Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tirupati-517502, A.P.
The influence of dates of sowing on tikka late leaf spot (TILLS) and pod and haulms yields in groundnut was studied during 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 rabi and summer seasons. Maximum TILLS severity (7.83 to 8.42) was recorded on the crop sown in early rabi (5 and 20 October). The disease severity has gradually decreased from 7.33 (in the crop sown on 5 November in normal rabi) to 1.33 (in the crop sown on 20 April in summer). The highest pod and haulms yields (29 q/ha) each) were obtained from the crop sown on 5 December. The crop sown on 20 November was the next best with pod and haulms yields of 28.0 and 27.66 q/ha respectively. The pod and-haulms yields have gradually decreased in summer sown crop from 14.66 and 15.66 q/ha respectively. The pod and haulms yields have gradually decreased in summer sown crop from 14.66 and 15.66 q/ha (5 February sowing) to 4.0 and 5.66 q/ha (5 April sowing) due to gradual increase in temperature and decrease in relative humidity and rainfall. The best sowing time for the groundnut in southern zone of Andhra Pradesh is 20 November to 5 December in normal rabi.
