New red kernel groundnut variety developed

The Oilseeds Research Station, Eraiyanur near Tindivanam, under the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore has released a new red kernel variety called TMV (Gn) 13 recently.

In Tamil Nadu the red coloured peanuts are found to be popular among farmers of Pollachi and Thiruvannamalai districts.

Two types

These red coloured kernels are found in both bunchy and spreading types. The bunchy types are shorter in duration (100-105 days) while the spreading ones last more than 125 days.

The red coloured variety is preferred by oil mills owing to higher oil (content) recovery. The oil is quite bitter in taste and may not be favourable for direct use in cooking.

The seeds are round with a thin, papery seed coat. The pods are 1-2 seeded types unlike another earlier one called VRI 2 which is three seeded type.

This variety mostly posseses well developed root systems which are harder than most other groundnut varieties and capable of thriving even under limited water supply. It is ideal for sowing during December-January of at a spacing of 30 x10 cm using machines or manually either at random or at row spacing. The fertilizer recommended under irrigated condition is 25:50:75 kg NPK per hectare. The seed rate may range from 110-120 kg per ha.

Measures

It is essential to keep the crop weed free up to 60 days after sowing as the maximum damage is caused during this period.

Removal of weeds manually after 45 days up to 60 days without disturbing the soil results in higher yield.

Normally herbicide application of one kg Pendimethalin on third day per hectare after sowing prevents early weed competition and one hand weeding on 20th and one at 40th day after sowing is advised.

Adopting integrated pest management (IPM) and irrigation (10-12 irrigations) farmers can easily get more than 1,800 kgs per hectare.

(Dr. R. Vaidyanathan, Professor and Head, Oilseeds Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,Tindivanam – 604 002, Email : prof vaidy@ yahoo.co.in, Phone : 04147 – 250293, Mobile : 9442472103.)