title: Intensifying groundnut production in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria: including groundnut in the irrigated cropping systems.
abstract: Inadequate and erratic rainfall pattern and extreme temperature variations induced by climate change being experienced in Sudan savanna areas have compromised the cropping systems of these areas. A change in the cropping patterns is required to maintain and improve upon crop output levels. The pod yield ha(-1) and other growth and yield components of three varieties of groundnut grown under irrigated conditions were measured in a field experiment conducted at the Irrigation Research Station of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria, from 2003 to 2006 dry seasons. Treatments consisted of three plant populations (50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 plants ha(-1)), three varieties (Samnut 23, Samnut 21 and Samnut 11) and three basin sizes (3 x 3, 3 x 4 and 3 x 5 m) arranged in a split plot design with population and variety as main plot and basin size as sub plot. Treatments were randomly assigned and replicated three times. Plant populations significantly affected plant height and canopy spread but had no effect on number of branches plant. Plants grew significantly taller at 200,000 plants ha(-1) while plant canopy spread was significantly widest at 50,000 plants ha(-1). Samnut 23 grew significantly taller than Samnut 21 and 11 although they exhibited wider canopies. Pod yield ha(-1) and 100 seed weight were significantly highest at 200,000 plants ha(-1). Samnut 23 produced the significantly highest pod yield ha(-1) and number of pods plant(-1). Samnut 11 produced significantly highest 100 seed weight. Samnut 23 planted at 200,000 plants ha(-1) in 3 x 4 m basins is most promising for irrigated groundnut cultivation in the Sudan savanna of Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D010367:Arachis / Q000254:growth & development*; D057231:Climate Change; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D009549:Nigeria; D012621:Seasons; D013397:Sudan