Crop Production

PGPR technology for rain fed groundnut

• Based on consistent increase obtained in pod yield (14-18.6%) and BCR (1.37 to 2.08) at multi-locations with inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizo-bactetrial (PGPR’s) isolates (PGPR1, PGPR2, PGPR4 and their combinations) as seed treatment, it was recommended for use in groundnut cultivation as seed treatment.
• Groundnut rhizobia, IGR6 and IGR40, developed at DGR, Junagadh having highly nodulating and nitrogen fixing traits have been recommended after thorough evaluation in AICRPO for use as seed treatment for enhancing BNF and yield in groundnut.
• DAPG-producing fluorescent pseudomonads (DAPG4, FP86, FP93, etc.) have been recommended for kharif groundnut cultivation as seed treatment for enhancing yield as well as for management of stem and collar rot in groundnut on the basis of consist performance in AICRP-G trails at multilocations.

In-situ moisture conservation for higher productivity and economic returns in groundnut

• Inter-row water harvesting (IRWH), paired row, and broad bed and furrow (BBF) methods of groundnut planting with and without polythene and/or organic mulch was found promising for in-situ moisture conservation, higher productivity, and economic returns at different locations.

Plant density and fertility levels for groundnut-pigeon pea intercropping

• Based on multi-location studies and standardization, recommendation was made for maintenance of proportional plant density and fertilizer application in groundnut-pigeonpea intercropping system for highest system productivity. Adoption of this methodology can curtail about 25-50% of recommended dose of fertilizers when used in the system as compared to individual crops.

Economically viable groundnut based cropping systems and their agronomic management for different groundnut regions in India

On the basis of trials conducted in AICRP-G over the years, following recommendations have been made for agronomic management in different groundnut based cropping/intercropping systems:

• Application of 100% N + 150% P and K to groundnut and 100% recommended doses of NPK to cowpea in groundnut–cowpea cropping system at Aliyarnagar.
• Application of 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as basal to groundnut and application of 50% RDN as basal to ragi is recommended in groundnut-ragi intercropping system at Chintamani.
• Application of 75% RDF to groundnut and 100% RDF to Bt-cotton in groundnut-Bt-cotton (3:1 row ratio) intercropping system at Dharwad.
• Application of 100% and 50% RDF while maintaining 75% and 100% plant density in groundnut and cluster bean, respectively, for obtaining higher productivity and  input use efficiency in groundnut-cluster bean intercropping system at Durgapura.
• Application of 100% RDN to groundnut as basal and 50% RDN to sorghum in two splits in groundnut-sorghum intercropping system. Similarly, groundnut + sesame (4:1 row proportion) intercropping system was found remunerative and recommended for obtaining higher system productivity at Jalgaon.
• Application of 100% N to groundnut and 50% N to intercropped cereal crop rather than application of 100% N to both groundnut and cereal crop. Similarly, application of 100% RDF to groundnut and 100% RDF to Bt-cotton in groundnut-Bt-cotton (3:1) intercropping system at Junagadh.
• Application of 100 % N to groundnut and 50 % N to intercropped cereal crop (Maize) rather than application of 100% N to both groundnut and maize crop at Jhargram.
• Tillage with rotavator followed by sowing with seed cum fertilizer drill for rice-groundnut cropping system at Jagtial.
• Application of 50% RDN to groundnut as basal and 100% RDN to maize in three splits for groundnut-maize intercropping system at Khargone.
• Application of 100 % RDN to groundnut and 50 % RDN to intercropped cereal crop rather than application of 100% N to both groundnut and cereal crop at Kadiri.
• Tillage with rotavator followed by paired row method (20/30 x 20 cm) sowing in rice-groundnut cropping system. Further, application of 60 kg N/ha to rice and 40 kg P₂O₅/ha to groundnut was recommended for rice-fallow situation at Bhubhneshwar.

Weed management technologies in groundnut

Following weed management practices are recommended for management of weeds in groundnut:

• Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg a.i./ ha followed by post-emergence application of quizalofop ethyl 5EC @ 50 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS along with one hand weeding at 45 DAS for effective weed control
• In groundnut-pigeon pea intercropping system, pre-emergence application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha or metolachlor @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha followed by one hand weeding and one inter-cultivation for effective weed control.
• Quizalofop ethyl @ 50 g a.i./ha or for imazethaphyr 10 WC @ 75/ g a.i./ha as post-emergence for better weed management.

Technologies for organic groundnut cultivation

• For organic groundnut production, application of beneficial micro-organisms treated FYM @ 7.5 t/ha + seed treatment with bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides in addition to foliar spray of either Pseudomonas @ 1% or NSKE @ 5% or panchagavya @ 3% at 40 to 45 days after sowing is recommended (Aliyarnagar, Bhubaneshwar, Jagtial, Kadiri, and Shirgaon regions).
• Application of poultry manure @ 5 to 10 t/ha along with bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers was also recommended for cultivation of organic groundnut at Durgapura and Jalgaon.

• Paclobutrazol @100 ppm has been identified as growth retardant and for enhancer flowering/plant and yield enhancement in groundnut.
• Consortium of microbes (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, phosphate solubilizing bacteria and rhizobia: DGRC1) has been identified for enhancing yield and nutrient uptake as a low cost technology with B:C ratio of 2.7
• Endophytic bacteria Bacillus firmus J22N and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes SEN29N have neen identified for alleviation of drought and for obtaining higher dry pod yield and higher returns in rainfed consitions.

Drip-irrigation in groundnut cultivation

• At Aliyarnagar, irrigation at 0.50 IW/CPE ratio is recommended for highest grain equivalent yield and economics of pigeonpea in groundnut–pigeonpea cropping system. Drip fertigation with 50% RDF and irrigation at 60% pan evaporation was recommended for higher water and fertilizer use efficiency in summer groundnut.
• At Durgapura, drip laterals (having drippers at 30 cm distance and 1.75-2.0 kg/cm² pressure and 4 litre/hour discharge rate) should be installed at the interval of three rows (row spacing 30 cm) or keep 90 cm distance between two laterals which should be operated for 50 minutes in the month of June and 30 minutes during rest of the crop period (July to October) on alternate days for drip irrigation in groundnut. This system saves about 60% water and gave higher yield in comparison to surface systems.
• At Jalgaon, drip irrigation at 80% evapo-transpiration rate on alternate days with 60 cm lateral spacing was recommended. Further, fertigation through drip having 100% RDF (water soluble fertilizer) in 9 equal splits at weekly interval at 80% evapo-transpiration was also recommended.
• At Junagadh, drip irrigation at 100% average daily ET rate on alternate days with conventional sowing with one lateral to each row or one lateral between two rows was recommended. Application of hydrogel @ 2.5 to 3.5 kg/ha at different irrigation levels was also recommended.

Land configuration and mulching on for increasing productivity and resource use efficiency of kharif groundnut

• Use of broad bed and furrow or raised bed and furrow (60 cm width x 30 cm furrow) method of groundnut sowing with mulch are recommended for obtaining high yield and monetary returns from kharif season groundnut crop.