5.

OILSEEDS
(i) GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea )

CLIMATE REQUIREMENT

T_MaxoC T_MinoC Optimum oC Rainfall mm Altitude m MSL

40 15 25 - 35 500 - 700 1160
Tropical crop, wide spectrum adoptable crop which grown in all 3 seasons. Flowering
and seed setting affected by cloudy weather. Day neutral plant. Resists drought and
tolerate flooding for one week once it establish.

CROP IMPROVEMENT
I. SEASON AND VARIETIES

Zone/ District/Season Sowing Varieties

Month
I. Western Zone (Irrigated)
Coimbatore, Tiruppur
Chithiraipattam April-May TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2

Erode,Theni,Dindigul
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Western Zone (Rainfed)
Coimbatore,Tiruppur, Erode, Theni, Dindigul
Anippattam June- July TMVGn 13, VRIGn 7, CO 6, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14,
BSR 2
II. Southern Zone (Irrigated)
Ramanathapuram, Thirunelveli
Thaippattam Jan- Feb TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Karur, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Virudhunagar
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Sivagangai
Ayppasipattam Oct- Nov TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Southern Zone (Rainfed)
Karur, Pudukkottai, Madurai, Sivagangai
Anippattam June-July TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI Gn 7, VRI 8, CO 6, CO 7, TMV 14,
BSR 2
Virudhunagar
Adippattam July-Aug TMVGn 13, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Ramanathapuram, Thirunelveli
Purattasipattam Sep- Oct TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 7, VRI 8, CO 6, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Thoothukudi
Karthigaipattam Nov- Dec TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
III. North Eastern Zone (Irrigated)
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 Villupuram
Chithiraipattam April-May TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Cuddalore
Ayppasipattam Oct- Nov TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Vellore,
Thiruvannamalai
Karthigaipattam Nov- Dec TMVGn 13, VRIGn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Thiruvallur, Cuddalore, Vellore
Anippattam June-July TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Kancheepuram
Adippattam July-Aug TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Thiruvannamalai
Purattasipattam Sep- Oct TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Villupuram
Karthigaipattam Nov- Dec TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
IV. North Western Zone (Irrigated)
Perambalur, Ariyalur
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Namakkal, Dharmapuri
Vaigasipattam May- June CO 6, VRI GN 7
Salem, Krishnagiri
Karthigaipattam Nov- Dec TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
North Western Zone (Rainfed)
Namakkal
Vaigasipattam May- June CO 6, VRI Gn 7, BSR 2
Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri
Anippattam May- June TMVGn 13, CO 6, VRI Gn 7, BSR 2
Perambalur, Ariyalur
Adippattam July-Aug TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
V. Delta Zone (Irrigated)
Thiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Delta Zone (Rainfed)
Thiruchirapalli
Anippattam June-July TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2
Thanjavur,
Nagapattinam
Margazhipattam Dec- Jan TMVGn 13, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO 7, TMV 14, BSR 2

Bunch varieties: :TMV Gn13, TMV 14, VRI Gn 6, VRI 8, CO7, BSR Semi spreding
varieties: :VRI Gn 7, CO6
Suitable varieties for irrigated: VRI 8, BSR 2, CO 7
Suitable varieties for rainfed : TMV Gn13, TMV 14, BSR 2, CO 6, CO7 and VRI 7
Bold variety (Gujarat) : GG 7
TMV 14 and BSR 2 are alternate varieties for TMV 7

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 II. DESCRIPTION OF GROUNDNUT VARIETIES

Particulars TMVGn 13 VRIGn 6

Year of Release 2006 2007
Year of Notification SO.1178(E)/20.07.2007 SO.449(E)/11.02.2009
Parentage Selection from Pollachi red Derivative of ALR 2 X VG 9513
Duration (days) 100-105 120-125
Average Yield of Pods kg/ha
Rainfed 1613 1916
Irrigated 2580 2403
Shelling % 71.4 75
100-seed weight (g) 44 36
Oil content % 50 50
Special features Red kernel, high yield and Small pods, moderately
tolerant to terminal drought resistant to late leaf spot, rust
and PBND diseases. Resistant to
early season drought, high
harvest index (34.6%)
Growth habit Bunch Bunch
Leaf colour Green Light green
Seed colour Red Light Rose

Particulars VRIGn 7 BSR 2

Year of Release 2008 2019
Year of Notification SO.2187(E)/27.08.2009 SO.3220(E)/05.09.2019
Parentage Derivative of TMV 1 X JL 24 VR12 x TVG 0004
Duration (days) 120-125 105-110
Average Yield of Pods kg/ha -
Rainfed 1865 2222
Irrigated - 2360
Shelling % 72 70.2
100-seed weight (g) 46 40-43
Oil content % 48 45.01
Special features Moderately resistant to late One or two seeded, usually two
leaf spot and rust diseases. seeded, medium sized pods,
Moderately resistant to leaf Moderately resistant to late
miner leaf spot and rust diseases
Growth habit Semi-spreading Bunch
Leaf colour Dark green Green
Seed colour Rose Tan

Particulars VRI 8 TMV 14

Year of Release 2016 2018
Year of Notification SO.2805(E)/25.08.2017 SO.1498(E)/01.04.2019
Parentage ALR 3 x AK 303 VRI Gn 6 x R 20012
Duration (days) 105-110 days 95-100 days
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 Average Yield of Pods kg/ha
Rainfed 2130 2124
Irrigated 2700 2286
Shelling % 70 70.6
100-seed weight (g) 45-50 38.0
Oil content % 49 48.0
Special features Moderately resistant to Higher dry pod yield than VRI (
sucking pest and defoliators. Gn) 6 & TMV (Gn) 13; Higher
Moderately resistant to foliar shelling percentage than VRI Gn 6
fungal disease. Medium bold Less incidence of Spodoptera,
kernel suitable for thrips and leaf miner compared to
confectionary/table purpose VRI (Gn) 6 and TMV (Gn) 13 under
field conditions; Moderately
resistant to late leaf spot and rust
disease under field conditions
Growth habit Bunch Bunch
Leaf colour Light green Green
Seed colour Rose Rose

Particulars TNAU CO 6 CO 7
Year of Release 2010 2013
Year of Notification SO.1708(E)/26.07.2012 SO.2680(E)/01.10.2015
Derivative of ICGV 87290 X
Parentage Derivative of CS 9 X ICGS 5 ICGV 87846
Duration (days) 125-130 100 -105
Average Yield of Pods kg/ha
Rainfed 1914 2300
Irrigated - 2806
Shelling % 73.5 71
100-seed weight (g) 48.5 35 - 44
Oil content % 49.5 51
Special features High oil, moderately tolerant
Dark green foliage, tolerant to to Rust and Late leaf spot ,
foliar diseases tolerant to Drought
Growth habit Semi- spreading Spanish Bunch
Leaf colour Dark green Green
Seed colour Tan testa Tan testa
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. Rainfed
1. FIELD PREPARATION
i) Plough with tractor using a disc followed by harrow, once or twice with
iron plough or 3 - 4 times with country plough till all the clods are broken
and a fine tilth is obtained.
ii) Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation
at shallow depth with chisel plough first at 0.5 m interval in one direction and
then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years.
Apply 12.5 t/ha of FYM or composted coir pith besides chiselling.
iii) Amendments for soil surface crusting: a) To tide over the surface crusting,

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 apply lime @ 2 t/ha along with FYM or composted coir pith @ 12.5 t/ha. b)
Coir pith at 12.5 t/ha converted to compost by inoculating with Pleurotus and
applied serves as a good source of nutrients.
2. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow
the blanket recommendation.
N P K
Kg/ha
10 10 45
For rainfed groundnut –castor intercropping system, apply the recommended dose of
10:10: 45 kg NPK ha-1 to the main crop of groundnut and for castor apply the recommended
dose of 40 kg N

Soil test crop response based integrated plant nutrition system (STCR- IPNS)
recommendation may be adopted for prescribing fertilizer doses for specified yield targets.
(ready reckoners are furnished )

Rainfed Groundnut
Soil : Red sandy clay loam (Somayanur series) FN = 7.50 T - 0.33 SN - 0.45 ON
Target : 1.0-1.2 t ha-1 FP2O5 =3.50 T - 1.67 SP - 0.55 OP
FK2O = 6.78 T - 0.31 SK - 0.43OK

Yield target – 1.0 t ha-1 Yield target – 1.2 t ha-1

Initial soil test values (kg
NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5 NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5
ha-1)
t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1 t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1
SN SP SK FN FP2O5 FK2O FN FP2O5 FK2O
160 12 160 5* 5* 23* 15** 8 23*
180 14 180 5* 5* 23* 11 5* 23*
200 16 200 5* 5* 23* 5* 5* 23*
220 18 220 5* 5* 23* 5* 5* 23*
240 20 240 5* 5* 23* 5* 5* 23*
* Maintenance dose;** Maximum dose
Note: FN, FP2O5 and K2O are fertilizer N, P2O5 and K2O in kg ha-1, respectively; T is the yield
target in q ha-1; SN, SP and SK respectively are available N,P and K in kg ha-1 and ON, OP and
OK are the quantities of N, P and K supplied through organic manure inkg ha-1.

3. FORMING BEDS
2 2

i) Form beds of size 10 m to 20 m depending upon the slope of the land and type
of soil.
ii) Wherever tractor is engaged, bed former may be used.
Or Ridges and furrows may be laid at 60cm spacing between ridges and sowing
taken on both sides of the ridge
Or Raised bed with a width of 60cm and with a furrow of 15cm on either side may be
formed and sowing taken on the raised bed

4. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
Apply TNAU MN mixture @ 7.5 kg /ha as Enriched FYM (Prepare enriched FYM at
1:10 ratio of MN mixture & FYM ; mix at friable moisture &incubate for one month in
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 shade). Broadcast evenly on the soil surface immediately after sowing. Do not
incorporate micronutrient mixture in to the soil.
5. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Zinc deficiency: Apply 25 kg ZnSO4/ha as basal.
If soil analysis shows less than 1.2 ppm of zinc, soil application of 25 kg ZnSO4 is
recommended. Reduce ZnSO4 application from 25.0 kg ha-1 to 12.5 kg ha-1 if FYM is
applied @ 12.5 t ha-1. For the standing crop, less than 39.4 ppm of zinc in leaves,
foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSo4 is recommended.
Iron deficiency: Foliar of spray 1% FeSO4 + 0.1% citric acid thrice on 30, 40 and 50
days after sowing.
Boron deficiency: Application of Borax 10 kg
Sulphur deficiency: Gypsum 400 kg/ha as soil application at 45th day after sowing.
6. SEED RATE
Use 120 kg/ha of kernels, 175 kg/ha of kernels for bold seeded varieties.

7. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. Wherever
groundnut ring mosaic (bud necrosis) is prevalent, adopt a spacing of 15cm x 15 cm.

8. SEED TREATMENT
i) Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or
Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.
Treat the seeds with biocontrol agents first and then with Rhizobium.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
ii) Treat the seeds with Trichoderma @ 4g/kg. This can be done just before
sowing. It is
compatible with biofertilizers. SUCH SEEDS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH
FUNGICIDES (or)
iii) Treat the seeds with Thiram or Mancozeb @ 4 g/kg of seed or Carboxin or
Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seed.
iv) Treat one hectare of seeds with 125 ml of Rhizobium (TNAU 14) and 125 ml of
Phosphobacteria, shade dry it for 30 minutes before sowing
9. SOWING
• Use Kovai seed drill/gorru to sow the seeds in lines.
• Put one seed in each hole. Protect the seeds from crows and squirrels.
10. INTERCROPPING
i) Raise one row of cowpea for every five rows of groundnut wherever red
hairy caterpillar is endemic.
ii) Raise intercrops like redgram, blackgram, sunflower, gingelly or other pulses.
iii) Cumbu can be raised as intercrop.
iv) Groundnut + Gingelly or Groundnut + Blackgram in the ratio of 4:1 or
Groundnut + Cowpea at 6:1 ratio and Groundnut + Sunflower at 6:2 ratio
may be raised.

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 11. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-emergence: Pendimethalin @ 1.0 litre/ha applied through flat fan nozzle
with 500 l of water/ha. After 35 - 40 days one hand weeding may be given.
th th
ii) If no herbicide is applied two hand weeding may be given on 20 and 40
day after sowing.
12. EARTHING UP
Accomplish earthing up during second hand weeding/late hand weeding (in
herbicide application).
NOTE: i) Earthing up provides medium for the peg development ii) Use the improved
hoe with long handle which can be worked more efficiently in a standing
position. iii) Do not disturb the soil after 45th day of sowing as it will affect pod
formation adversely.

13. APPLICATION OF CALCIUM SULPHATE (GYPSUM)

i) Apply gypsum @ 400 kg/ha by the side of the plants on 40th to 70th day
depending upon
soil moisture.
ii) Apply gypsum, hoe and incorporate it in the soil and then earth up.
iii) Avoid gypsum in calciferous soils.
iv) Gypsum is effective in soils deficient in calcium and sulphur.

NOTE: Application of gypsum encourages pod formation and better filling up of the
pods.

Application of gypsum at the rate of 50 % basal both in rainfed and irrigated

condition reduces Khadhasty malady and pod scab nematode
Combined nutrient spray
Pod filling is a major problem especially in the bold seed varieties. To improve
pod filling spraying of nutrient solution is to be given. This can be prepared by soaking
DAP 2.5 kg, Ammonium sulphate 1 kg and borax 0.5 kg in 37 lit of water overnight. The
next day morning it can be filtered and about 32 litre of mixture can be obtained and it
may be diluted with 468 lit of water so as to made up to 500 litre to spray for one ha.
Planofix at the rate of 350 ml. can also be mixed while spraying. This can be sprayed on
25th and 35th day after sowing.

14. HARVESTING
i) Observe the crop, considering its average duration. Drying and falling of older
leaves and yellowing of the top leaves indicate maturity.
ii) Pull out a few plants at random and shell the pods. If the inner shell is brownish
black and not white, then the crop has matured.
iii) Irrigate prior to harvest, if the soil is dry, as this will facilitate easy harvesting. If
there is enough moisture in the soil, there is no need for irrigation for
harvesting.
iv) If water is not available for irrigating the field prior to harvest, work a mould
board plough or work a country plough, so that the plants are uprooted. Engage
labour to search pods left out in the soil, if necessary.

187
 NOTE: Do not keep the pulled out plants in heaps when they are wet, especially the
bunch varieties, as the pods will start sprouting.
v) Strip off the pods from the plants. Groundnut stripper developed by TNAU can
be used.
vi) Dry the pods in the sun for 4 or 5 days. Repeat drying for 2 or 3 more days after
an interval of 2 or 3 days to ensure complete drying. When temperature is very
high, avoid direct sun drying. Collect the pods in gunnies and store on the
ground over a layer of sand to avoid any moisture coming in contact with dry
pods.
I. Irrigated
1. FIELD PREPARATION
i) Plough with tractor using a disc followed by harrow, once or twice with
iron plough or 3 - 4 times with country plough till all the clods are broken
and a fine tilth is obtained.
ii) Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation
at shallow depth with chisel plough first at 0.5 m interval in one direction and
then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years.
Apply 12.5 t/ha FYM or composted coir pith besides chiselling.
iii) Amendments for soil surface crusting: a) To tide over the surface crusting,
apply lime @ 2 t/ha along with FYM or composted coir pith @ 12.5 t/ha. b)
When coir pith at 12.5 t/ha is converted into compost by inoculating with
Pleurotus and applied, it serves as a good source of nutrien

2. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
If soil test is not done, follow the blanket recommendation.
N P K
25 50 75 kg/ha
80 kg S as gypsum on 45 DAS
For calcareous soil, application of 40 kg S elemental sulphur along with either 50 kg FeSO4 +
12.5 t FYM or 5 kg Fe EDTA can be used. For sulphur deficient calcareous soil, application of
60 kg S/ha elemental sulphur as basal application is recommended. Growing CO7, ALR3 and
CO2 can be recommended in calcareous soils tolerate lime induced iron chlorosis while
CO4, TMV2 and ALG320 were highly sensitive to iron deficiency.
N and K in three splits viz., 50 % N & K as basal + 25 % N and K at 20 DAS + 25 % N and K at
45 DAS is recommended.
Soil test crop response based integrated plant nutrition system (STCR- IPNS)
recommendation may be adopted for prescribing fertilizer doses for specified yield targets.
(ready reckoners are furnished )

188
Groundnut (1)
Soil : Red sandy loam (Irugur series) FN =6.54T-0.56 SN-0.69 ON
Target : 2.0 - 2.5 t ha-1 FP2O5=3.80T-3.32 SP-0.77 OP
FK2O=8.35T-0.65SK-0.87 OK
Yield target – 2.0 t ha-1 Yield target – 2.5 t ha-1
Initial soil test values (kg
NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5 NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5
ha-1)
t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1 t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1
SN SP SK FN FP2O5 FK2O FN FP2O5 FK2O
160 12 160 13* 25* 38* 34 35 65
180 14 180 13* 25* 38* 23 29 52
200 16 200 13* 25* 38* 13* 25* 39
220 18 220 13* 25* 38* 13* 25* 38*
240 20 240 13* 25* 38* 13* 25* 38*
* Maintenance dose

Groundnut (2)
Red sandy clay loam FN = 6.54T - 0.51SN - 1.10 ON
Soil :
(Somayanur series) FP2O5 = 4.19 T - 2.95SP - 0.77 OP
Target : 2.0- 2.5 t ha-1 FK2O = 5.47 T - 0.33SK - 0.87 OK

Yield target – 2.0 t ha-1 Yield target – 2.5 t ha-1

Initial soil test values (kg NPK (kg ha ) + FYM @ 12.5 NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5
-1

ha-1) t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 2 kg t ha-1 + Azospirillum @ 2 kg

ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1 ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1
SN SP SK FN FP2O5 FK2O FN FP2O5 FK2O
160 12 160 13* 28 38* 38** 49 44
180 14 180 13* 25* 38* 32 43 38*
200 16 200 13* 25* 38* 22 38 38*
220 18 220 13* 25* 38* 13* 32 38*
240 20 240 13* 25* 38* 13* 26 38*
* Maintenance dose;** Maximum dose
Groundnut (3)
Soil : Low level Laterite FN = 5.97 T - 0.45 SN
Target : 2.0- 2.5 t ha-1 FP2O5 = 3.80 T – 3.32 SP
FK2O = 7.08 T - 0.58 SK
-1
Yield target – 2.0 t ha Yield target – 2.5 t ha-1
Initial soil test values (kg
NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5 NPK (kg ha-1) + FYM @ 12.5
ha-1)
t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1 t ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1
SN SP SK FN FP2O5 FK2O FN FP2O5 FK2O
160 12 120 13* 25* 38* 37 35 67
180 14 140 13* 25* 38* 28 29 56
200 16 160 13* 25* 38* 19 25* 44
220 18 180 13* 25* 38* 13* 25* 38*
240 20 200 13* 25* 38* 13* 25* 38*
* Maintenance dose
Note: FN, FP2O5 and K2O are fertilizer N, P2O5 and K2O in kg ha-1, respectively; T is the yield
189
target in q ha-1; SN, SP and SK respectively are available N,P and K in kg ha-1 and ON, OP and
OK are the quantities of N, P and K supplied through organic manure inkg ha-1.

3. Forming Beds
Form beds of size 10 m land and type of soil to 20 m depending upon the availability
of water, slope of the
♦ Wherever tractor is engaged, bed former may be used. or
♦ Ridges and furrows may be laid at 60cm spacing between ridges and sowing
taken on both sides of the ridge
♦ Raised bed with a width of 60cm and with a furrow of 15cm on either side
may be formed and sowing taken on the raised bed

4. POLYTHENE FILM MULCHING

Broad beds and furrows method of groundnut cultivation is a proven
technology from ICRISAT. Considering the favourable environment in the Broad beds
and furrows system for the development of groundnut pods, with a little modification in
the size, beds are to be formed for the polyethylene film mulched groundnut. Make the
beds at a width of 60 cm, leaving 15 cm on the either side for the furrows. In a plot size
of 4.5 m x 6.0 m, five beds can be made. After the formation of the bed and fertilizer
application, spread black polythene sheet (90 cm width) over the soil surface. The edges
of the polyethylene can be sheet Seven micron polythene film sheet @50 kg/ha is
required. Holes can be made at required spacing of 30 x10 cm before spreading of the
sheets. The seed requirement is similar to normal groundnut cultivation

5. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
• Apply TNAU MN mixture @ 12.5 kg /ha as Enriched FYM . (Prepare enriched
FYM at 1:10 ratio of MN mixture & FYM ; mix at friable moisture &incubate for
one month in shade).
• Broadcast evenly on the soil surface immediately after sowing. Do not
incorporate the micronutrient mixture to the soil.
• To increase flower retention, pod filling and to induce drought tolerance apart
from yield improvement, 2 sprays of TNAU groundnut rich @ 5.0 kg/ha (for each
spray) at 35 DAS ( 50 per cent flowering) and 45 DAS (Pod developing stage) in
500 litres of water is recommended

6. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Zinc deficiency: Apply 25 kg ZnSO4/ha as basal.
If soil analysis shows less than 1.2 ppm of zinc, soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4 is
recommended. Reduce ZnSO4 application from 25.0 kg ha-1 to 12.5 kg ha-1 if FYM is
applied @ 12.5 t ha-1. For the standing crop, less than 39.4 ppm of zinc in leaves,
foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSo4 is 4 recommended.
Iron deficiency : Foliar spray of 1% FeSO4 + 0.1% citric acid on 30, 40 and 50 days
after sowing. Apply 50 kg FeSO4 + 12.5 t FYM basally.
Boron deficiency: Application of Borax 10 kg basally (or) 0.2% boric acid twice on
40, 50 DAS.
For multinutrient deficiency: Apply 25 kg ZnSO4 + 10 kg borax + 20kg S as Gypsum.

190
 Copper deficiency: Basal application of 10 kg CuSO4 or 0.2% CuSO4. Spray twice
after observing plant nutrient deficiencies.

7. SEED RATE
Use 125 kg/ha of kernels. Increase the seed rate by 15% in the case of bold seeded
varieties.

8. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. Wherever
groundnut ring mosaic (bud necrosis) is prevalent, adopt a spacing of 15cm x 15 cm.

9. SEED TREATMENT
i) Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with Rhizobium.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
ii) Treatment with Trichoderma can be done just before sowing. SUCH SEEDS
SHOULD
NOT BE TREATED WITH FUNGICIDES. (or)
iii) Treat the seeds with Thiram or Mancozeb @ 4 g/kg of seed or Carboxin or
Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seed.
iv) Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g)/ha of Rhizobial culture TNAU14
developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not
carried out, apply 10 packets/ha (2000 g) with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil
before sowing.
Seed treatment will protect the young seedlings from root-rot and collar rot
infection.

10. SOWING
a) Dibble the seeds at 4 cm depth along with fertilizer.

11. WEED MANAGEMENT

i. Pre-emergence: Pendimethalin @ 1.0 litre/ha applied on third day after sowing
through flat fan nozzle with 500 litres of water/ha followed by irrigation. After
35 - 40 days one hand weeding may be given.
ii. Spray Early post emergence application of Imazethapyr @ 50 ml/ha at
20-30 days after sowing based on weed density as post emergence spray
iii. If no herbicide is applied two hand hoeing may be given on 20th and 40th day
after sowing.
iv. Apply, PE Oxyfluorfen @ 200 g/ha on 3rd DAS and followed by one hand weeding
on 40-45 DAS
v. Apply, PE Oxadiazon @ 0.8 kg ha-1 followed by one earthing up using hoes (or)
working star type weeder

191
12. EARTHING UP:
Accomplish earthing up during second hand weeding/late hand weeding (in
herbicide application).
NOTE: i) Earthing up provides medium for the peg development. ii) Use the improved
hoe with long handle which can be worked more efficiently in a standing
position. iii) Do not disturb the soil after the 45th day of sowing as it will affect
pod formation adversely.

13. APPLICATION OF CALCIUM SULPHATE (GYPSUM)

ƒ Apply gypsum @ 400 kg/ha by the side of the plants on the 40th to 45th day of
sowing. Apply gypsum, hoe and incorporate in the soil and then earth up.
ƒ Avoid gypsum in calciferous soils.
ƒ Gypsum is effective in soils deficient in calcium and sulphur.
NOTE: Application of gypsum encourages pod formation and better filling up of the
pods.
Application of gypsum at the rate of 50 % basal both in rainfed and irrigated
condition reduces Khadhasty malady and pod scab nematode

Combined nutrient spray

Pod filling is a major problem especially in the bold seed varieties. To improve
pod filling spraying of nutrient solution is to be given. This can be prepared by soaking
DAP 2.5 kg, Ammonium sulphate 1 kg and borax 0.5 kg in 37 lit of water overnight. The
next day morning it can be filtered and about 32 litre of mixture can be obtained and it
may be diluted with 468 lit of water so as to made up to 500 litre to spray for one ha.
Planofix at the rate of 350 ml. can also be mixed while spraying. This can be sprayed on
25th and 35th day after sowing. or Spray TNAU Groundnut Rich @ 5.5 kg/ha for 2 sprays
(50 per cent flowering and pod developing stage) to increase flower retention and pod
filling.

14. WATER MANAGEMENT

Schedule the irrigation at 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and
reproductive phase respectively. Regulate irrigation as per the growth phase of the
crop. Pre-flowering phase : 1 to 25 days Flowering phase : 26 to 60 days Maturity
phase: 61 to 105 days Regulate irrigation based on physiological growth phases.
Pegging, flowering and pod development phases are critical for irrigation during which
period adequate soil moisture is essential. Irrigate as follows:
i) Sowing or pre-sowing
ii) Life irrigation, 4 - 5 days after sowing.
iii) 20 days after sowing
iv) At flowering give two irrigations
v) At pegging stage give one or two irrigations
vi) In pod development stage, 2 - 3 irrigations depending on the soil type

Note: Spraying 0.5% Potassium chloride during flowering and pod development stages

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 will aid to mitigate the ill effects of water stress. Sprinkler irrigation will save
water to the tune of about 30%. Borderstrip irrigation is recommended in
command areas in light textured soils. Composted coir pith increases moisture
availability and better drainage in heavy textured soil.
15. HARVESTING
i) Observe the crop, considering its average duration. Drying and falling of older
leaves and yellowing of the top leaves indicate maturity.
ii) Pull out a few plants at random and shell the pods. If the inner shell is brownish
black and not white, then the crop has matured.
iii) Irrigate prior to harvest, if the soil is dry, as this will facilitate easy harvesting. If
there is enough moisture in the soil, there is no need for irrigation for
harvesting.
iv) If water is not available for irrigating the field prior to harvest, work a mould
board plough or work a country plough, so that the plants are uprooted. Engage
labour to search pods left out in the soil, if necessary.

NOTE: Do not keep the pulled out plants in heaps when they are wet, especially the
bunch varieties, as the pods will start sprouting.

v) Strip off the pods from the plants. Groundnut stripper developed by TNAU can
be used.
vi) Dry the pods in the sun for 4 or 5 days. Repeat drying for 2 or 3 more days after
an interval of
2 or 3 days to ensure complete drying. When temperature is very high, avoid
direct sun drying. Collect the pods in gunnies and store on the ground over a
layer of sand to avoid any moisture coming in contact with dry pods.

CROP PHYSIOLOGY
Foliar spray of TNAU Groundnut Rich @ 2 kg/acre in 200 litres of water at peak
flowering and at pod development stages increases flower retention, pod filling and
improves moisture stress tolerance and pod yield.

CROP PROTECTION
Economic threshold level for important pests

Pest ETL

Leaf miner Leaf miner 1 larva / m row

Tobacco caterpillar 8 egg masses/100 m row
Pests Management strategies
Red hairy caterpillar, • Dig out and destroy the pupae from field bunds
Amsacta albistriga and shady spots prior to summer rains.
• In rain fed crop set up 3 to 4 light traps and
bonfires immediately after rains to attract and kill
the moths.
• Collect and destroy gregarious, early instar larvae
on lace-like leaves of intercrops such as redgram
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 and cowpea.
• Collect and destroy egg masses in the cropped
area.
• Dig a trench 30 cm deep and 25 cm wide with
perpendicular sides around the infested fields to
avoid larval migration.
• Spray Aa NPV
• Apply quinalphos 1.5 DP 25 kg/ha
Virus multiplication
Collect medium sized larvae of Amsacta albistriga from the field and starve them over night. Make a
pure suspension of virus with the nucleus culture in water. Dip Calotropis leaves in virus suspension,
shade dry and feed them to starved larvae for 1 or 2 days. From third day, normal, untreated leaves
can be fed to these larvae. From 5th day, the treated larvae will start dying. Virus infected larvae can
be diagnosed by their pinkish ventral surface, their head hanging downwards with white body
contents oozing out through ruptured body wall in the late stage. Collect the dying larvae, keep in
fresh potable water for a few days, grind the larvae and filter through several layers of fine cloth and
collect filtrate (Crude virus suspension). Use virus suspension obtained from 750 medium sized
larvae for spraying one hectare along with a sticker 250 ml or Triton in 350 l of water. Use potable
water for mixing and spray in the evening hours.
Tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura • Grow castor as border or intercrop in groundnut fields
to serve as indicator or trap crop.
• Monitor the emergence of adult moths by setting up
light trap and pheromone traps.
• Collect egg masses and destroy.
• Collect the gregarious larvae and destroy them as soon
as the early symptoms of lace-like leaves appear
on castor, cowpea and groundnut.
• Spray Methomyl 40 SP 750ml / ha to control the early
instar (1st to 3rd instar) larvae.
• Spray NSKE 5%
• Apply Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha
with crude sugar 2.5 kg/ha and Teepol 250 ml/
ha.
Leafhopper, Empoasca kerri Intercrop lab lab with groundnut 1:4 ratio
Spray any one of the following insecticides / ha
Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 100 ml
Quinalphos 25 EC 1400 ml
Leafminer / Leaf webber, Aproaerema Set up light trap between 8 and 11 pm at ground level
modicella Spray any one of the following insecticides / ha
Methyl demeton 25 EC 1000 ml
Quinalphos 25 EC 1400 ml
Podborer (Earwig) Anisolabis stali Apply Carbofuran 3 CG 50 kg/ha
to the soil prior to sowing in endemic areas.
Repeat soil application of any formulations on the
40th day of sowing and incorporate in the soil during
the earthing up.
Whitegrubs Apply Carbofuran 3 CG 33.3 kg/ha
Holotrichia consanguinea, H. serrata

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Aphid Apply anyone of the following insecticides/ha
Aphis craccivora Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 100 ml
Methyl demeton 25 EC 1000 ml
Thrips Apply Quinalphos 1.5 DP 23.3kg/ha
Scirtothrips dorsalis Spray Quinalphos 25 EC 1400 ml/ha
Termites Apply Thiamethoxam 75 SG@125 g/ha

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Seed treatment : Treat the seeds with carbendazim @ 2 g/kg or Trichoderma asperellum @
4 g /kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg of seeds

Disease Recommendations
Rust: Puccinia arachidis Spray mancozeb @ 1000 g /ha or chlorothalonil @ 1000 g /ha
or wettable sulphur @ 2500 g /ha. If necessary, repeat the
spray 15 days later.
Early leaf spot: Cercopora
arachidicola Spray carbendazim @ 500 g/ha or mancozeb @ 1000 g/ha or
(Mycosphaerella arachidis) chlorothalonil @ 1000 g/ha. If necessary, repeat the spray 15
days later.
Late leaf spot:
Phaeoisariopsis personata CIB Recommendation
(Mycosphaerella • Spray hexaconazole 5% EC @ 1500ml/ha or metiram 70%
berkeleyii) WG 2 kg/ha or propiconazole 25% EC @ 500 ml/ha or
pyraclostrobin 20% WG @ 500g/ha or sulphur 40% WP @
5.65-7.50 kg/ha or sulphur 80% WP @ 2.5-5.0 kg/ha or
sulphur 85% DP @ 15-20 kg/ha or carbendazim 12% +
mancozeb 63% WP @ 500 g/ha or fluxapyroxad 167 g/l +
pyraclostrobin 333 g/l SC @ 300 ml/ha or pyraclostrobin
133g/l + epoxiconaxole 50g/l SE @ 500/ha

For combined infection of leaf spot and rust

• Spray bitertanol 25% WP @ 1 kg/ha or chlorothalonil 75%
WP @ 1.5 g/l or mancozeb75% WP @ 1.5 to 2 kg/ha or
tebuconazole 25.9% m/m EC @0.50-0.75 l/ha

For combined infection of leaf spot and stem rot

• Spray carbendazim 25% + flusilazole 12.5% SE @ 640-800
g/ha
For collar rot, seed rot, root rot and stem rot
• Treat the seeds with carboxin37.5% + thiram 37.5% DS @
3g/kg of seeds
For the management of termites, thrips, jassids, root grubs,
collar rot and stem rot
• Spray imidacloprid 18.5% + hexaconazole 1.5 % FS @ 200
ml/ha

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Combined infection of rust and Spray 10% Calotropis leaf extract or spray carbendazim @ 250
leaf spot g + mancozeb 1000 g/ha or chlorothalonil @ 1000g/ha. If
necessary, give the second spray 15 days later.

Root rot: Macrophomina • Soil application of P. fluorescens @ 2.5 kg /ha with 50 kg

phaseolina of well decomposed FYM / sand at 30 DAS.
(Rhizoctonia bataticola) • Spot drench with carbendazim @ 1 g / l

Groundnut bud necrosis: • Antiviral principles (AVP) from sorghum or coconut leaves.
(Groundnut bud AVPs are extracted as follows:
nercrosis virus) Sorghum or coconut leaves are collected, dried, cut into
(Vector: Thrips tabaci, small bits and powdered. To one kg of leaf powder two
Frankliniella schultzeii) litres of water is added and heated to 60°C for one hour. It
is then filtered through muslin cloth and diluted to 10
litres and sprayed. To cover one hectare area 500 l of fluid
will be required. Two sprays at 10 and 20 days after
sowing will be needed.
• For vector management, apply quinalphos 1.5 DP
23.3kg/ha or spray quinalphos 25 EC @ 1400 ml/ha

GROUNDNUT – VARIETAL SEED PRODUCTION

Land requirement
• Land should be free of volunteer plants. The previous crop should not be the same
variety or other varieties of the same crop. It can be the same variety if it is certified
as per the procedures of certification agency.

Isolation
• For certified / quality seed production, leave a distance of 3 m all around the field
from the same and other varieties of the crop.

Season
• June - July and December - January.

Spacing
• 25 x 15 cm.

Pre-sowing seed hardening

• Harden the graded seeds by soaking in 0.5 % CaCl2 (50 % seed volume) for 6 h. After 6
h soaking, incubate the seeds in between moist gunny bags for 12 -18 h. Observe the
sprouting of radicle periodically at 2 h interval after 12 h of incubation.
• Separate the seeds with sprouted radicle (just visible expression of radicle) and dry
under shade.

Fertilizer requirement
• Apply NPK @ 25:50:75 kg / ha as blanket.

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 • Apply borax as basal application @ 10 kg / ha in boron deficient soils.
• Apply gypsum @ 400 kg / ha at peg formation stage and at earthing.

Foliar application
• NAA@ 200 ppm at 60 days after sowing to arrest late formed flowers and
increase the seed yield in groundnut.

Pre-harvest spray to arrest in situ germination

• Spray 1250 ppm MH (Maleic Hydrazide) at 60 days after sowing.

Harvest
• Harvest the pods as and when the colour of the inner side of the shell turns black and
dry to 10 - 12 per cent moisture.

Drying
• Stake the plants as the pods are exposed outside for easy drying of pods.
• Dry the pods to 15 - 20 % moisture content under sun.

Decortication
• Dry the pods to 16 per cent moisture content and decorticate either manually or
using hand operated decorticator with proper adjustment.
• Dry the kernels to 7 to 8 per cent moisture.
• Practice pod verification based on varietal characteristic before grading to remove
genetically impure seeds.
• Remove all discoloured pods.
• Reject mechanically injured pods for seed purpose.

Pre-storage seed treatment

• Treat the pods with carbendazim @ 2 g / kg at 6 - 7 % moisture content.

Seed storage
• Store the pods in gunny bags with calcium chloride @ 250 g / 30 kg of pods.
• Store the seeds in gunny for short term storage (8 - 9 months) with a seed moisture
content of 8 - 9 %.
• Store the seeds in polylined gunny bag for medium term storage (12 - 15 months)
with a seed moisture content of 6 - 8 %.
• Store the seeds in 700 gauge polythene bag for long term storage (more than 15
months) with a seed moisture content less than 5 %.

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