Complete groundnut farming guide — Rhizobium inoculation, gypsum at pegging, earthing up, aflatoxin prevention and MSP profitability.
Groundnut farming की complete guide — Rhizobium inoculation, gypsum at pegging, earthing up, aflatoxin prevention और MSP profitability।
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) — Moongfali or Mungphali — is India's most important oilseed crop and a major source of edible oil, protein-rich cake and direct food. India is the world's second-largest groundnut producer after China, growing 6–7 million tonnes annually. Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra lead production. For farmers in semi-arid regions, groundnut is a drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing cash crop that improves soil while generating income.
Groundnut (मूंगफली) India का most important oilseed crop है — edible oil, protein-rich cake और direct food। India दुनिया का second-largest producer है। Semi-arid regions के farmers के लिए drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing cash crop जो soil improve भी करती है।
🥜 Why Farm Groundnut?
Groundnut Farming क्यों करें?
Drought Tolerant
Groundnut is one of India's most drought-tolerant crops — ideal for semi-arid Gujarat, Rajasthan, AP, TN where rainfall is 500–750mm. Needs far less water than most crops.
Nitrogen Fixer
Groundnut fixes 100–200 kg nitrogen per hectare through root nodules — enriching soil for the next crop. Excellent rotation crop after cereals.
Multiple Products
Oil (50% content), oil cake (protein supplement), seed for direct eating, peanut butter, roasted snack — each has strong domestic and export demand.
MSP Support
MSP for Kharif groundnut 2024–25: Rs.6,783/quintal — one of the highest oilseed MSPs. Government procurement through NAFED provides price floor.
🌱 Best Groundnut Varieties for India
Best Groundnut Varieties
| Variety | Duration | Type | Yield/ha | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥜 TAG-24 (Gujarat) | 100–110 days | Spanish bunch | 2.5–3.5 t/ha | Gujarat, Rajasthan — drought tolerant |
| 🥜 K-6 | 100–115 days | Spanish bunch | 2.5–3.0 t/ha | Karnataka, TN — old reliable variety |
| 🥜 GG-20 (Gujarat Giant) | 110–120 days | Virginia runner | 3.0–4.0 t/ha | Confectionery, large kernel export |
| 🥜 ICGV-86031 | 110–120 days | Virginia | 2.5–3.5 t/ha | ICRISAT recommended — all India |
| 🥜 Kadiri-6 | 115–125 days | Virginia runner | 3.0–3.5 t/ha | AP, TN — high oil content |
| 🥜 TG-38A | 100–110 days | Spanish bunch | 2.5–3.0 t/ha | AP, TN — good for Kharif |
🌍 Climate & Soil Requirements
Climate और Soil
- Temperature: 25–30°C for germination and vegetative growth. 20–25°C for pod filling. Below 17°C slows growth. Above 35°C during pegging and pod development reduces pod set.
- Rainfall: 500–1,250mm. Excess rainfall during pod maturity causes aflatoxin contamination and quality loss. Well-distributed moderate rainfall is ideal — matches well with most semi-arid regions.
- Soil: Light sandy loam to loamy, well-drained. pH 6.0–6.5. Calcium-rich soil critical for pod development — groundnut pods develop directly in soil and need calcium. Heavy clay soils cause distorted pods and harvesting difficulty.
- Important: Avoid waterlogged soil. Groundnut cannot tolerate standing water even for 24 hours during pegging stage.
🗓️ Sowing Guide & Calendar
Sowing Guide और Calendar
| Season | Sowing Time | Harvest | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌧️ Kharif (main) | June–July | October–November | All India — 80% production |
| ❄️ Rabi | November–December | March–April | AP, TN, Karnataka (irrigated) |
| 🌸 Summer | February–March | May–June | AP, TN — with irrigation |
Sowing Method
- Seed preparation: Shell seeds 1–2 days before sowing. Treat shelled seeds with Thiram 3g + Carbendazim 1g per kg + Rhizobium culture 25g/kg. Rhizobium inoculation is free nitrogen — never skip this step.
- Spacing: 30×10 cm (bunch type), 45×15 cm (spreading/Virginia type). Correct spacing critical for pod development space.
- Seed rate: 80–100 kg/ha (bunch type), 100–120 kg/ha (Virginia type).
- Sowing depth: 4–6 cm. Too shallow = poor establishment. Too deep = poor emergence.
💧 Irrigation, Fertilizer & Earthing Up
Irrigation, Fertilizer और Earthing Up
Irrigation
| Stage | Irrigation Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pegging (30–35 days) | 🔴 Critical — if no rain | Pegs penetrate soil here — drought causes total pod failure |
| Pod formation (45–60 days) | 🔴 Critical | Pod size determined here — consistent moisture essential |
| Pod filling (60–90 days) | High importance | Every 10–12 days in absence of rain |
| Maturity (last 2 weeks) | Stop irrigation | Dry conditions at maturity reduce aflatoxin risk |
Fertilizer (per hectare)
- N: Only 20 kg/ha basal — Rhizobium fixes remaining nitrogen. Excess nitrogen suppresses nodule formation.
- P: 40–60 kg/ha as SSP (single superphosphate) — SSP preferred over DAP as it also provides sulfur which increases oil content.
- K: 40–60 kg/ha — MOP at basal.
- Calcium (most important): Apply 400–500 kg/ha gypsum (calcium sulfate) at pegging stage by broadcasting around plants. This is the most critical nutrient specifically for groundnut pod filling and prevents empty pods.
- Earthing up: At 30–35 days — pile 5–8 cm soil around plant base. This covers pegs entering soil, improves pod development space and stabilizes plant. Critical practice — skip this = 20–30% fewer pods.
🐛 Pest & Disease Management
Pest और Disease Management
| Problem | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|
| 🍄 Tikka Disease (Cercospora) | Brown circular spots with yellow halo on leaves — most common | Mancozeb 2.5g/L or Chlorothalonil spray every 10–15 days from 30 DAS |
| 🍄 Stem Rot (Sclerotium) | White fungal growth on stem base, yellowing, wilting | Trichoderma soil drench, Carbendazim dip at transplanting. Remove infected plants. |
| 🪲 White Grubs | Plants wilting in patches — roots eaten | Chlorpyrifos 20EC 5ml/L soil drench, Imidacloprid seed treatment |
| 🐛 Spodoptera (Leaf Eater) | Skeletonized leaves at night | Bt spray, Emamectin benzoate at early stage |
| ⚠️ Aflatoxin | Not visible — contaminates pods in wet storage | Prevention only: harvest at right time, dry to 8% moisture, store dry |
🌾 Harvesting, Curing & Storage
Harvesting, Curing और Storage
1
Harvest at right maturity
Right maturity पर harvest करें।
90–130 days depending on variety. Indicator: inner pod wall dark brown, leaves yellowing, 75–80% pods show mature color inside. Pull a few plants and check. Harvest too early = immature shriveled kernels. Too late = pods separate and remain in soil.
2
Harvest method — dig and invert
Dig करें और invert करें — pods up।
Loosen soil with plough then pull plants manually. Invert plants so pods face upward — allows sun drying of pods while still attached. Leave in field for 2–3 days for initial field curing.
3
Threshing and drying to 8% moisture
Thresh करें और 8% moisture तक dry करें।
Separate pods from plants manually or with thresher. Sun dry on clean raised surface 8–10 days to 8–10% moisture (pods rattle when shaken). This is critical — aflatoxin develops rapidly in groundnuts stored above 10% moisture.
4
Store in dry, ventilated facility
Dry, ventilated facility में store करें।
Store in clean jute bags in well-ventilated dry storage. Never store on damp floor. Stack on wooden pallets. Fumigate with Aluminum Phosphide for long-term storage. Monitor monthly for moisture and pest activity.
💰 Groundnut Farming Profitability — 1 Hectare
1 Hectare Groundnut Farm की Profitability
| Item | Kharif (Unirrigated) | Rabi (Irrigated) |
|---|---|---|
| Seed cost (100 kg @ Rs.70/kg) | Rs.7,000 | Rs.7,000 |
| Fertilizer + gypsum | Rs.8,000–12,000 | Rs.12,000–18,000 |
| Labor (sowing, earthing, harvest) | Rs.15,000–22,000 | Rs.18,000–25,000 |
| Irrigation + pest management | Rs.5,000–10,000 | Rs.15,000–25,000 |
| Total Cost | Rs.35,000–51,000 | Rs.52,000–75,000 |
| Yield × MSP (Rs.6,783/qtl) | 2.5 t = Rs.1,69,575 | 3.5 t = Rs.2,37,405 |
| Net Profit | Rs.1,18,000–1,34,000 | Rs.1,62,000–1,85,000 |
🥜
Final tip: The three practices that most improve groundnut profitability: Rhizobium inoculation (free nitrogen — never skip), gypsum application at pegging (prevents empty pods — Rs.400 investment gives Rs.5,000–8,000 yield benefit), and proper drying before storage (prevents aflatoxin contamination which can render entire crop unsellable). These three together consistently add 25–40% to net profit.
Groundnut profitability improve करने वाली तीन practices: Rhizobium inoculation (free nitrogen — कभी skip न करें), gypsum at pegging (empty pods prevent — Rs.400 investment = Rs.5,000–8,000 yield benefit), और proper drying before storage (aflatoxin prevent)। ये तीन मिलाकर consistently 25–40% net profit बढ़ाते हैं।