The ideal spacing for groundnut is 10 -25cm intra-plant spacing and 25-30cm inter-row spacing.
Groundnut spacing is the gap or distance between your groundnut plants. The spacing of your groundnut plants can affect the yield, disease infestation, growth and weight of the harvested groundnut grains.
The use of inappropriate spacing can negatively impact your groundnut plants.
The type or variety of groundnut can also impact the spacing requirement. For example, some groundnut varieties can tolerate tight spacing while some others cannot tolerate tight spacing.
The wider the spacing, the lesser the risk of your groundnut plants getting infected with diseases.
Factors to consider before choosing your groundnut spacing
The following factors should be considered before choosing your groundnut spacing:
The Variety of Groundnut
The varieties of groundnut you decide to plant van affect the spacing requirements. Some groundnut varieties have bigger leaves and stems, these varieties will need a larger spacing than those with smaller foliage.
The Agro-Climatic Zone of your Area
The climatic condition of your farm site can affect your spacing when you are planting groundnut. In the humid rain forest belt of Nigeria, larger spacing should be used for planting of groundnut because of the humid condition. In the savannah belt, tighter spacing can be used when planting groundnut.
The Type of Irrigation System you Use
The use of drip irrigation can make you reduce the spacing of your groundnut plants. Drip irrigation encourages the increase in plant population.
Wider spacing will need to be used if you want to use rains for providing water for your groundnut plants.
Advantages of using the right spacing for growing groundnut
The following are the advantages of using the right spacing for growing groundnut:
High Crop Yield
Your groundnut crop yield can increase significantly if you use the right spacing. Too wide or too tight spacing can negatively impact the yield of your crop.
Lesser Incidences of Pests and Diseases
Using the right planting spaces can lead to a reduction in the incidences of pests and diseases. Good spacing improves aeration on the farm and reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Using a very tight spacing can increase the risk of pests and diseases in your groundnut farm.
Ease of Harvest
If your groundnut plants are well spaced, it will be easier for the groundnut farmer to harvest his groundnut grains.
Inter-Cropping
Good spacing can allow for the planting of other types of crops with your groundnut crop. Intercropping can be beneficial to the soil and reduce the incidences of some pests and diseases.
About Groundnut Farming
Groundnut farming is the process of planting groundnut for the purpose of harvesting the matured groundnuts for domestic, commercial and industrial uses.
Groundnut farming involves all the processes associated with the growing of groundnut. These processes include getting the seeds, land preparation, planting, maintenance of the groundnut plants, harvesting and marketing of the produce.
Groundnut is a leguminous crop. Groundnut can be used for domestic and industrial applications in Nigeria. Groundnut can be eaten as snack. Groundnuts can also be used for making foods. Farmers use groundnuts as a source of protein for animal feeds.
What spacing do you use when planting groundnut? Kindly share your response with us in the comments’ section.
Read our latest article on the price of groundnut seeds here.
Best month to plant groundnut.
Groundnut Producing States in Nigeria.
Best month to plant groundnut.
Groundnut Producing States in Nigeria.
Buy our groundnut seeds here.