Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
40 days for flowering to begin and 70รพ for mature nuts to be produced. Thus, the
growing season must be longer than 110 days to produce significant numbers of
peanuts. In addition the temperature needs to be 25 to 308C for good production.
Peanuts are grown in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions.
6.11.2 Importance in Human Nutrition
Peanuts are highly nutritious, as shown below, but are most often eaten as snacks rather
than a main part of a meal. However, some cultures do make significant use of peanuts
in their main meals, such as in parts of India and Africa. In these cases peanut can
provide significant calories and protein to the diet. They may also contribute significant
amounts of vitamins and minerals.
6.11.3 Cultivation
Peanuts are grown much like any annual crop; see Chapters 3, 4, and 5. The field is
plowed and harrowed, and ridges on which the peanuts will be planted may be produced.
During these operations liming and fertilization is done as needed. The peanut seed may
be planted shelled or unshelled, although the latter are slower to produce. As the plant
develops it flowers and once pollinated (flowers are self-pollinating), a stem develops
and grows into the ground as shown in Figure 6.33, where the nut is produced.
Because the nut is produced underground, sandy or other light, low-bulk density,
soils are preferred for peanut production. In spite of this preference peanuts are regularly
and successfully produced on soils with significant clay content.
Peanut is grown as either a rainfed crop or under irrigation. Lack of water can lead
to large reductions in yield, and thus in areas of uncertain rainfall irrigation is essential
for assured yields.
During the growing season, plants must be protected from insect damage and
weeded to remove competition. Losses from weed competition can be between 18
Figure
6.33.
Peanut plant showing nut formation below ground.
