Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops in India, playing a crucial role in the country&rsquo;s economy. This crop is vulnerable to various insect pests starting from vegetative to maturity phase, of which, the leaf miner Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) cause substantial yield loss especially in rainfed groundnut cultivation. Most of the farmers were reluctant to adopt integrated management strategies and prefer to take up only chemical pesticides. Biological control is one of the effective management options since the groundnut ecosystem harbours several biological agents. Natural biocontrol agents including hymenopteran parasitoids like Bracon gelechiae, Goniozus sp., Apanteles sp., Stenomesius japonicus etc. plays a vital role in managing the pest under irrigated ecosystem. Only limited studies were available on the effectiveness of these natural bio-control agents in rainfed ecosystem and hence, present study was focused on the natural parasitization of A. modicella in rainfed groundnut ecosystem. 
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Methods: The field survey was conducted during Summer and Kharif, 2023 in Nambiyur block, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India to record the natural parasitization percentage on 10 randomly selected plants at weekly interval. The parasitized larva and pupa of A. modicella were collected and reared under laboratory conditions to record the emergence of parasitoids The natural parasitization was correlated with the weather parameters prevailed during the cropping season. 
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Result: Bracon sp. has been identified as the major natural enemy of A. modicella under rainfed ecosystem. During Summer 2023, minimum parasitization level of 8.0 per cent was observed in the 12th&nbsp;Standard Mean Week (SMW) i.e., second fortnight of March. Subsequently, the parasitization levels were increased during Kharif, 2023 with the moderate (18.00%) during 23rd to 30th SMW i.e., June-July and peaked (26.00 %) during 31st&nbsp;to 33rd&nbsp;SMW i.e., July-August months. The correlation analysis results revealed that the maximum temperature (0.768), minimum temperature (0.533), rainfall (0.015) and Sunshine hours (0.483) were positively correlated and Relative humidity (-0.146) was negatively correlated with the per cent parasitization.&nbsp;

Natural Field Parasitization of Groundnut Leaf Miner, Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) and Influence by Weather Parameters in Rainfed Groundnut Ecosystem

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2011-12 at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh to study the production potential and economics of groundnut based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with thirteen treatments comprising of six intercrops viz., pearl millet, black gram, soybean, cotton, castor and pigeon pea with groundnut in the replacement series of 2:1 row proportion and their sole crops replicated thrice. The productivity in terms of groundnut pod equivalent yield was significantly higher with groundnut + pigeon pea followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton than sole groundnut and other intercropping systems. The biological efficiency in terms of LER, LEC, ATER and CPR were also significantly recorded maximum values and indicated a modest aggressivity and CR and gave a good value for the product of RCC with groundnut + pigeon pea followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton. &nbsp;The economics of the systems also indicates that groundnut + pigeon pea was most profitable system in terms of gross return, net return, MAI, B: C ratio and MER followed by groundnut + castor and groundnut + cotton.&nbsp;

Enhancing productivity of groundnut based intercropping systems under rainfed conditions of Gujarat

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2010-11 to 2012-13 at Nana Kandhasar, Surendranagar, Gujarat to study the yield, economics and post harvest soil nutrient status of groundnut (Arachis hypogeae L ) - based &nbsp;intercropping systems under rainfed condition. Results of experiment indicated that intercropping of groundnut and sesame in the row proportion of 1:1 recorded significantly higher groundnut pod equivalent yield (1106 kg/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.18 ), net returns (Rs 30691/ha ) as well as B:C ratio (1.82 ) over other planting pattern. Further, the data revealed that the highest nutrient use productivity (27.88 kg/ha/kg) was recorded under sole groundnut, while maximum available N (220.2 kg/ha) and K (310.4 kg/ha) was recorded with groundnut + greengram (1:1) and highest available P (29.2 kg/ha) with sole mothbean. Thus, groundnut + sesame (1:1) is a biologically and economically sustainable intercropping system for rainfed conditions of Gujarat.</div>

Effect of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)-based intercropping systems on yield and economics under rainfed condition

<div>Background: Groundnut as a sole crop is affected by adverse weather conditions coupled with damage by insect, pest and disease, results in economic losses and in extreme cases complete failure of the crop. Intercropping is one of the important cropping systems recommended to mitigate the aberrant climatic conditions with an aim to increase total productivity per unit area. The present study was done to assess the effect of different millet based intercropping system on growth and yield of groundnut under rainfed condition. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2018 and 2019 at Agricultural Research Farm of All India Coordinated Research Project on Groundnut, OUAT, Bhubaneswar on mixed red and black medium soil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. It consisted of ten treatments comprising of groundnut with three millets viz., finger millet, little millet and foxtail millet. Millets were intercropped with groundnut in the replacement series of 4:2 and 2:1 row proportion along with mono-cropped millets and groundnut. 
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Result: Significantly higher no. branches/plant (5.2), leaflet/no. plant (79.33) and dry matter accumulation (25.77g/plant) was recorded in groundnut + finger millet (2:1) whereas, sole groundnut incurred significantly higher pod no/plant (16.5), 100 kernel weight (37.2 g), shelling% (77.8), pod yield (1736 kg/ha) and haulm yield (3613 kg/ha) over all other intercropping systems. Further, groundnut pod equivalent yield (GPEY), land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER) and economics were higher in 2:1 row ratio of groundnut + finger millet compared to any of the sole and intercropping systems. The competition ratio and aggressivity of little millet was greater than that of other millets. So, it was most dominant crop over groundnut compared to other millets in the intercropping systems.</div>

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Performance of Different Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)&nbsp;based Intercropping Systems with Millets under Rainfed Condition of Odisha

Background: In the face of quickly shifting weather patterns, sustainable agricultural production is essential. The Green Revolution in India led to intensive farming which led to loss of soil biota and degradation of organic matter content resulted in lower soil quality. 
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Methods: A four-year study (2016 to 2019) was taken up at Regional Agricultural Research station, Tirupati andhra Pradesh, India by growing 6 leguminous crops such as Pillipesara, Rice bean, Sunhemp, Green gram, Horse gram and Cowpea during summer under rainfed condition as a preceding crop and incorporated before sowing of Kharif groundnut. FYM was also tested as one of the treatments for comparison. 
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Result: Results revealed that the choice of green manure crop significantly influenced groundnut yields. Growing and incorporating cowpea before Kharif groundnut resulted higher yields (1744 kg/ha) followed by green gram (1699 kg/ha) compared to fallow (1478 kg/ha). Microbial analysis at the end of the experiment revealed that highest fungal population (28.3 x 104 cfu/g) and actinomycet population (24 x 104 cfu/g) was observed in sunhemp followed by cowpea (27 x 104 cfu/g of soil) and (19.7 x 104 cfu/g) compared to fallow (7 x104 cfu/g) and (4.7 x 104 cfu/g). The highest bacterial population (33.3 x 106 cfu/g) was observed with green gram followed by horse gram (26.7 x 106 cfu/g) and cowpea (26.3 x 106 cfu/g). The highest organic carbon content (0.5 per cent) was observed with sunhemp followed by horse gram and cowpea (0.49 per cent) compared to fallow (0.45 per cent). Leguminous crops act as cover crops during summer in maintaining the soil temperature and protecting the soil biota and as green manure crops in enriching the soil during kharif.

Role of Summer Legumes in Sustaining the Rainfed Groundnut Productivity

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2014 under All India Coordinated Research Project on Groundnut at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka to find out the effect of spacing and nutrient on AVT groundnut cultivar K 1641 in black soils under rainfed condition. The highest pod yield (3578 kg/ha) was found in the K 1641 as compared to check variety TGLPS 3(3194 Kg/ha). A plant spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm gave the highest pod (3845 Kg/ha) as compared to wider intra row spacing (30 cm x 20cm) (2927 kg/ha). Among the nutrient management practices, recommended dose (100%) of NPK resulted in significantly higher pod yield (3488 kg/ha) as compared to 50% recommended dose of NPK (3120 kg/ha) and failed to respond to higher level (150%) of recommended dose of NPK (3549 kg/ha). Whereas, Cultivar K 1641 responded to higher dose of nutrient application i.e. Application of FYM @ 7.5 t ha-1 + 150 % RDNPK (37.5 kg N, 112.5 kg P2O5 and 37.5 kg K2O ha-1) and registered higher net monetary returns(Rs.103013 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.88). &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

Response of new groundnut entry K 1641 to Spacing and nutrients in vertisol during rainy season under rainfed farming

Background: Drought stress has a significant impact on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production, causing severe yield losses, especially in semi-arid regions. The development of drought-tolerant cultivars is important to reduce the adverse effect of water constraint on groundnut productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of 17 advanced drought-tolerant groundnut breeding lines and a standard control variety, Werer- 961, under rainfed conditions at Pawe Agricultural Research Center (PARC), Ethiopia, during the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons. 
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Methods: The field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications over two consecutive years. The study evaluated 17 advanced groundnut breeding lines, including the standard check variety, Werer-961. Selection was based on their previously evaluated performance in drought-prone regions and demonstrated high yield potential under stress conditions. The chosen lines comprised both early- and late- maturing cultivars to assess their adaptability to varying drought intensities. Critical traits related to drought tolerance and yield potential in water-limited environments were recorded. Statistical analyses, including correlation analysis, histogram evaluation and Q-Q plot analysis, were performed to identify superior genotypes. 
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Result: The experiment depicted significant variation of genotypes against all the important agronomic characteristics, such as days to emergence, days to maturity, pod yield, seed yield, pods per plant and seed weight. Several lines, including RDRGVT ICGV SM 01514, RDRGVT ICGV 14788 and RDRGVT ICGV 8540, exceeded the check variety based on pod and seed yield. The genotype-by-environment interaction was significant for pod quantity per plant and seed weight. Correlation research showed that pod number per plant was very significantly related to both pod yield and seed production. These results are important findings in the development of drought-tolerant groundnut cultivars that can produce well under stressful conditions in the rainfed agriculture of Ethiopia. 
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Evaluation of Drought-tolerant Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Breeding Lines for Agronomic Performance under Rainfed Conditions in Ethiopia

Background: Moth bean is an important dry land crop, requires less water and external input for their cultivation. Even though it has great importance, moth bean cultivation is ignored as minimum attention by the farmers. The major reasons for the low productivity of moth bean was the lack of adoption of improved production technologies and non-availability of high yielding variety seeds, timely guidance from village extension workers. Hence, it is imperative to improve the productivity of moth bean through demonstrations under rain-fed conditions. 
 
Methods: With the aims to improve the livelihood of farmers and crop diversification, the field demonstrations of the moth bean variety TMV 1 with integrated crop management practices were conducted by ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Villupuram. To improve the productivity of moth bean and farmers income through field demonstrations with improved production technologies compared to groundnut cultivation as farmers practice under rainfed condition. 
 
Result: Results on package-wise cost (ha-1) for three years average incurred for land preparation Rs. 9300, Seed cost Rs. 2400, weed management Rs. 9000, plant protection Rs. 8500 and harvesting cost was Rs.15000. The cost of plant protection and harvesting costs are same for moth bean and groundnut and remaining costs are varied for both crops. The yield was 1595 kgs.h-1, gross income Rs. 130000, Cost of cultivation Rs. 46,400, net income Rs. 83,700 and benefit-cost ratio Rs. 2.80. The average cost of cultivation for groundnut cultivation (farmers practice) for the three years is Rs. 76,300; gross income Rs. 1,43,000 and net income Rs. 66,700. Hence, moth bean cultivation proved to be better economically than groundnut cultivation in the rainfed ecosystem of Tamil Nadu, contributing to crop diversification and improved livelihood of farming communities.

Moth bean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal] as an Alternative Crop to Groundnut in the Rainfed Areas of Northern Parts of Tamil Nadu, India

<div>Background: The uncertainty of groundnut productivity in the rainfed areas could be minimized by in situ conserving the soil moisture received through precipitation during the cropping period and improving the nutrient status.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during 2014-2015 rabi season to find out the effect of charred rice husk and other organic materials enriched with or without fertilizer nutrient on the moisture retention and nutrient supply during the deficit period of crop growth. The treatment consists of charred rice husk, biochar, lignite and farm yard manure alone and enriched with the recommended dose of nitrogen (10 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (10 kg ha-1) fertilizer and compared with the absolute control and recommended dose of fertilizer (10:10:45 kg NPK ha-1). 
 
Result: The structural morphology of organic materials was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that the particles of charred rice husk were uneven and the diameter varied from 3-4 &igrave;m with clod and block appearance, the particles of biochar were irregular in shape, uneven sized and diameter varied from 2-3 &igrave;m with block appearance and the lignite particles found spherical and aggregated. The chemical composition of organic manure with nutrient examined under SEM-EDAX revealed that the charred rice husk contains 64.31% carbon, 28.42% oxygen and 5.96% silica. Results of the study revealed that, application of enriched FYM at 5 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher pod yield (2190 kg ha-1). The enriched biochar and charred rice husk produced comparable pod yield of 2010 kg ha-1 and 1983 kg ha-1, respectively.</div>

<div>Enriched Charred Rice Husk to Improve the Nutrient Management in Rainfed Groundnut</div>

Background: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivation in semi-arid Andhra Pradesh is constrained by limited rainfall. Enhancing rainwater conservation is essential for improving productivity and resource efficiency. Mechanized in-situ rainwater conservation practices have emerged as interventions to address these challenges in recent years. 
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Methods: A field study evaluated eight mechanized in situ rainwater conservation techniques on groundnut yield, morphological characteristics, energy budgeting and carbon footprint indices during 2022-2023. Treatments included subsoiling, conservation furrows, broad bed and furrow, furrow diking and combinations. Subsoiling with furrow diking (T8), conservation furrow (T6) and broad bed and furrow (T7) were compared to a control (T1). The study assessed yield parameters, rainwater use efficiency, energy indices and carbon footprint using linear regression analysis. 
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Result: T8 significantly improved groundnut performance compared to the control, achieving the highest pod yield (361.2 kg ha-1), haulm yield (2420 kg ha-1) and RWUE (0.888 kg ha-1&nbsp;mm-1), representing increases of 288%, 67% and 289% over T1, respectively. Growth parameters were superior under T6-T8. T8 recorded the highest energy output (47,717 MJ ha-1) and net energy return (40,286 MJ ha-1), while T6 exhibited the lowest specific energy (20.6 MJ kg-1). Carbon intensity was reduced from 5.70 kg CO2-eq kg-1&nbsp;in T1 to 2.32 kg CO2&nbsp;-eq kg-1&nbsp;in T8. Mechanized rainwater conservation enhanced yield, energy efficiency and carbon sustainability in semi-arid conditions. 
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Sustainable Intensification of Rainfed Groundnut Farming: Assessing Mechanized In situ Rainwater Conservation Practices for Yield, Energy and Carbon Efficiency