Journal of Research

Pod production was studied in two groundnut genotypes namely SG84 (bunch) and M522 (spreading) under the direct seeding of pods in relation to the conventional practice of kernel seeding with and without water soaking and three intra-row spacings of 15cm, 22.5cm and 30cm. The higher LAI and 100-kernel weight supported a higher pod yield of M522 than the genotype SG84. The soaked pods recorded significantly higher LAI and gave yields at par with the conventional kernel planting; the enhancement in pod yield being significant during the second year. More importantly and presumably as an effect, of higher plant stand at harvest during the second year, the soaked pods and the dry pods seed types produced significantly higher pod yield over the dry kernel and soaked kernel seed types. Similarly, the haulm yield was also significantly higher in the soaked and dry pod seed types than the dry kernel and soaked kernel seed types, respectively during both the years. Closer intra-row spacing of 15cm recorded higher plant stand, LAI and pod production over the wider intra-row spacing of, 22.5 and 30 cm, respectively. Both the genotypes produced highest pod yield with narrow intra-row spacing of 15 cm than the wider spacing of 30cm.