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Dharani groundnut Photo: Mark Stebnicki · Pexels License · source ↗

Dharani groundnut

Dharani is a Spanish-bunch groundnut variety bred at the Regional Agricultural Research Station Kadiri (ANGRAU) and notified for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh. It appears in the ANGRAU breeder-seed groundnut list alongside K-6, K-9, Kadiri Lepakshi, Narayani, Kadiri Harithandhra and Kadiri Amaravati, and is one of the routinely available formal-sector varieties for the Rayalaseema rainfed kharif tract.

Key characteristics

  • Breeder: ANGRAU, RARS Kadiri
  • Type: Spanish bunch (erect habit)
  • Duration: 100-110 days (kharif)
  • Pod yield: 16-22 q/ha (1600-2200 kg/ha) under rainfed conditions
  • Shelling: ~70%
  • Reaction: tolerant to leaf spot; moderately drought tolerant

Cultivation zones

Dharani is recommended by ANGRAU and KVK Anantapuramu for the rainfed kharif belt of Anantapuramu, Sri Sathya Sai, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa and Chittoor districts. It is also grown in adjoining areas of southern Karnataka where the Spanish-bunch type suits the short southwest-monsoon pattern. As a typical Spanish bunch, it matures within the available kharif rainfall window and avoids late-season drought - a key reason for its adoption in semi-arid Anantapur.

Pests, diseases and management

Dharani has field tolerance to early and late leaf spot. The standard ICAR-DGR/AICRP-Groundnut fungicide schedule applies in disease-prone years: mancozeb 0.25% or carbendazim 0.1% at 30 and 45 DAS; in heavy late-leaf-spot zones, switch to hexaconazole 0.1% or tebuconazole+trifloxystrobin. The variety is susceptible to jassid (Empoasca kerri) and thrips, requiring need-based sprays of imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.3 ml/L or dimethoate 30 EC 0.03%. Stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) is managed by Trichoderma seed treatment (8 g/kg) and gypsum 500 kg/ha at peg initiation.

Usage and adoption

ANGRAU's package of practices for Anantapur recommends a seed rate of 110-125 kg/ha (kernels) at 30 x 10 cm spacing, with 20:40:50 kg NPK/ha as basal plus gypsum top-dressed at flowering. Harvest at 80-85% pod maturity to avoid kernel discolouration and aflatoxin contamination - a routine quality issue in rainfed groundnut. Because Dharani is part of the ANGRAU breeder-seed chain, certified seed is reliably available through APSSDC and AP Seeds outlets in Anantapuramu, Hindupur and Kadiri.

See also: Groundnut Crop, Kadiri 6 Groundnut, Narayani Groundnut, Kadiri Lepakshi 1812, Tikka Leaf Spot Groundnut.

Sources

  1. Groundnut variety list - ANGRAU. ANGRAU.
  2. Compendium of Notified Groundnut Varieties of India. ICAR-DGR Junagadh.