Groundnut is a cash crop in Sahelian countries. It is mostly cultivated in areas recording rainfall levels exceeding 500 to 600 mm, on well drained sandy /limonous soils. The cropped varieties ripen after 75 to 120 days. The potential yield of the groundnut is 6 to 7 tons per hectare while farmers in Sahel countries harvest in the order of 400 to 700 kg for the same area. The late varieties are more productive and carry up to 200 pods per plant while the early varieties yield about 100 pods. As the grains develop in the soil, it becomes necessary to plough well before sowing. Groundnuts are very sensitive to drought at the time of harvest. It is normally planted after a significant rainshower and requires good rains the first week after sowing. The groundnut grains have very high nutritional quality. They contain about 50% lipids, 25% proteins, and 20% glucides/carbohydrate (ICRISAT 2006c). 

Groundnut demands a high amount of plant nutrients. It is recommended to apply 200 to 300 kg of NPK (15-15-15) as baseline fertilizer (ICRISAT recommendation). One month later, an input of 200 kg of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is recommended. At the time of grain formation, it is recommended to add 200 kg of gypsum per hectare. The calcium and sulphur in the gypsum help to promote grain development. However, very few farmers are in a position to follow these recommendations. 

Groundnuts, like cowpea, are sensitive to insect attacks at flowering, which intervenes between August 15 and September 15, and an insecticide treatment contributes to increase yields. 

After harvest, the groundnuts are dried on the ground. This often causes insect and fungus attacks. A new system to dry grains and haulms has been developed, as shown in the picture.  

Information on:

Groundnut illnesses and insects:
http://tchad.ipm-info.org/guide/arachide.htm

Groundnut general:
http://museum.agropolis.fr/pages/savoirs/arachide/arachide.htm

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