Why growing groundnuts is a worthwhile project

For its many uses, groundnuts (scientific name, Arachis hypogaea) find themselves satiating our appetite. Also known as peanuts, groundnuts are consumed as sauce or a confectionary roasted snack.
Groundnut paste is mixed with mushrooms, beef, fish or even vegetables for a savoury taste.
Due to their popularity, groundnuts rank second to beans in legumes grown in Uganda.
As a legume, it improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. But with erratic weather conditions and increasing pests and diseases, the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in Serere has since 1966 been researching on resistant varieties. Here is why and how you can grow groundnuts effortlessly.

Best agronomic practices
According to Dr Scovia Adikin, a breeder specialising in dry land cereals at NaSARRI, poor agronomic practices play a big role in low productivity.
Groundnuts do well in semi-arid tropical regions, below 1,500 metres above sea level with a temperature requirement of about 30°C.
“All soils, other than very heavy ones are suitable for growing groundnut, but the best are deep, well drained sandy, sandy loam or loamy sand soils where the plant can easily peg its pods,” Dr Adikin said during the 13th Seeds of Gold Farm Clinic at NaSARRI in Serere on December 1.
Fertilisers should be applied during land preparation. Although she advises that a soil test is the best way to determining the type of fertiliser required.
She advises against using potassium fertilisers after plants have germinated. Deeper furrows should be dug with the fertiliser covered to avoid seed burning.

Land preparation and seeding
Agronomists recommend preparing land before the rains start by removing all crop residues and weeds. The recommended time is usually three to four weeks before planting. In low lying areas, a farmer is advised to use ridges to prevent water logging.
After preparing land, seed selection follows. Experts warn against using seeds from diseased plants.
“If you are not sure of the history of the seeds, look out for disease and drought resistant varieties from accredited seed multipliers,” she advises.

Although groundnuts research is carried out in Serere only, farmers can access seeds from nearby zonal agricultural research institutes. In selecting seeds, a farmer should take into consideration yield and quality. Certified seeds can be bought at intervals of two to three years. Thirty to 35 kilogrammes of shelled seeds can be planted in an acre an equivalent of one to two bags of unshelled groundnuts. To prevent blights and rot, seeds need to be treated with fungicides.
Seeds are sowed in rows with a depth of five to six centimetres. Seeds must not be sown following heavy rains since they absorb too much water, which causes rotting.
Recommended spacing between rows is 45 centimetres while plant from plant varies depending on the type.

Weeding
“Groundnuts do not tolerate weed competition especially three to six weeks after sowing,” she quips.
Like any crop, groundnuts compete with weeds for moisture, nutrition, light and space.
This calls for proper weed management. Weeding can be done three to four times with the first coming before flowering and during pegging.

Pest and disease management
Groundnuts are susceptible to several infections and pests which reduce yield and quality.
Most attacks are fungal, viral or bacterial related. The most common disease include rosette, early leaf spot, late leaf spot and rusts. Aphids, leafminer, thrips, termites and beetles are the ravaging pests.
Spraying with insecticides, timely cropping and harvesting, intercropping, field sanitation, planting resistant varieties and proper storage are recommended.

Harvesting
Determining when to harvest groundnuts is important. Since they can be flowering even at harvest time, a farmer must scout his garden on a regular basis. Hand pulling is one of the most used and suitable forms in sandy and loam soils while ox-drawn ploughs or hoeing can be used when drought sets in at harvesting time. Damage to pods should be avoided as this can lead to aflatoxin contamination. When pods are damaged, moulds will enter and produce aflatoxins. The situation becomes worse when drying takes place on bare ground. Inadequately dried pods are another source of aflatoxins.
Since aflatoxins are becoming a major healthy concern, Dr Adikin advises commercial farmers to measure moisture content.

Storage
Since market prices keep fluctuating, most farmers tend to keep their groundnuts either as pods or in shelled form. Storing in shells offers more protection against moulds yet shelled ones are easily invaded by moulds, insects and rodents.

Recommended practices
Climate: Rainfall: 450-1250 mm per year. Temperature: 24-30°C
Soils: Sandy or sandy loam, or loamy sands
Fertiliser: 60 kg/ha of NPK
Rotation: With cereals or cassava, sweet potato, sunflower
Land preparation: Before on-set of rains
Planting: When moisture is adequate and stable in soil. Sow 5-6 cm deep
Seed dressing: With fungicide
Spacing: Semi-erect types: 45X10-15 cm such as Igola 1, Serenut 1R, Serenut 2, Serenuts 7T, Serenut 8R. Bunch types like red beauty, Serenut 4T, 5R, 6T, 45cmX7.5-10 cm
Weeding: 2-3 times
Irrigation: Where possible and necessary
Source: NaSARRI