Groundnut Cultivation: A Novel Approach using Organic Input
Abstract
The groundnut or peanut is one of the important legume crops of our world, produced over an area of 5.4 million ha and production of 5.43 million tones with a productivity 910 kg/ha. High profitability along with sustainability can be attained in groundnut with proper fertility management and by organic farm practices. In the recent years organic farming has gained significant importance by supporting sustainable crop production and due to its eco-friendly benefits. Organic farming system in groundnut emphasis the use of vermi-compost, FYM along with other organic amendments like bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides etc. and hence paving way for production of organic and healthy peanuts.
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Introduction
The groundnut or peanut (Arachis hypogea) is one of the most important legume crop of tropical and sub-tropical countries belonging to the family legume. It acts as a rich source of protein constituting 22-30% and 44 to 56% edible oil (Savage Jet al. 1994). It is mainly used for oil extraction but due to presence of high content of protein (22 %), carbohydrates (10 %), minerals (3%), niacin (17 mg/100g) and vitamin B, groundnut possess high food value and hence consumed directly (Rajagopal et al. 2000). Because of its significance, a shift in cultivation practices of groundnut from conventional methods to organic methods is going to pave way for a bigger change. It helps in ensuring production of high quality seeds with increased protein and oil content.
FIGURE 1: Groundnut (Arachhis hypongea) plant. Organic farming is a type of farming system where the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides and livestock feed additives is completely or partially avoided. The concept of organic farming is based on the principle of environmental, social and economic sustainability (S.K.Yadav et al.2013). Significant characteristics include protection of long-term fertility of soils by balancing amount of organic matter in the soil, maintaining biological life in the soil, careful use of farm equipments, ensuring nitrogen availability through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock wastes and weed, disease and pest control using crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, and resistant varieties (S.K.Yadav.et al.2013).
Organic production of groundnut depend entirely on farm management techniques that helps in maintaining the soil fertility by ensuring optimised microbial activity (Jagdish Reddy.2019).This include incorporation of FYM or vermicompost into soil, crop rotation, use of cover crops, cultivation of green manure crops and using organically accepted fertilizers and pesticides that flourish the soil with nutrients and protect plants from pest and diseases (Jagdish Reddy.2019). Within some years, use of organic manures in groundnut production is going to be an inevitable process since it improves the physical, biological and chemical properties of soil along with increased water holding capacity and rise in crop productivity. Organic manure supplied to the soil during production of groundnut mainly includes green manure, neem cake, enriched compost and vermicompost. This ensures the health of plant and hence the crop yield. Seed treatment inorganic farming is done using bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides such as Rhizobium, PSB, and Trichoderma Harzianum FIGURE 2: Organic Farming
Conclusion
From the study, i conclude that, organic production of groundnut support sustainability and environmental well-being by reducing the input of synthetic pesticides and insecticides in the field. Use of naturally available inputs such as biofertilizers and other organic matters are involved in improving the soil health and ensures maximum yield.
