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Crop production

Biological features and economic importance of peanut cultivation

For students

4 min read

CROP PRODUCTION C

Peanut (groundnut) is a valuable high-protein and oil crop. Its seed contains 48–66% high-quality non-drying edible oil, which substitutes olive oil, as well as 23–38% protein. The oil cake after processing contains about 45% protein and is used for the production of halva, cakes, chocolate, and other confectionery products. Vegetative mass in the form of hay is not inferior in nutritional value to clover or alfalfa (contains 10–20% protein), and the durable bean husk is used as fuel and raw material for insulation materials.

Global peanut sowings occupy about 22 million hectares. The crop is most common in India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Central and North Africa, the USA, Western Europe (mainly in the Mediterranean), and Ukraine. In Russia, it is cultivated in the Volga region, Rostov Oblast, and Krasnodar Krai. The peanut originates from South America (Peru), from where it spread throughout the world via Argentina and Brazil. In Europe, it has been known since the XVI century, and in Russia, its cultivation began in 1792 — initially in the Odessa Botanical Garden, and from the 20s–30s of the XX century, it was grown in field sowings.

Growing region Seed yield (c/ha)
World 10
China, Spain, Korea up to 20
Russia (without irrigation) 5—8
Russia (with irrigation) 20—80

Peanut (Arachis hypogeae L., ssp. vulgaris L.) belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is an annual herbaceous plant with a branched stem up to 50–60 cm tall. During seed germination, the cotyledons remain in the soil. The leaves are pinnately compound, with two pairs of obovate, pubescent leaflets on the underside.

A biological feature of the crop is the formation of two types of flowers in axillary racemes of 2–3 pieces. Above-ground flowers can be cross-pollinated. Underground flowers (cleistogamous) do not open and are self-pollinated. After fertilization of the above-ground flowers, the base of the fruit set grows into a gynophore. On the 5th–6th day, it directs downwards and embeds the fruit set into the soil to a depth of 10 cm, where the fruit is formed — an indehiscent bean with loose valves and a reticulated surface. Protrusions of epidermal cells, similar to mycorrhiza or root hairs, form on the surface and participate in the nutrition of the fruit set.

One bean contains from 1–2 to 5–7 seeds with a hull content of 20–30%. Peanut cultivars are divided into spreading (late-maturing, ripen unevenly) and bunch types. The latter ripen uniformly and are characterized by early maturity, which is why they are the most promising for the conditions of the CIS. In Russia, the bunch cultivars Krasnodarets 13 and Krasnodarets 14 are approved for use. In Belarus, peanut is not grown as a field crop.

During harvesting of peanuts, the bulk of the roots in the tillage layer, along with the nodules, are removed from the soil. Take into account that this circumstance significantly reduces the role of peanuts as a nitrogen accumulator for subsequent crops.

Peanut agrotechnics: from sowing to harvesting

Peanuts are sown after row crops, winter and spring crops. As a legume and row crop, it serves as a good predecessor for cereals. Tillage system soil">The tillage system for peanuts is the same as for other late-sown crops. Sowing is carried out using seeds or whole pods (as well as their parts) with the help of special, corn, or cotton seed drills.

  • Seed germination temperature — 12—14 °C
  • Soil temperature during sowing — 13—15 °C
  • Row spacing — 70 cm
  • Distance in the row — 25—30 cm
  • 1000-seed weight — 200—400 g
  • Pod moisture content during storage — ~ 8 %

Peanuts are heat-loving, moisture-loving, and light-loving. Their seedlings cannot withstand frosts below −1...−1.5 °C. Saline and waterlogged soils are unsuitable for growing this crop.

For the normal development of fruit set, the soil is kept in a loose and weed-free condition. Crop maintenance includes sequential technological operations. The main goal of the treatments is to ensure unobstructed access of the fruit set into the arable layer.

  1. Pre-emergence harrowing to break the crust and destroy weeds.
  2. Performing 4–5 cultivations to a depth of 6–8 cm at intervals of 10–15 days.
  3. Hilling of plants.

Readiness of peanuts for harvesting is judged by a set of signs. The leaves of the plants begin to partially yellow, and the inner side of the pod valves darkens. The seeds easily separate from the valves and acquire normal hardness.

  1. Undercutting of bushes with special digger machines, which extract plants from the soil, shake them off, and place them into windrows of 4–6 rows.
  2. Picking up and threshing of dried windrows with combine harvesters to separate the pods.

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