Complete Farming Guide
Groundnuts Farming Guide
Arachis hypogaea
53 million tonnes produced globally — the world's most important oilseed legume
Groundnuts (peanuts) are unique among crops — after pollination, the flower stalk elongates and pushes the developing pod into the soil, where the seeds mature underground. They are a major source of protein (25%) and oil (48%) across the tropics, with China, India, and Nigeria accounting for over 70% of global production. Groundnuts fix atmospheric nitrogen (80-120 kg N/hectare), making them invaluable in crop rotation systems. From roasted snacks in West Africa to peanut butter in America, groundnuts are both a subsistence crop and a global commodity.
Quick Facts
Growing Season
Kharif (Rainy Season) or irrigated summer crop
Growth Period
90-150 days depending on type (Spanish, Valencia, Virginia)
Optimal Temp
25-35 degrees C (77-95 degrees F)
Water Needs
500-700mm
Top Producer
China
Yield / Acre
0.6-1.2 tonnes (unshelled)
Groundnuts Growth Stages — What to Do at Every Stage
Germination & Emergence
Days 0-12What to do
Sow seeds at 5cm depth in well-prepared, loose seedbed. Use 40-50 kg seed/acre for bunch types, 25-30 kg for spreading types. Seed treatment with Trichoderma (4g/kg) and Rhizobium inoculant. Space 30x10cm (bunch) or 45x15cm (spreading).
Watch for
Pre-emergence damping off from Aspergillus in wet soil. White grub (chafer) larvae eat seeds before emergence. Poor stands from old seed with low viability.
Vegetative Growth
Days 13-35What to do
First weeding at 20 days. Apply basal fertilizer if not done at sowing. Inter-cultivation at 25-30 days to loosen soil around plants for pegging. Do NOT apply nitrogen — Rhizobium provides all N needs.
Watch for
Leaf spot appearing on lower leaves. Thrips causing silvery damage on young leaves. Aphids transmitting groundnut rosette virus (stunted, bushy plants with mottled leaves).
Flowering & Pegging
Days 36-65What to do
Apply gypsum (calcium sulfate) at 80-100 kg/acre to the pegging zone for strong pod and seed development. Earth up around the base of plants. This is the most critical water-demand stage. Maintain soil moisture for peg penetration.
Watch for
Hard, dry soil prevents pegs from entering the ground — yield drops drastically. Calcium deficiency causes "pops" (empty pods). Tikka disease (leaf spots) spreading rapidly. Spodoptera caterpillar feeding on foliage.
Pod Development
Days 66-110What to do
Maintain consistent moisture — drought now causes shriveled kernels. Apply last irrigation at 100 days (for 120-day varieties). Scout for collar rot and stem rot. Keep field free of weeds.
Watch for
Aflatoxin contamination risk from Aspergillus flavus in drought-stressed plants. Stem rot (white mold at the soil line). Red hairy caterpillar defoliating plants.
Maturity & Harvest
Days 111-150What to do
Test maturity by pulling sample plants — 70-80% of pod inner shells should be dark brown/black. Harvest by lifting plants (dig with a blade harrow). Invert and sun-dry for 3-5 days. Target 8-10% kernel moisture for safe storage.
Watch for
Over-mature pods sprout or rot in wet soil. Under-mature harvest gives shriveled kernels. Aflatoxin contamination during drying — avoid contact with bare soil. Dry to 8% moisture within 48 hours to prevent mold.
Common Groundnuts Diseases — Identification Guide
Early Leaf Spot (Tikka Disease)
Cercospora arachidicola
What you will see
Circular, dark brown spots with a yellow halo on the upper leaf surface. Spots are 1-10mm diameter. Sporulation appears as dark tufts on the upper surface. Severe infection causes complete defoliation, reducing yield by 20-50%.
Conditions that favor it
Warm (25-30 degrees C), humid conditions with frequent rain or dew. Appears 30-35 days after sowing and worsens through the season. Continuous groundnut cropping increases inoculum.
Late Leaf Spot
Phaeoisariopsis personata
What you will see
Similar to early leaf spot but spots are darker (almost black), smaller, and sporulation is on the lower leaf surface (rough, dark texture when rubbed). Appears later in the season (50+ days). Often co-occurs with early leaf spot.
Conditions that favor it
Similar to early leaf spot — warm, humid weather. Generally appears 2-3 weeks after early leaf spot. Combined damage from both can cause 50-70% yield loss.
Stem Rot (Sclerotium Rot)
Sclerotium rolfsii
What you will see
White cottony fungal growth at the base of the stem at the soil line. Plants wilt and die. Brown, round sclerotia (1-2mm, like mustard seeds) visible in the white mycelium. Often appears in patches that expand during wet weather.
Conditions that favor it
Warm (30-35 degrees C), wet conditions with high soil moisture. Acidic soils and fields with crop residue. The fungus survives as sclerotia in soil for 3-5 years.
Aflatoxin Contamination
Aspergillus flavus / A. parasiticus
What you will see
Not a visible plant disease — the fungus colonizes kernels, producing aflatoxin (a potent carcinogen). Infected kernels may appear normal or show slight discoloration. Contamination is detected only by laboratory testing. Major food safety concern.
Conditions that favor it
Drought stress during pod fill, followed by high temperature (>30 degrees C). Damage to pods by insects or harvesting equipment. Delayed harvesting in wet conditions. Drying on bare soil instead of raised platforms.
Common Groundnuts Pests — Identification & Damage
Aphids (Aphis craccivora)
Damage
Suck sap from young shoots, causing stunting and leaf curling. Most importantly, aphids are the sole vector of Groundnut Rosette Virus — the most devastating viral disease of groundnuts in Africa, causing 20-100% yield loss.
How to identify
Shiny, black aphids clustered on growing tips, flowers, and undersides of young leaves. Look for honeydew (sticky deposits) and associated sooty mold. Rosette symptoms: stunted, bushy plants with mottled, curled leaves.
White Grub (Chafer Beetle Larvae)
Damage
Fat, C-shaped beetle larvae living in the soil eat developing pods and roots. Damage often goes unnoticed until harvest reveals eaten or missing pods. Can cause 20-40% pod loss in endemic areas.
How to identify
White, soft-bodied, C-shaped larvae (1-4cm) found 5-15cm deep in soil. Adults are brown beetles attracted to light. Dig near wilting plants to find larvae. Deep plowing before sowing exposes grubs to predators.
Spodoptera (Tobacco Caterpillar)
Damage
Larvae feed gregariously on leaves, sometimes defoliating entire plants within days. Young larvae skeletonize leaves; older larvae eat everything except the midrib. Most damaging during the reproductive phase.
How to identify
Dark green to brown caterpillars with longitudinal stripes. Egg masses are covered in scales on the underside of leaves. Larvae cluster in groups when young, then disperse. Scout at dusk — they feed mainly at night.
Groundnuts Nutrient Management — NPK Guide
Nitrogen
Starter only: 10 lb N/acre (Rhizobium fixes 60-80 lb N/acre)
Phosphorus
30-40 lb P2O5/acre
Potassium
20-30 lb K2O/acre
Application Timing
All NPK at sowing as basal dose. Critical addition: gypsum (calcium sulfate) at 80-100 kg/acre applied to the pegging zone at flowering (35-40 days). Calcium is essential for pod development — deficiency causes empty pods ("pops"). On acidic soils, apply lime (500 kg/acre) 2-3 weeks before sowing.
Groundnuts Irrigation Schedule
Total Water Requirement
20-28 inches (500-700mm) total crop water use
Critical Stages
Flowering and pegging (35-65 days) is the most water-critical period — drought now prevents peg penetration. Pod development (65-110 days) needs consistent moisture. Avoid waterlogging at any stage.
Irrigation Frequency
Under irrigation: every 8-12 days during the critical period. Stop irrigation 15-20 days before harvest. Groundnuts are moderately drought-tolerant during vegetative growth but very sensitive during flowering and pegging.
Groundnuts Economics — Cost, Yield & Profit
Cost per Acre
$200-400/acre (India/Nigeria)
Yield per Acre
0.6-1.2 tonnes unshelled/acre
Revenue per Acre
$400-800/acre
Profit per Acre
$100-400/acre
Regional Context
Groundnut prices range from $400-800/tonne for confectionery grade to $300-500/tonne for oil-extraction grade. In India, the MSP for groundnut is around $700/tonne. Nigeria is both a major producer and consumer. The oil content (48%) makes it valuable for extraction. Aflatoxin-free, well-graded nuts for export (HPS — hand-picked selected) command 30-50% premium. Value addition through shelling, roasting, and making peanut butter can double farm-gate income.
Frequently Asked Questions — Groundnuts Farming
Why are my groundnut pods empty?
Empty pods ("pops") in groundnuts are almost always caused by calcium deficiency in the pegging zone. Groundnut pods absorb calcium directly from the soil through the pod wall — they cannot translocate calcium from the plant roots. The solution is to apply gypsum (calcium sulfate) at 80-100 kg/acre directly to the soil surface in the fruiting zone at the beginning of flowering (35-40 days after sowing). On acidic soils, lime can also be applied. Other causes of empty pods include boron deficiency and drought during pod development.
How do I prevent aflatoxin in groundnuts?
Aflatoxin prevention requires a multi-step approach: (1) Avoid drought stress during pod fill — irrigate if possible. (2) Harvest at the right time — do not leave mature pods in wet soil. (3) Dry immediately to below 9% moisture within 48 hours of harvest. (4) Dry on raised platforms, tarpaulins, or concrete — never directly on bare soil. (5) Sort and remove damaged, shriveled, or discolored kernels. (6) Store in clean, dry, well-ventilated conditions. (7) Use Aflasafe (biological control with atoxigenic Aspergillus strains) where available. Testing through UV light (BGYF test) or lateral flow strips helps identify contaminated lots.
What is the best soil type for groundnuts?
Groundnuts need sandy loam to loamy sand soil — light-textured soil is essential because the pegs (flower stalks) must penetrate the soil to form pods. Heavy clay soil physically prevents peg penetration and makes harvesting difficult (pods break off and stay in the ground). The ideal pH is 5.5-6.5. Good drainage is critical — waterlogging kills groundnuts quickly. Avoid compacted soils; deep tillage before planting helps peg entry. Sandy soils are ideal but need more frequent irrigation. The pegging zone (top 10cm of soil) must remain loose and moist during flowering.
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