Exploring Pod Seeded Groundnut and its Response to Spacing and Nutrient Levels

Groundnut is cultivated mainly by small and marginal farmers. Seed cost and sowing are stated to be the most expensive operations which combined are responsible for about 45% of the entire cost of groundnut cultivation. The seed cost is increased mainly by the operation of shelling, which raises it to 3 times. The objective of this research was to test the viability of sowing groundnut with pods after proper seed treatment to reduce the shelling cost. Treatments include four spacing and three nutrient levels. It was sown in the spacing of 30 cm × 10 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm, 25 cm × 15 cm, and 30 cm × 15 cm. The different nutrient levels followed were the soil-based recommendation approach, 100% Recommended dose of fertilizers (25: 50: 75 N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1) and, 125% Recommended dose of fertilizers (31.25: 62.5: 93.75 N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1). Groundnut response was evaluated based on dry matter production, number of pods per plant, hundred pod weight, pod yield, haulm yield, harvest index and B: C ratio. The combination of 30 cm × 15 cm spacing, and 125% recommended dose of fertilizers (S4N3) documented the highest double pods per plant, hundred pod weight, highest pod yield of 3791 kg ha-1 and benefit-cost ratio of 2.89. The higher yield as well as the higher benefit-cost ratio, indicates the practical feasibility and economic viability of adoption of pod-seeded groundnut.