Effect of sowing date and variety on morphological growth traits of rainfed groundnut

A research study was undertaken in the College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agriculture University during kharif, 2024 to evaluate the effect of sowing windows and varieties on growth of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The experimental plot was laid out in Split Plot design with three dates of sowing (second fortnight of June, first fortnight of July and second fortnight of July) and five groundnut varieties (TG 37-A, KDG 128, TAG 24, TCGS 1694 and K6). The data analysis revealed that the crop sown on July I fortnight attained physiological maturity early than the other sowing windows. Days to seedling emergence did not significantly differ between the varieties. K6 achieved physiological maturity in a shorter period among the other varieties under study. The analysis of the data indicated that the crop sown in the June II fortnight had significantly higher plant height, leaf area, and leaf area index at physiological maturity compared to the other two sowing windows. Additionally, it was noted that KDG 128 had the statistically highest leaf area and leaf area index, while K6 had the tallest plants among the varieties studied at physiological maturity. LAD (Leaf Area Duration) values across the three growth phases were unaffected by sowing dates. Among the varieties, TG 37-A and KDG 128 (93 days) recorded significantly higher LAD than TAG 24, TCGS 1694, and K6. During pod formation to maturity, LAD of KDG 128 (132.8 days) was on par with TG 37-A (129.3days) and both exceeded the remaining varieties.