Explore key concepts and best practices in groundnut farming, including soil selection, planting, varieties, and crop management. Perfect for beginners aiming to enhance their agricultural knowledge.
Which soil type is generally considered most suitable for the successful cultivation of groundnuts?
Explanation: Sandy loam soil provides good drainage and aeration, which are ideal conditions for groundnut roots and pod development. Clayey soil retains too much moisture, peaty soil is overly organic and acidic, and saline soil inhibits plant growth with excess salt content.
During which season are groundnuts typically sown in regions with a monsoon climate?
Explanation: Groundnuts are primarily sown in the Kharif season, coinciding with the onset of monsoon rains which provide needed moisture. Rabi season is cooler and less suitable, while summer and winter do not align with optimal rainfall patterns for groundnut cultivation.
Which is the recommended plant-to-plant spacing for groundnut seeds in row planting?
Explanation: A 10–15 cm spacing between groundnut plants helps ensure adequate air circulation and resource access. 2–4 cm is too close, leading to competition, while 25–30 cm and 50–60 cm are wider than needed, reducing yield per area.
Which nutrient is especially important for enhancing groundnut root nodulation and nitrogen fixation?
Explanation: Calcium is essential for root development and pod formation in groundnuts, especially aiding nodulation. Boron supports flowering but is not as crucial for nodulation; phosphorus aids overall root health, and sulfur is needed in smaller amounts.
What is a reliable indicator that groundnuts are ready for harvest?
Explanation: As groundnuts mature, the leaves turn yellow and begin to fall off, signaling readiness for harvest. Roots becoming woody or stem color changes are not reliable indicators, and floating seeds suggest poor seed quality, not harvest timing.