Response of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to date of sowing and spacings

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during summer, 2012 at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, to study the “response of summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to sowing dates and spacings. Twelve treatment combinations comprising of four levels of dates of sowing viz., 31st January, 10th February, 20th February and 1st March as a main plot treatment and three levels of spacings viz., 22.5 cm, 30.0 cm and 45.0 cm were relegated in sub plot treatment tested under split plot design with four replications. Higher plant height, number of filled pods per plants, total pods per plants and pods weight per plant as well as pod yield (2431 kg/ha) and haulm (3006 kg/ha) yield were recorded with crop sown on 20th February. With regard to spacing, crop sown with 22.5 cm spacing recorded maximum number of filled pods per plants, total pods per plants and pods weight per plant which resulted in produced significantly higher pods (2482 kg/ha) and haulm (3061 kg/ha) yield. Neither date of sowing nor plant spacing was significantly influenced on number and weight of root nodules, shelling per cent, oil and protein content of groundnut.