EFFECT OF INTRA-ROW SPACING ON THE

GROWTH AND YIELD OF TWO VARIETIES OF

GROUNDNUTS

BY

MIRACLE LAZARUS

KASU/18/AGR/1042

A SEMINAR PAPER PRESENTED TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE KADUNA STATE
UNIVERSITY.

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE.

KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY, KAFANCHAN

CAMPUS, KADUNA

STATE.

JUNE, 2024.
INTRODUCTION

Groundnut arachis hypogaea L. Also known as peanut in north and south america (gadhiya
et al., 2014). Groundnut belongs to the family leguminosae and sub-family papilionoideae. It
is an annual legume and one of the world’s most important oilseed crops (mukhtar et al.,
2013). The genus arachis comprises of over 80 described species and is divided into nine
taxonomic sections:trierectoides erectoides, procumbentes, rhizomatosae, heteranthae,
caulorrhizae, extranervosae triseminatae and arachis (rami et al., 2013). Groundnut is the
thirteenth world food crops. It is position fourth in oil generation or palatable oil after
soybean, rapeseed, and cottonseed and third vegetable most important protein (food and
agricultural organisation, 2017a).

Groundnut production in kafanchan, nigeria, suffers from inadequate yields, partly

attributable to suboptimal agronomic practices. Among these practices, intra-row spacing, the
distance between plants within a row, plays a critical role in influencing groundnut yield.
This study addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the effect of intra-row spacing on the
growth and yield of two groundnut varieties

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Inadequate spacing has been a factor in the declining yield of groundnut in the study area.
One crucial factor influencing yield is intra-row spacing, the distance between individual
plants within a row. The problem lies in finding the optimal intra-row spacing for groundnut
production that can been use to increase the yield of groundnut

JUSTIFICATION

Inefficient groundnut production in kafanchan, nigeria, necessitates a comprehensive

investigation into agronomic practices to optimize yield. This study focuses on intra-row
spacing, a critical factor influencing groundnut growth and yield. By evaluating the
interactive effects of spacing with distinct groundnut varieties, the research aims to identify
the optimal spacing regime for each variety cultivated within the kafanchan region. This will
enhance resource utilization, promote crop performance, and ultimately contribute to
increased groundnut productivity.

OBJECTIVE

The study was set out to review the work of other researchers on the effect of intra-row
spacing on the growth and yield of two varieties of groundnut.

1. The effect of intra-row spacing on the growth and yield of groundnut in kafanchan.

2. The effect of variety on the growth and yield of groundnut in kafanchan.

3. The effect of interaction between intra-row spacing and variety on the growth and
yield of groundnut in kafanchan.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Botany and Distribution of Groundnut

Originating in south america, the groundnut (arachis hypogaea L.) Is a legume, not a true nut.
Unlike nuts that develop above ground, fertilized peanut flowers bury themselves and mature
pods underground. Archaeological

Evidence suggests cultivation in peru around 3750-3900 years ago. Europeans further spread
the crop globally, with the "runner type" reaching asia and the "virginia type" introduced to
africa and india. This dispersal is supported by the diversification observed in these regions
(gibbons et al., 1972).

Economic importance

• Groundnut (peanut) is a globally important crop with economic benefits:edible oil

source: high-quality vegetable oil for cooking, frying, and salad dressings.

• Food source: rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals for direct consumption (roasted,
peanut butter).

• Cash crop: income generation for farmers, particularly in developing countries.

• Animal feed: groundnut cake (byproduct of oil extraction) is a valuable protein

source.
 • Industrial uses: groundnut shells have applications in particle board production, fuel,
and as an abrasive material.

CULTURAL PRACTICES

• Planting: Farmers typically plant groundnut on flat ground, though other

methods exist.

• Soil: Sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0) is ideal. Avoid
saline soils.

• Climate: Groundnut needs moderate temperatures (25-30°C) and 250-1000 mm of

rain during growth, depending on variety. Heavier rainfall may require raised beds.

• Nutrients: Groundnut benefits from phosphorus and potassium fertilizers like SSP
and MOP. Manure can be a good alternative.

• Weeding: Effective weed control, especially in the first 6 weeks, is crucial for yield.

• Harvest: Look for signs like pod color change, seed development, and leaf yellowing
to determine harvest time. Weather conditions can also influence harvest urgency.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

EXPERIMENTAL SITE:

The field trial will be conducted during the wet season of 2024 at the research farm of the
faculty of agriculture, kaduna state university, kafanchan, nigeria (09°34'N and 08°18'E).
This location falls within the southern guinea savannah ecological zone of nigeria.

Treatments and experimental design

• The experiment will be laid out in a factorial design in split plot in two factors
(variety and intra-row spacing) and will be replicated three times. :

• Factor 1: intra-row spacing

• Four levels of intra-row spacing will be implemented:

• Spacing 1 (S1): [10 cm]

• Spacing 2 (S2): [20 cm]

• Spacing 3 (S3): [30cm]

 • Spacing 4 (S4): [40cm]

Factor 2: groundnut variety

• Two hybrid groundnut varieties will be compared:

• Variety 1 (V1): ICRISAT HB 12 (gaurav) - medium-duration, high-

yielding, tolerant to common diseases.

• Variety 2 (v2): tmv 2 (kanika) - early to medium maturity, very high

yielding, resistant to rust disease.

Plot size

The plot size will be 1.6 meters x 3 meters (4.82 square meters) and will consist of four
ridges per plot. An alleyway of 1 meter will separate replications to minimize border effects.

• Planting

• Fertilizer application.

• Weed control.

• Pests and diseases

• Harvesting

• 3.5 Data Collection

Data will be collected on the following parameters.

• Vegetative traits

• Plant height (cm)

• Germination percentage

• Number of leaves/plant

• Yield traits

• Number of pods per plant

• Pod weight (kg/ha).

• 100 grain weight (g)Total grain yield (tones/ha)

3.6 Statistical Analysis

The data collected will be subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using statistics
10.0 statistical package. Means will be separated using Duncan multiple range test
(DMRT).

CONCLUSION

This study will showed that planting groundnut seeds at the right distance from each
other (spacing) can significantly impact how well the plants grow and how many
peanuts they produce. We will test two different groundnut varieties (ICRISAT HB
12 and TMV 2) with different spacings and see the outcome