This document discusses water management for groundnut crops. It notes that groundnut requires 400-500mm of water on average, but productivity is lower for kharif (monsoon) crops due to erratic rainfall. Irrigating kharif crops can increase yields. The critical growth stages for irrigation are flowering, pegging, and pod development. Studies show irrigation should be scheduled based on soil moisture depletion levels or ratios of irrigation water to pan evaporation. Proper irrigation depth and frequency also impact yields, with amounts varying by location and season. Overall, the document provides information on best practices for irrigating groundnut crops to optimize water use and maximize production.

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Water requirement
 Moisture extraction pattern
 Critical stages
 Scheduling of irrigation
 Irrigation depth and frequency
 Methods of irrigation
 Comparison between different irrigation methods
 Water saving methods
 Conclusions

3. Introduction
• Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oil
seed crop in India.
• Family : Fabaceae
• Origin : Brazil
• India is the second largest groundnut producer in the
world
• Suitable Soil for Groundnut Farming : Groundnut is
perfectly grown in a well-drained sandy loam, or sandy
clay loam soil. Deep well-drained soils with a pH of 6.5-
7.0 and high fertility, are ideal for groundnut.

4. Introduction related to water
management aspects
• Groundnut is generally grown as kharif crop in rainfed area,
but the productivity of kharif groundnut is lower than
rabi/summer crop.
• Among the various constraints for low yield, the principal
one is erratic, insufficient and unevenly distributed rainfall
during kharif. The success will be assured in kharif season if
irrigation is considered as a basic input and rain as a
supplement.
• Since irrigated groundnut is not subjected to vagaries of
monsoon and is less exposed to pest and disease complex,
possibilities of increasing its productivity and stabilizing
production are immense.

5. Water requirement
• Groundnut is relatively tolerant to drought as far as survival is
concerned but its pod yield reduction is very high if proper soil
moisture is not maintained especially during critical growth stages
(flowering, pegging of pod development)
• The amount of water used by the crop is determined by the
potential evapo-transpiration during the crop period and the
degree of soil cover. The water requirement reaches a maximum
during flowering and continues up to pod formation.
• Groundnut requires on an average 400-500 mm of water but it
varies with soil type, agro-climates and genotype.
• Total rainfall to a tune of 400-600 mm, well-distributed over the
entire growth period during kharif results in good yield.
• During rabi /summer, the water use has been found to be 450-830
mm depending upon soil type and agro-climatic conditions.

6. Table 1. Water requirement of groundnut in different places of
India
Place Soil type Water
requirement (mm)
Reference
Rajendranagar Medium-black clay 655 AICSRWMSS
Sandy-loam 576 AICSRWMSS
Tirupathi Sandy loam 420 NARP
Kanpur Loamy 550 Mehrotra et al.
Bhavanisagar Sandy loam 600 Chandramohan
Punjab Loamy-sand 510 Cheema et al.
Chiplima Sandy-loam 620-820 Lenka and misra
Source: Desai et al,2002. (Science and
Technology of Groundnut)

7. MOISTURE EXTRACTION PATTERN
• Under adequate water supply, groundnut crop extracted 40-50
percent of its water requirement from 0-30 cm soil
depth(Shalhevet et al.1976).
• Moisture extraction was relatively more from 0-15 cm soil
depth and deceased with increase soil depth from 15-30 and
30-60 cm irrespective of irrigation schedules (Rao,1990;
jakro,1984,Gulati et al.2000).
• Srilatha (1992) reported that moisture extraction from 0-15 cm
soil depth decreased with increased in soil moisture stress.
• Reddy.(1976) stated that about 75-80% of total moisture
extraction from 0-30 cm depth was probably due to expensive
net work of small lateral roots that penetrate up to 30 cm soil
depth.

8.  Flowering, pegging and pod development phases are
critical for irrigation, during which period adequate soil
moisture is essential.
 Reddy et al.(1968) stated that flowering period was most
critical.
 Ballel (1961) said that the crop was most susceptible to
the water stress during the fruiting stage.
 Janna et al.(1989) stated that two irrigations to summer
groundnut at flowering and pod development stages is
the best.
 two irrigations at flowering and pegging stages were
better than one irrigation at either flowering and pegging
stage. Thorat et al.(1988)

9. Critical stages for
irrigation in groundnut
Flowering stage
Pegging stage Pod development stage

10. Fig .1: Yield Response of Groundnut to Irrigation Applied
During Flowering Stage
(Source : Asiah Ahmad, 2002)

11. Table 2. Crop coefficient used for the calculation of
water requirement of groundnut
Treatm
ents
Initial Developmental Mid stage Late stage
Kc
value
Plant
height
(cm)
Kc
value
Plant
height
(cm)
Kc
value
Plant
height
(cm)
Kc
value
Plant
height
(cm)
T1 0.36 13.38 0.65 23.00 0.88 31.69 0.59 38.06
T2 0.44 22.44 0.78 32.75 0.98 39.75 0.60 44.94
T3 0.40 17.34 0.71 29.25 0.92 35.88 0.58 42.01
T4 0.31 14.63 0.51 23.31 0.57 31.19 0.52 36.13
T5 0.23 10.44 0.42 19.31 0.54 24.25 0.49 30.94
T6 0.16 7.28 0.31 17.56 0.33 22.13 0.30 28.13
(Source: Aruna et al, 2017)Sandy clay loam,
UAS Raichur.,Karnataka

12. Fig.2: Developed Kc values for groundnut crop under different moisture stress
treatments at different crop growth stage
(Source: Aruna et al, 2017)

14. • Irrigation at 50% depletion of soil moisture gave optimum yields in several
conditions.
• The rabi crop at Hyderabad and summer crop at kharagpur required irrigation at
25% available water depletion on sandy loam soils for higher yields.
• Lingam obtained the highest pod yield f Spanish bunch (TMV 2) grown on sand-
loam soils of Andhra pradesh by scheduling irrigation at 25% DASM as
compared to that of 40% and 80%.
• Shankara reddy and and Nageshwara reddy also obtained the highest pod yield
of groundnut on sandy-loam soils of Tirupathi by scheduling irrigation at 25%
DASM throughout the period of crop growth is the highest water use efficiency.
• Yadav at Coimbatore, found that scheduling irrigation at 40% DASM was found
optimum.
• Lenka and Misra also obtained 50%DASM was found optimum at kharagpur.

15. Place Soil type Season
Pod yield (kg/ha) , irrigation water
at available soil moisture depletion
25% 50% 75% 100%
Hyderabad
(Andra pradesh)
Sandy loam Rabi 4465 3760 2927 -
Rahuri
(Maharashtra)
Medium black
clay
Kharif 1902 1957 1995 -
Kharagpur
(W bengal)
Acidic sandy
loam
Summer 3900 3750 3190 -
Bhavanisagar
(Tamil nadu)
Sandy loam Rabi - 3350 2970 2210
Jabalpur
(Madya pradesh)
Black clay Kharif 1770 1770 1540 -
Dharwad
(Karnataka)
Medium black
clay
Kharif 1320 1290 1140 -
Table 3. Effect of various irrigation treatments based on available soil
moisture
( Source : Coordinator’s Reports of coordinated Project for Research on water
management for 1971-79, CSSRI, Karnal )

16. Treatments Total
yield
(t/ha)
Pod yield
(t/ha)
Water
use (cm)
Water use
efficiency (kg
pods/ha-cm)S1
(30
DAYS)
S2
(50
DAYS)
S3
(50
DAYS)
T1 25% 25% 25% 6.9 2.32 40.0 58
T2 25% 50% 50% 6.6 2.06 34.9 59
T3 50% 50% 50% 6.3 1.98 33.1 59
T4 75% 50% 50% 4.8 1.55 29.5 52
T5 50% 25% 50% 7.1 2.23 38.1 58
T6 50% 75% 50% 4.5 1.39 30.1 45
T7 50% 50% 75% 4.7 1.32 30.9 42
T8 50% 75% 75% 2.1 0.82 24.6 33
Table 4. Effect of irrigation at different stages on yield and water use efficiency
S1 – From sowing to flower bud initiation(30d)
S2 – from flower bud initiation to 75% flowering(50d)
S3 – From 75% flowering to ripening(50d)
(Source: Lenka, 2014. Irrigation
and Drainage)

17. • Irrigation scheduling based on IW/CPE, i.e., the ratio between fixed
irrigation water (IW) and net cumulative pan evaporation (CPE)
appears to be more practical.
• Scheduling irrigation by this approach indicated that irrigation at 0.5
and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases
respectively is found optimum for getting higher yield.
• Babu et al. obtained the highest pod yield of TMV-2 groundnut on
sandy-loam soils of tirupati at IW/CPE of 1.0 from pegging to pod
formation to maturity.
• Birajdar and Ingle found that irrigations corresponding to 100mm CPE
were optimum in black soils of parbhani.
• Bhaskara reddy et al. obtained the highest yield of groundnut when
the depth of water applied at each irrigation was equal to that lost in
evapotranspiration on sandy loam soils of tirupati

18. Treatment IW/CPE ratio crop growth stage Water use
(cm)
Pod Yield
(Kg/ha)
WUE
(kg/ha-cm)SF SP SN
T1 0.5 0.5 0.5 44.2 1617 36.5
T2 0.5 0.7 0.5 46.6 1600 34.4
T3 0.5 0.7 0.7 49.3 1966 39.8
T4 0.5 0.7 0.9 59.8 2233 37.3
T5 0.5 0.9 0.5 47.8 1820 38.0
T6 0.5 0.9 0.7 58.2 2445 42.0
T7 0.5 0.9 0.9 64.1 2488 38.8
T8 0.7 0.7 0.5 47.2 1750 37.0
T9 0.7 0.7 0.7 53.9 2140 39.7
T10 0.7 0.7 0.9 63.0 2339 37.1
T11 0.7 0.9 0.5 50.7 1850 36.5
T12 0.7 0.9 0.7 56.3 2307 40.8
T13 0.7 0.9 0.9 63.4 2488 39.2
T14 0.9 0.9 0.9 67.4 2509 37.2
Table 5.Treatments of different crop growth stages and IW/CPE based irrigation scheduling
SF – Planting to flowering.
SP – Pegging to pod formation.
SN – Pod development to maturity stage. (Source : Pahalwan and Tripathi, 1984)
Sandy loam,
West Bengal

19. Irrigation depth and frequency
• Higher number of irrigations are required when the crop is grown
during the Rabi and Summer season.
• Chandra Mohan noted that 12 irrigations at 10 day interval were
optimum for TMV-2 groundnut in bhavani Shankar project area.
• Mallik and Das, reported that 6 irrigations were optimum for 110 days
crop duration of groundnut in Hirakud project area.
• At Palur (Tamil Nadu), irrigations of 5 cm depth each applied at in
interval of 10 days gave the highest yield of the crop grown during
february to june (Rao and shrinivasulu, 1955).
• Raddar et al. reported that 18 irrigations at an interval of 7 days during
the first 60 days and latter on once in 4 days were best in groundnut.
• No of irrigations are 10, 6, 4 with 2, 4 and 6cm depth respectively
gives the higher yield and water use efficiency (A.R. Khan and B.
Datta,1982)

20. Treatments No of
irrigatio
ns
Amount of
water applied
through
irrigation (cm)
Rain fall
during the
crop
season(cm)
Total
amount of
water
applied(cm)
Pod
yield
(q/ha)
WUE
Kg/ha-
cm
D1
2cm
R1 7 14 14.89 28.89 15.92 55.10
R2 9 19 11.85 30.85 16.66 54.00
R3 10 20 13.40 33.40 18.47 55.30
R4 12 24 9.08 33.08 17.20 52.00
D2
4cm
R1 3 13 12.50 25.50 16.57 65.00
R2 5 19 15.44 34.44 17.91 52.00
R3 6 24 15.72 39.72 19.56 49.25
R4 9 34 12.53 46.53 18.52 39.80
D3
6cm
R1 3 16 17.47 33.47 19.75 59.00
R2 4 25 13.65 38.65 20.68 53.50
R3 4 24 13.04 37.04 21.85 59.00
R4 7 42 11.64 53.64 20.60 38.40
Table 6. No of irrigations and water use efficiency as influenced by varying amount of
irrigation depth
D1,D2,D3aredepthofwaterapplied
( Source : Khan and Datta ,1982)Kharagpur, sandy loam

21. Different methods of irrigations fallowed in groundnut cultivation are,
 Check basin method
 Boarder strip method
 Furrow irrigation
 Sprinkler irrigation
 Drip irrigation
• Generally border strip and check basin methods are being followed by farmers to
irrigate groundnut.
• Border strip method is the most suitable surface method of irrigation for
groundnut.
• According to soil type and slope of the field, strips of 3-5 m width are formed and
water from main channel is diverted into border strip.
• Furrows are helpful in draining out excess rain water, if it occur.
• Sprinkler system of irrigation can be adopted in areas of water scarcity , as the
water requirement in this method was 185 mm compared to 390 mm with basin
method of irrigation.

22. Border strip method Check basin method
Furrow irrigation Sprinkler irrigation

23. Irrigation
method
Yield
(q/ha)
Quality parameters Seasonal
water
requirem
ent (cm)
Water
saving(
%)
WUE
(kg/ha-
mm)Oil(%) Protien(%)
Surface
method
T0 16.92 8.26 4.53 93.11 - 2.81
T1 18.87 9.30 4.43 93.11 3.41
Micro
sprinkler
T3 (Flat
bed)
24.07 11.92 6.18 68.21 26.74 4.99
T4(Flat
bed)
22.24 11.01 5.74 68.21 26.74 4.71
Table 7. Effect of method of irrigation on yield and quality of summer
groundnut (cv.ICCS-11)
Source: Desai et al, 2002. (Science and
Technology of Groundnut)
Sandy clay-loam soils,
Maharashtra.

24. Irrigation
method
Yield
(kg/ha)
Oil (%) Seasonal water
requirement
(cm)
Water
saving (%)
WUE
(kg/ha-mm)
Border
75mm CPE,
6cm
14.34 7.01 95.05 - 2.45
Drip
irrigation
20.80 10.05 68.52 27.91 4.57
Micro tube
irrigation
19.60 9.47 68.52 27.91 4.37
sub-surface
irrigation
20.44 9.77 68.52 27.91 4.50
Table 8. Effect of method of irrigation on yield and quality of
summer groundnut (cv.ICCS-11)
Source: Desai et al ,2002. (Science
and Technology of Groundnut)

25. Table 9. The performance of micro sprinkler irrigation for groundnut at 60%, 80%,
100% and 120% ETC was compared with surface irrigation
Treatment Yield (q/ha)
T1 (60% ET) sprinkler irrigation 19.13
T2 (80%ET) sprinkler irrigation 21.60
T3 (100%ET) sprinkler irrigation 23.86
T4 (120%ET) sprinkler irrigation 20.09
T5 (Surface irrigation) 19.75
(Source : Waseem and Kaleel, 2017)
Semi-arid region,
sandy loam
Yeragera village, Raichur.

26. Irrigation
method
Yield
(kg/ha)
Oil
(%)
Seasonal water
requirement(cm)
Water
saving (%)
WUE
(kg/ha-mm)
Surface :
Boarders:75
mm, 6cm D
17.25 8.36 95.60 - 2.72
Drip irrigation
0.3 CPE, Ii=2 15.38 7.44 41.20 5.96 5.71
0.5 CPE, Ii=2 17.85 8.77 63.42 33.66 Hod 4.19
0.7 CPE, Ii=2 22.95 10.82 35.96 10.06 3.66
0.3 CPE, Ii=3 14.90 7.28 41.09 55.97 5.42
0.5 CPE, Ii=3 16.86 8.27 64.60 32.43 3.95
0.7 CPE, Ii=3 20.88 10.20 87.10 8.89 3.51
0.3 CPE, Ii=4 13.77 6.58 44.00 53.97 4.36
0.5 CPE, Ii=4 16.24 8.02 66.39 30.55 3.72
0.7 CPE, Ii=4 19.63 9.60 88.77 7.14 3.94
Table 10. Effect of method of irrigation on yield and quality of summer groundnut
Ii = Irrigation interval in days Source: Desai et al,2002. (Science
and Technology of Groundnut)

27. (Source : Zhu et al, 2003)
Fig 3. Groundnut yields for two drip irrigation
treatments (0.9 m and 1.8 m lateral spacings) and
a non-irrigation treatment.
Difference between drip irrigation
and no irrigation(rainfed)

28. • Spraying of potassium chloride (5g/lit of water) during
flowering and pod development stages.
• Kaolin (30 g/ lit of water) as foliar antitranspirants applied
at 30 DAS and at 60 DAS reduced the leaf temperature and
increased the pod yield by 15.6 per cent over control.
• Soil incorporation of decomposed coconut coirpith @12.5
t/ha.
• Soil mulches
• Broad bed and furrow system of planting, scooping of soil
at random and ridge tieing.
• Border strip irrigation is recommended in command areas
in light textured soils.

29. treatments Pod yield
(kg/ha)
CU (cm) WUE
(kg/ha-cm)
Non mulch 1965 66.85 29.39
Rice husk mulch @ 10 t/ha 2406 61.85 39.09
Rice straw mulch @ 4 t/ha 2620 60.25 43.48
Polythene mulch 7 micron 3097 58.36 53.06
Table 11. Effect of mulch on summer groundnut
(Source : D. Dutta,2006)
Sandy-clay loam,
Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal.

30. Conclusions
• Groundnut requires on an average 400-500 mm of water but it
varies with soil type, agro-climates and genotype.
• The groundnut extract more Moisture from 0-15 cm soil depth.
• in groundnut Flowering, pegging and pod development phases are
critical for irrigation.
• Irrigation scheduled at 50% DASM From sowing to flower bud
initiation,25% DASM from flower bud initiation 75% flowering, 50%
DASM From 75% flowering to ripening gives maximum yield with
higher water use efficiency.
• For higher pod yield Scheduled irrigation at 0.5, 0.9, 0.7 IW/CPE
ratio during planting to flowering, pegging to pod formation and
pod development to maturity respectively.

31. • In irrigation frequency 12 irrigations at 10 days interval were
optimum.
• As compared to all the methods of irrigation rotary micro
sprinkler gave higher yield.
• If we install drip irrigation for provide irrigation to the
groundnut irrigate water at 0.7 CPE with 2 days interval.
• Use mulch like polythene mulch gave higher yield and water
use efficiency.