Groundnut

Varieties

• Local (TMV 2) : Non domant cultivar of 105 days duration, susceptible to foliar diseases with an average yield of 1.5 t ha^-1.
• Vemana (K 134) : Spanish bunch variety with dark green leaves. tolerant to leaf spot, bud necrosis and drought with a duration of 105 days. Average yield 1.6 t ha^-1.
• Kadiri 3 : Tolerant to bud necrosis, susceptible to collar rot and has seed dormancy. It matures in about 125 days, yielding on an average 1.6 t ha^-1.
• Tirupati 1 : Small seeded bunch variety with tolerance to drought. Matures in 105 days. Average yield 1.6 t ha^-1.
• Tirupati 2 : It has high peg strength and matures in 105 days with an average yield of 1.5 t ha^-1.
• JL 24 : Bold seeded non dormant cultivar of about 110 days duration susceptible to foliar diseases and soil moisture stress. It has slightly higher yield potential than TMV 2.
• ICGS 11 and 44 : Longer duration of about 135 days, tolerant to bud necrosis but susceptible to collar rot with an average yield of 1.6t ha^-1.
• Kadiri 4 : Matures in 100days with a yield of 2 (kharif) to 3.5 (Rabi)t ha-1. Tolerant to bud necrosis, suitable for rice fallows.
• TAG 24 : Early with 2-3 seeded pods, tolerant to bud necrosis, leaf spot and jassids. Matures in 100-105 days. Average yield 1.6 t ha^-1.
• Kadiri 5 : Suitable for Kharif and Rabi, matures in 95-100 days, moderately tolerant to late leaf spot, yields 1.8 t ha^-1, tolerant to drought, suitable for delayed monsoon.
• Kadiri 6 : Matures in 100 days, yields upto 2.7 t ha^-1, suitable for Kharif and Rabi, suitable for delayed monsoon.
• JCG 88 : Matures in 105-110 days, suitable for scarce rainfall areas, virginea bunch type.

Seeds and seeding

• Seed should be treated with mancozeb @ 3g kg^-1 seed.
• If the seed is dormant, soak it in 0.05% ethrel solution for 12 hours followed by shade drying.
• Rhizobial inoculation is necessary for groundnut in non-traditional areas.
• Seeding time is July 2^nd week to month end for kharif and 15^th November to 15^th December for Rabi.
• If root grub is a problem, treat the seed with chlorpyriphos @ 6ml/kg of seed. Seed treatment with imidacloprid 2 ml/kg seed, will protect the crop up to 30 DAS from sucking pests which transmit diseases.
• If the seed is dormant, soak it in 0.05% (5ml in 10L of Ethrel) ethrel solution for 12 hours followed by shade drying.

Kharif :

• A seed rate of about 150kg kernel ha^-1 is optimum for Kadiri 5, JL 24, Kadiri 4, Vemana and ICGS 44, For TMV 2, TPT 1, Kadiri 3 and ICGS 11, JCG 88, 120kg kernel ha^-1 is optimum.
• The spacing to be adopted is 30x10cm for Vemana, TPT 1, TPT 2, JL 24, K 5, K6 and TMV 2. Spacing of 30x15cm is optimum for ICGS 11, 44 and Kadiri 3.

Fertiliser needs

• Recommended dose of fertiliser for rainfed groundnut is 20-40-30 N, P₂O₅ and K₂O kg/ha.
• During Rabi a fertiliser dose of 30-40-30 Kg N, P₂O₅ and K₂O/ha is to be applied. in alfisols of Anantapur district fertiliser doses are to be applied as per soil test values as furnished in the table.
• If the soil test values are not available, recommended dose can be applied.
• However, if the phosphatic fertilizers are being applied in the form of DAP or SSP as per recommendation of the past 4 years, there is no need to apply P fertiliser for the subsequent 3 years as there will be sufficient build up of available phosphorus.
• All the fertilisers can be applied as basal. As the zinc deficiency has become widesprad in general, there is every need to apply ZnSO4 @ 25kg ha^-1 as basal.
• However, 0.2% ZnSO4 can also be sprayed at 35 and 45 days after sowing if not applied as basal. Iron deficiency can be corrected by spraying 0.5% ferrous sulphates solution.
• There is no response to gypsum application to rainfed groundnut in alfisols of Anantapur. However for irrigated groundnut apply finely ground gypsum @ 500kg ha^-1 at flowering along the crop rows incorporated into pegging zone and irrigate the field.

Fertiliser recommendation for rainfed groundnut grown in alfisols of Anantapur

4. Weed Management

• Groundnut crop should be kept weed free up to 45 days by intercultivation at 20 and 40 DAS followed by one hand weeding (or) pre emergence spray of butachlor @ 4-5 l/ha or pendimethalin @ 3-5 l/ha or oxyfluorfen @ 600-800ml ha^-1 or Metachlor @ 5-7.5 l/ha followed by one intercultivation and one hand weeding will effectively control the weeds.

5. Irrigation

• There is no need of irrigation up to thee weeks after seeding and after 95days of sowing.
• If the irrigation water is not a limiting fctor, crop should be irrigated once in a week on sandy loam soils and once in 10days on relatively heavy soils.
• Under conditions of limited irrigation water, care must be taken to see that the crop Iis not subjected to soil moisture stress from flowering to pod development. (critical stage).
• A good crop of groundnut can be raised with a maximum of 8-9irrigations.

Irrigation Schedules

6. Cropping systems

• Crop rotation is essential to avoid pests and disease build up and als to main the soil nutrient status.
• Redgram, castor, pearl millet and sorghum can be grown in rotation to the groundnut.
• Groundnut + redgram in 7:1 ratio, groundnut + castor in 7:1 ratio are the most remunerative intercropping systems.
• Groundnut + pearl millet in 6:2 ratio ca aso be grown.
• Growing greengram / horsegram after kharif groundnut is profitable.
• Rotation of groundnut with rice will reduce the nematode infestation in groundnut.

7. Pest Management

Red hairy caterpillar

Identification

• Young larvae feed gregariously on the under surface of leaves.
• Grownup larvae feed individually by devouring leaves, flowers and growing points.
• When the pest is severe only the bare stem points remain resulting in heavy yield loss.
• Larvae are ash brown in colour, but when fully grown assume reddish colour.

Remedies :

• Organise bonfires on community basis from 8PM to 10PM to attract the newly emerging moths for 3 or 4 succeeding days when good showers are received.
• Collect and destroy egg masses and early instar larvae.
• Dust quinalphos or carbaryl @ 25kg ha^-1 to control early instar larvae.
• To control grown up larvae, spray dimethoate @ 2ml l^-1 or monocrotophos @ 1.6ml l^-1.
• Trap and kill the migrating larvae in deep cut straight trenches by dusting Methyl parathion @ 2ml l^-1 in the trench.
• Use trap crops around main crop eg. Cowpea.
• A single dose of monocrotophos or quinalphos as bait is effective in controlling the grown up larvae.

Root grub :

Identification

• Young grubs feed on rootlets and nodules.
• Old grubs devour the entire taproot.
• Affecting plants wither and die. Such plants when pulled from the soil, the devoured taproot can be clearly seen.
• Damage usually observed in patches.
• Pest usually occurs in the months of August and September.

Distribution : In localized parts of Anantapur district viz., in Gooty, Penukonda, Kadiri and Kalyanadurg taluks.

Remedies :

• Summer ploughing to expose the pupae.
• Apply phorate granuels @ 1.5kg a.i ha^-1 at the time of sowing wherever fields had heavy infestation in the previous year.
• Seed treatment with chlorpyriphos @ 6ml kg^-1 of seed.

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, shrivels 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 state.

Remedies :

• Collection and destruction of moths by setting light traps early in the season.
• Keeping pheromone traps in the field for pest monitoring.
• Spraying of quinalphos @ 2ml l^-1 or monocrotophos @ 1.6ml l^-1 should be followed.

Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)

Identification

• Larvae are long, stout, pale green (or) brown with black spots on the body.
• During daytime it hides in cracks 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, Chittor and Karimnagar). Severe in the months of September, October and November.

Remedies :

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

1. Rice bran - 5 kg
2. Jaggery - 500 g
3. Carbaryl - 500g (or)
4. Monocrotophos - 500ml (or)
5. Methomyl - 300ml
6. Water - 4-5 litres

Mix the above and make small balls and apply them in one acre, during evening hours, near base of plants.

Skills

• Egg masses can be easily located on lower side of leaves, collect and destroy them.
• Papery white leaves can easily be located and collected along with gregarous 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.

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.
• Ahid infestation results in chlorotic plants and curling of leaves.
• Aphid and thrips transmit Rosette and Bud necrosis diseases of groundnut.

Remedies

• Spraying of Quinalphos 2ml l^-1 or monocrotophos 2ml l^-1 or dimethoate 2 ml l^-1.

Storage pests

• To control groundnut bruchid which occurs in storage, spray 5% malathion on pods and gunny bags. (or) mix neem oil 5 ml kg^-1 of pods.
• Fumigation with aluminium phosphide tablets @ 3-5 per ton of groundnut.

Disease Management

Tikka leaf spot

Identification

• In case of early leaf spot, lesions are sub-circular and 1-10mm in diameter, with dark brown colour on the upper surface of the leaf.
• In case of late leaf spot, lesions on the leaf are smaller, nearly circular and darker than those of early leaf spot.
• Lesions are also produced on the stem, petiole and pegs.

Problem areas : Both the leaf spots are commonly present in all groundnut-growing areas.

Remedies

• Removal of infected plant debris.
• Crop rotation should be followed.
• Selection of healthy seeds.
• Growing of the tolerant variety i.e, Vemana.
• After the appearance of the disease or at around 70 DAS spray hexaconazole @ 2ml l^-1 or mancozeb + carbendazim @ 2.5g + 1.0g l^-1. Effective control of late leaf spot can reduce the incidence of stem rot to some extent.

Rusts

Identification

• Orange coloured pustules appear on the lower surface of the leaflets.
• In severe stages lesions will also appear on other plant 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 3g of mancozeb per kg of seed.
• Spraying of mancozeb @ 2g l-1 of water at 15 days interval starting from appearance of disease.

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, generally symptoms 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 @ 3g kg^-1 of seed.
• Deep sowing of seed should be avoided.
• Use of resistant varieties like J 11 in endemic areas.
• Spray hexaconazole @ 2ml l^-1 or propinconazole @ 1ml l^-1 or chlorothalonil @ 2ml l^-1.

Stem rot

Follow deep ploughing to bury organic matter and crop rotation with cereal (pearl millet). Spray mancozeb @ 3g l-1 at collar region. Seed treatment with Mancozeb or Carbendazim. Healthy seed should be selected, follow crop rotation with cereals.
2. Bud necrosis
Varieties like Kadiri 3, ICGS 11 and ICGS 44 are tolerant. To minimise the incidence, follow intercropping with pearl millet.
3. Peanut Stem necrosis Disease (PSND)

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

Problem Areas

Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

Remedies

• All the weeds in the field and on the bunds should be removed.
• Particularly Acalypha sp, Ageratum conysoides, Acheranthus aspera, Acanthospermum hispidum, Commalina bengalensis, Lagascus mollis, Abutilon indicum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Vemonia cinararia should be removed.
• Grow inter crop with barja, maize, sorghum in the ratio of 7:1 or 11:1.
• Barrier crops like bajra, maize and sorghum should be planted around the groundnut field. These will prevent thrips and wind borne weed pollen carrying virus.
• Do not grow sunflower or Marigold in the vicinity of groundnut field.

Harvesting

• Should be done at right stage of maturity when 70-80% leaves and stems turn yellow.
• When the inner side of the shell turns black.
• When sufficient moisture is available in the root zone.

Storage

• Seed should not contain more than 9% moisture for storage.
• Prefer poly ethylene / gunny bags for storage.
• Spray Malathion 1ml /L of water once in 2-3 weeks on storage bags against storage pests.

Tips for increasing production

• Deep summer ploughing.
• Adoption of quality seed of HYVs.
• Compulsory seed treatment.
• Adoption of recommended seed rate.
• Adoption of Ferti-cum-seed drill to ensure right placement of seed and fertilizer.
• Ensure optimum population.
• Adopt recommended fertiizer dose.
• Apply Gypsum and SSP to provide calcium and Sulphur.
• Avoid inter cultivation / weeding after 45 DAS, but earthing up should be done.
• Adopt plant protection at right time.
• Practice crop rotation and intercropping.

Tips for export promotion

• Ensure clean cultivation for reducing aflatoxin levels to less than 30 PPB.
• Grow resistant varieties for Aspergillus flavus.
• Select large seeded types for value addition and export promotion.
• Adopt suitable varieties for specific end uses such as groundnut butter, groundnut milk, groundnut biscuts etc.

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