a profitable and rewarding venture that can provide multiple benefits to the farmers such as income, food security, nutrition, soil health, etc. Groundnut farming requires proper planning, management, and care to achieve optimal results. By following the best practices and tips mentioned in this blog post, you can grow groundnuts successfully and enjoy the fruits of your labor.