Cultivation of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)
Botanical and General Facts
- Botanical Name: Arachis hypogaea
- Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
- Origin of Names:
- Arachis (Greek): Legume
- hypogaea (Greek): Below ground (because pods develop underground)
- Oil Content: 44–50%
- Shelling Percentage: ~70%
- Groundnut Cake Content: 7–8% Nitrogen (excellent cattle feed)
- Pollination: Self-pollinated
- Floral Structure:
- 8–10 stamens forming a monadelphous bundle.
- Unique Feature:
- Peg (gynophore): After fertilization, the peg grows downward, pushing the fertilized ovary into the soil.
- Ovary only starts developing after entering the soil and takes a horizontal position underground.
- Protein Quality: Groundnut protein has a biological value comparable to casein (milk protein) and is rich in almost all vitamins of the B group except vitamin B₁₂.
Agricultural Practices
Type | Seed Rate (kg/ha) | Plant Population (lakh/ha) | Spacing |
Bunch/Erect (Kharif) | 100–120 | 3.33 | 30 cm × 10 cm |
Spreading Type (Kharif) | 80–100 | 2.22 | 30 cm × 15 cm |
Rabi Season (Bunch type) | 125–140 (25% higher) | 4.44 | 22.5 × 10 cm or 30 × 7.5 cm |
- Note:
- Rabi groundnut uses a higher seed rate due to limited growth during cooler months.
- Spreading types have late maturity but higher yield compared to bunch types.
- Bunch types do not have a dormancy period.
Critical Stages for Irrigation
Stage | Days After Sowing (DAS) |
Flowering | 35–40 DAS |
Pegging (peg penetration) | 55 DAS |
Pod development/seed development | 65–70 DAS |
- Important:
- Well-drained conditions are necessary especially during pod development to prevent rotting.
Varieties
Kharif Season Varieties
Type | Varieties | Regions |
Bunch/Erect (Spanish type) | Jyoti (MP), Kadiri, Kisan (Orissa), TMV-11, TMV-12 (TN) | |
Semi-Spreading/Virginia Bunch | TMV-10 (TN), Kadiri-2 & Kadiri-3 (AP), BP-1 & BP-2 (Bihar) | |
Spreading/Virginia Runner | Type-28, Type-64, Chandra (UP), M-13, M-37 (Assam), Punjab-1 (Punjab), TMV-1, TMV-3 (TN) |
Rabi Season Varieties
- ICGS-11 and ICGS-44: Yield potential 35–55 quintals/ha (highest).
- Rabi groundnut yields better than Kharif groundnut due to:
- Better management
- Lower pest and disease pressure
Aflatoxin Problem
- Aflatoxin is a toxic substance produced by infection from Aspergillus flavus group fungi.
- Aflatoxin contamination occurs mainly during post-harvest processing and storage under moist conditions.
- Also found in: Contaminated paneer (cheese).
- Impact: Severe health hazard if consumed.
Important Institutions
Organization | Role |
Technology Mission on Oilseeds (TMO) | Started in 1986 under P.V. Shenoi to enhance oilseed production. |
Technology Mission on Pulses and Oilseeds (TEMPO) | After inclusion of pulses in the mission. |
SOPA (Soybean Processors Association) | Based in Madhya Pradesh, deals with soybean industry development. |
ITC (Indian Tobacco Company) | Based in Andhra Pradesh, supported sunflower hybrid seed distribution. |
MAHYCO (Maharashtra Hybrid Company) | Developed and supplied hybrid seeds, including sunflower hybrids. |
Quick Revision Points
- Groundnut type: Legume, self-pollinated.
- Oil content: 44–50%
- Seed rate for bunch type (kharif): 100–120 kg/ha
- Spacing: 30 cm × 10 cm (bunch); 30 cm × 15 cm (spreading)
- Critical irrigation stages: Flowering, Pegging, Pod development.
- No dormancy in: Bunch type varieties.
- Major diseases: Aflatoxin contamination due to fungal infection.
- Highest yielders: ICGS-11, ICGS-44 (35–55 q/ha).
