STUDIES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF GROUNDNUT AS A POST-RAINY CROP IN NAGPUR REGION

Abstract

Climatic adaption of groundnut variety SB-XI as a post-rainy crop has been investigated considering the agroclimatic data of Nagpur region and the meteorological equivalents of the crop. The crop sown on 1, 15 and 29 October fortnightly interval during post rainy seasons of 1985-86 and 1986-87 exhibited a cold tolerance indicating its suitability for the Nagpur region as a post-rainy crop. The 15 October sowing alongwith other growth attributes recorded highest dry pod yieid (21.24 g/ha) followed by 1 October sowing (18.36 q/ha) being lowest (16.85 g/ha) for the 29. October. From the various growth and yield parameters 15 October sowing was found to exhibit best performance enjoying favourable weather of the season forming optimum sowing time in the region for the post-rainy groundnut. The sub-optimal temperatures prevailed during the winter delayed maturity to 123 days in 1 October sowing, to 136 days in 15 October sowing and to 140 days in 29 October sowing. The low temperature and low evaporation reduced water demand of the crop the conserved soil moisture and post monsoom rains favoured better development and yield of groundout.