Groundnut

Introduction

• Groundnut is an important oilseed crop grown in India. Globally India ranks first in area and production. In India, it accounts for 32% of the total oilseed area (25.3 m.ha) 38.6% of the total production (21.4mt).
• In India it is mainly grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh it is mainly cultivated in Rayalaseema districts viz., Anantapur, Cuddapah, Kurnool and Chittoor districts followed by Telangana and coastal districts. In Andhra Pradesh it is cultivated in an area of around 2.74lakh ha (Rabi-2002) with a production of about 4.08lakh tonnes. (Rabi 2000).
• This crop can be cultivated in Rabi and summer seasons. In kharif, it is mainly grown as rainfed crop. Where as in Rabi and summer it is grown under irrigated dry conditions. This can be cultivated in rice fallows after harvesting kharif rice.
• Well drained loose and friable sandy loams and red soils are preferable. Deep black and clay soils are not suitable for groundnut cultivation.

Varietal recommendations

Land preparation

• Prepare the land till fine tilth is attained.
• It facilitates root growth, peg penetration and pod development.
• Weeds and clods are to be avoided.

Seedrate

Seed treatment

• Seed should be treated with Mancozeb @ 3gm/kg seed.
• If the seed is dormant, soak it in 0.05% Ethrel solution for 12hours followed by shade drying.
• Trichodrama viridae seed treatment @ 4g/kg seed.
• Rhizobial inoculation is necessary for groundnut in non-traditional areas.

Sowing time

• North coastal Andhra – First fortnight of November to first fortnight of December.
• Rayalseema – First fortnight of November to first fortnight of December.
• North Telangana – Third week of October to second week of November.
• Southern Telangana – November.

Seedrate

Fertilizer recommendations

• Application of farm yard manure/compost @ 10t/ha once in 2-3 seasons.
• NPK recommendations should be on soil test basis.
• Application of nitrogen @ 30kg/ha in rabi.
• In rabi 20kg nitrogen as basal and 10kg at flowering stage i.e, at 30DAS.
• Apply 40kg P₂O₅ /ha and 50kg K₂O. Total phosphorus and potassium to be applied basally by placement. Phosphorus should be applied through single super phosphate.
• Apply Gypsum @ 500kg/ha at flowering stage by placement.
• Wherever Zinc deficiency observed, apply Zinc sulphate 50kg/ha, once in 3 seasons.
• Wherever Iron deficiency is noticed on crop, spray 0.05% Ferrous sulphate along with 0.01% citric acid two times with 3 days interval.
• In Nagarjuna sagar ayacut, where groundnut is grown, application of 60kg P₂O₅ is necessary.
• Seed treatment with Rhizobium and soil application of Phosphorous Solubulising Bacteria will reduce the chemical fertilizers requirement.

Weed Management

• Crop must be weed free upto 45 days after sowing.
• Intercultivation at 20 and 40 DAS followed by one hand weeding.
• From peg formation stage (45 DAS) onwards the crop should not be disturbed.
• Preplanting application of Fluchloralin @ 2.5 to 3 lit/ha.
• Pre-emergence application of Butachlor / Metachlore / Pendimethalin / Oxyflourfen @ 1.0 to 1.5 a.i/ha followed by one intercultivation and one hand weeding will effectively control the weeds.
• In heavy soils higher dose of chemical should be used.
• Yields will be drastically reduced if timely weeding is not done.

Irrigation Management

• Groundnut crop requires on an average 400 to 450mm of irrigation water.
• Good crop of groundnut can be raised with a maximum of 8 to 9 irrigations.
• After the crop is established, it is necessary to withhold irrigation for about 25 days and creates stress and then give next irrigation.
• The last irrigation is to be at 90 days after sowing.
• One irrigation is necessary immediately after sowing and the second irrigation is to be given a week later to establish a good plant stand.
• Subsequent irrigations are to be given 25 days after sowing.
• Later 4 to 5 irrigations are to be given at a week to 10 days intervals.
• Subsequent irrigations are to be given once in 15 days.

Irrigation schedule

• Critical stages for water requirement : Germination, peg penetration, pod development, kernel development and maturity.

Cropping systems

• Crop rotation is essential to avoid pests and diseases and also to maintain the soil nutrient status.
• Grow a strip of (10 rows) bajra/jowar/maize around the bunds.

Crop Management

A. Pest management

I. Tobacco caterpiller (Spodoptera litura)

Identification

• Larvae long. Stout, pale green (or) brown with black spots on the body During daytime it hides in crack and crevices.
• Eggs are small and in masses, covered with yellow anal hairs
• In initial stages larvae congregate and scrapes and skeletonises on the leaves. Leaves become white papery . In severe cases it defoliates.
• Grown up larvae disburses and make irregular holes In severe cases it also damages capsules

Problem areas

• All groundnut areas (Anantapur, Cuddapah, Chittoor, Karimnagar).
• Severe in the months of September, October and November.

Remedies

• Monitor the pest from September last week onwards by Pheromone traps @ 4/ac Collection and destruction of egg masses and damaged leaves along with gregarious larvae.
• Early stages spray neem oil (5 ml) or chlorpyriphos (2.5 ml) or Monocrotophos 2.0 ml per liter of water.
• Arrange bird perches @ 10 per acre.
• Spray N .P .V 200 LE/acre in early stages
• Make deep plough furrow around castor field and dust with methyl parathion or Endosulfan dust to control migratory caterpillars.
• Use poison bait to attract and to control late instar larvae

• Mix the above and make small balls and apply them in one acre, during evening hours, near base of plants.
• Egg masses on under side of the leaf can be easily located on lower side leaves of the plant, collect them and destroy
• Papery white leaves can be easily located and collected along with gregarious larvae
• If more than 10 adults are trapped in pheromone traps, then observe for egg masses on leaves.
• Apply the poison bait near the plant base
• Spray NPV during evening hours only'

2. Leaf miner

Identification

• Small blister like mines appear initially on the upper surface of the leaf.
• At severe stages entire leaflet becomes brown and it rolls, shrive1s and dries up.
• Severely infected crop may die and give burnt appearance in the field.

Problem areas

• Presently it is a major pest in all parts of the stage.

Remedies

• Rotation of groundnut with non-leguminous crops should be followed to reduce the pest incidence.
• Rotation of groundnut with soybean should be avoided.
• Collection and destruction of moths by setting light traps early in the season. .Keeping pheromone traps in the field.
• Spraying of Quinalphos 0.05% or Monocrotophos @ 0.05 % should be followed.

3. Sucking pests (Jassids, Aphids and Thrips)

Identification

• Jassid infestation results in yellowing of the leaves.
• Thrips infestation results in curling of leaves and stunting of the crop.
• Aphid infestation results in chloritic plants and curling of leaves.
• Aphid and thrips transmit Rosette and Bud necrosis diseases of groundnut.

Distribution

• Present in all groundnut growing areas.

Remedies

• Spraying of Monocrotophos 0.05% or dimethoate 0.05%.

Storage Pests

• Groundnut bruchid which occurs in storage.
• Spray 5% Malathion on pod and gunny bags.
• Fumigation with aluminium phosphide tablets 3-5 tablets/ton of groundnuts.
• Mixing neem oil 5 mi/kg of pods to protect from bruchid.

B. Disease Management

1. Rust

Identification

• Orange colored pustules appear on the lower surface of the leaflets.
• In severe stages lesions will also appear on other plants parts except flowers.

Problem areas

• Occurs in all groundnut-growing areas.

Remedies

• Removal of infected plant debris.
• Select seed from disease free areas.
• Seed treatment with 3 9 of mancozeb per kg of seed.
• Spraying of mancozeb @ 2 g/l of water at 15 days interval starting from disease appearance.

2. Collar rot

Identification

• Rapid desiccation of the affected plant-
• Affected tissue is covered with black mass of spores.
• In mature plants lesions develop on the stem just below the soil surface and then spread upward along branches-
• In mature plants symptoms generally do not appear until the wilting of the entire plant is apparent.

Problem areas

• More prevalent in light sandy soils.

Remedies

• Select healthy seed.
• Seed treatment with mancozeb @ 3 g/kg or captan 2 g/kg of seed.
• Deep sowing of seed should be avoided.
• Deep ploughing of fields and destruction of plant debris.
• Crop rotation with chickpea reduces the disease.
• Use of resistant varieties like J11 in endemic areas.

3. Stem rot

Identification

• Yellowing and wilting of branches at the hypocotyl region.
• White mycelium of the fungus develops around the affected stem on the soil.
• Infection of pegs and pods will occur in severe cases.

Problem areas

• Occurs in areas where the soils are heavy .

Remedies

• Selection of healthy seed.
• Crop rotation with cereal crops.
• Deep ploughing should be done for incorporation of organic matter in order to prevent its accumulation.

4. Peanut Stem Necrosis Disease (PSND)

Identification

• Necrotic lesions on terminal leaf lets, complete stem necrosis and often-total necrosis of entire plant.
• Necrotic spots on pods. Testa are not discolored or mottled.

Problem Areas

• Anantapur, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool and Chittoor districts of AndhraPradesh.

Remedies

• All the weeds in the field and on the bunds should be removed.
• Particularly Acalypha sp, Ageratum conyzoides, Acheranthus aspera, . Acanthospermum hispidum, Commalina bengalensis, Lagascus mollis, Abutilon indicum, Partheniumhysterophorus, Vernoonia cinararia should be removed.
• Grow inter crop with bajra, maize, sorghum in the ratio of 7: 1 or 11 : 1
• Barrier crops like bajra, maize and sorghum should be planted around the groundnu field. These will prevent thrips and wind borne pollen.

DO'S and DON'TS

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