Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Sowing

Time of Sowing

1. Kharif: The crop is sown from second fortnight of June to first fortnight of July depending upon the onset of monsoon.
2. Rabi: Crop is sown from September to December depending upon the harvest of rice.
3. Summer: The crop is sown from the second fortnight of December to first week of February depending upon the temperature.
4. Spring: Crop is sown from second fortnight of February to first week of March after harvest of toria and potato.


Groundnut suffers from yield reduction due to delayed sowing and it is more pronounced in rabi season as compared to kharif season.

Seed Rate
For bunch types 80-100 kg of seeds per hectare would be enough and 60-80 kg for spreading types.The exact seed requirement varies with seed size and row spacing.

Spacing
In bunch types, the row to row distance is kept 30-40 cm and in spreading types 45-60 cm. Plant to plant distance would be 15 and 20 cm for bunch and spreading types respectively.

Method of Sowing
Seeds should be sown after shelling pods, not the pods as such since it results in delayed and partial germination.After shelling, the damaged seeds should be rejected before sowing.

Conventional Method
Groundnut is generally sown in flat beds. In Saurashtra region of Gujarat, set-furrow system of groundnut cultivation is still a practice by the farmers. In set-furrow system farmers use same furrow (90 cm) year after year for groundnut cultivation.

Improved techniques

1. Criss-Cross Pattern: In this method, total seed lot is divided into two equal halves; first half of the seed is sown in one direction adopting recommended row to row spacing and then remaining half in perpendicular to first direction by adopting same row spacing. It maintains optimum plant population because of uniform distribution of seed.

2. Paired Row: In this system, two pairs of rows are spaced at 45/60 cm with a spacing of 22.5/30 cm within the pair.

3. Broad Bed and Furrow Method: This method is useful for high rainfall areas having deep vertisol where drainage of excess water is a problem. The moisture, thus stored in the furrows, could be utilized effectively.

Fig: Polythene mulching in broad bed and furrow method.

Sowing Implements
Bullock drawn seed drill and sowing behind the country plough are the traditional implements generally used by the farmers. These implements can maintain only row to row spacing. Improved tractor drawn groundnut seed drill can maintain both row and plant spacing.

Depth of Sowing
Generally 2.5 to 5.0 cm is found optimum. If the seed is sown in deep (5 cm), germination will be badly affected.