How To Grow Groundnut

Groundnut is the second most protein rich food after soybean. It contains 50% oil and more protein than meat and eggs. It also contains nutrients such as fat, phosphorus, iron, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc, potassium and copper.

Things to Know Before Groundnut Farming

Groundnut is an ideal crop to include in multi-crop farming.
It can be grown as an intercrop in tapioca and coconut groves.
It can be grown as a third crop in paddy fields.
Groundnut can be raised in sandy loam as well as well-drained sandy clay loam soil.

Suitable Varieties for Farming

TMV2, TMV7, TG3, TG14, Spanish Improved, Sneha Snigdha

Suitable Intercorp Varieties

TG3, TMV2 and TMV7

Variety	Days	Kernel/Pod Characteristics	Yield	Special Features
TMV 2	105–115	Small, round pods; Light rose-colored kernels.	1200–1600 kg/ha	Drought tolerant. Very popular old variety suitable for rainfed conditions.
TMV 7	100–105	Medium pods; Light rose kernels.	1400–1900 kg/ha	High oil content (49.6%). High shelling percentage (74%). Responsive to fertilizers.
TG 3 (Vikram)	100–110	Medium-bold seeds; Fleshy colored kernels.	~2880 kg/ha	Developed by BARC. Non-spreading. Excellent for intercropping in coconut/tapioca.
TG 14	105–115	Medium sized; Rose-colored kernels.	~3100 kg/ha	Seeds sit close to the soil surface. High yield potential.
Spanish Improved	100–110	Medium sized; Fleshy color kernels.	~2800 kg/ha	A standard non-spreading variety. Often used as a benchmark for bunch types.
Sneha	Early	Medium-sized pods.	~2400 kg/ha	Released by KAU (Vellayani). Recommended for dry lands (e.g., Trivandrum).
Snigdha	Early	Medium-sized pods; High yield.	~2450 kg/ha	Released by KAU (Vellayani). Developed for uplands; similar to Sneha but often higher yielding.

Groundnut Variety Guide

1. TMV 2
Duration: 105–115 Days

Yield: 1200–1600 kg/ha
Key Features: Drought tolerant. Very popular old variety suitable for rainfed conditions.
Pod/Kernel: Small, round pods; Light rose-colored kernels.

2. TMV 7
Duration: 100–105 Days

Yield: 1400–1900 kg/ha
Key Features: High oil content (49.6%) and shelling percentage (74%). Responsive to fertilizers.
Pod/Kernel: Medium pods; Light rose kernels.

3. TG 3 (Vikram)
Duration: 100–110 Days

Yield: ~2880 kg/ha
Key Features: Developed by BARC. Non-spreading. Excellent for intercropping in coconut/tapioca.
Pod/Kernel: Medium-bold seeds; Fleshy colored kernels.

4. TG 14
Duration: 105–115 Days

Yield: ~3100 kg/ha
Key Features: Seeds sit close to the soil surface. High yield potential.
Pod/Kernel: Medium sized; Rose-colored kernels.

5. Spanish Improved
Duration: 100–110 Days

Yield: ~2800 kg/ha
Key Features: Standard non-spreading variety. Often used as a benchmark for bunch types.
Pod/Kernel: Medium sized; Fleshy color kernels.

6. Sneha
Duration: Early

Yield: ~2400 kg/ha
Key Features: Released by KAU (Vellayani). Recommended for dry lands (e.g., Trivandrum).
Pod/Kernel: Medium-sized pods.

7. Snigdha
Duration: Early

Yield: ~2450 kg/ha
Key Features: Released by KAU (Vellayani). Developed for uplands; similar to Sneha but often higher yielding.
Pod/Kernel: Medium-sized pods.

Irrigated cropping season

January to May

Rainfed cropping season

May–June to September–October

Seed Requirement and Selection

400 grams of seeds are required to cultivate in one cent.
Discard very small, shrivelled and diseased kernels.
Large and dark brown kernels can be sown.
If soaked in water overnight, the seeds will germinate quickly.

Land Preparation and Soil Management

Acidity of the field should be regulated by adding lime at the rate of one to three kilograms per cent, two weeks before sowing the seeds.
The soil can be ploughed well and the seeds can be sown.
Keep a distance of 15 cm between the rows and between the holes.

Manure and Fertilizer Application

Apply 8 kg of composted manure or compost as base manure for one set.
Apply the following as base fertilizer per cent:
- 87 g urea
- 1665 g rock phosphate
- 501 g potash

Crop Care and Management

Turmeric powder or salt can be used to control ants.
40 days after planting (at the time of flowering), a small amount of lime can be added to the bottom after slightly loosening the topsoil.
Do not plough or shake the base after 45 days.

Harvesting Groundnut

Peanuts can be harvested when the leaves turn yellow and begin to dry out.
The kernel of seed inside the husk turning brown signals the time for harvesting.
Plants can be uprooted and groundnuts can be collected, dried and stored.

How to Prevent Diseases and Pests in Groundnut

Infestation of termite results in wilting of plant.
- To prevent termite infestation, 20 g of Metarhizium mixed with one liter of water can be poured at the bottom.
Use well decomposed cow dung and do not delay harvesting of crop to prevent pest infections.
Neem cake can be applied with basal manure or neem-based insecticides can be used to control pests.
Pseudomonas can be sprayed with 20 gm per liter of water once in two weeks to control leaf spot.
It is also advisable to treat the seeds with Pseudomonas before sowing.
If leaf spot disease is severe, Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed.