Groundnut is a major oilseed crop grown for edible oil and protein. It is grown in both Kharif and summer seasons.
Groundnut
Arachis hypogaea
Oilseed
Overview
Common Pests
Leaf Miner (Aproaerema modicella)
Symptoms:
Serpentine mines on leaf surface; rolled dried leaves; intense infestation reduces canopy and yield significantly.
Aphids (Aphis craccivora)
Symptoms:
Colonies on young shoots; honeydew secretion; transmits groundnut rosette virus causing severe stunting.
Common Diseases
Tikka Disease / Leaf Spot (Cercospora arachidicola)
Symptoms:
Circular dark brown spots on leaves with yellow halos; severe cases cause premature defoliation.
Treatment:
Apply neem-based fungicides at first sign; remove infected leaf material.
Collar Rot (Sclerotium rolfsii)
Symptoms:
White cottony mycelium at soil level; brown lesions at stem base; plants wilt and collapse quickly.
Treatment:
Apply trichoderma bio-control agent to soil around affected plants; improve drainage.
Soil Requirements
Groundnut demands light-textured, well-drained sandy loam or red laterite soils that allow easy pod penetration. Heavy clay soils restrict pod development and make harvesting extremely difficult, leading to high pod loss.