Varieties

In Himachal Pradesh, no research has been conducted on this crop. However, in the adjoining State of Punjab, some good varieties are being grown, whose description is as below :

1. Punjab Groundnut No. 1: This is a spreading variety and is suitable for growing on sandy soil under rainfed conditions. It matures in about 130 days yielding about 19q nuts/ha. With a shelling out-turn of 69%, the kernels weigh 60 g/hundred seed and yield 45% oil.


2. M-45 : This is also a spreading variety but its lateral spread is smaller than that of Punjab Groundnut No. 1. It is suitable for cultivation on sandy soils both under rainfed and irrigated conditions . It matures about a week earlier than P.G. No. 1 and is superior to the later in yield per unit area as well as shelling percentage and oil content.


3. M-13 :This variety is also spreading with vigorous growth and profuse lateral branching. It is suitable for cultivation in sandy soils under irrigated conditions. Under assured irrigation, it is a high yielding variety giving about 30 q pods/ha. It matures about a week later than P.G. 1 No. 1. Its shelling is 68% and oil content is 49%. It has bold kernels with a test weight of 78 g per hundred kernels.


4. M-37 : This variety has been developed and released for cultivation in Punjab only recently. It is also spreading in growth habit with profuse trailing branches. It matures earlier than all over varieties, just in four months and much suitable for cultivation in sandy soils under rainfed conditions. If yields about 16 q pods/ha. With a shelling percentage of 69% and test weight of 45 g/100 kernel, its oil content is 50.5%.