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Growth, yield performance and market quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) as affected by cropping season in southern Sierra Leone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

A. Sesay  and
A. Yarmah
A. Sesay
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Njala University College, PMB Freetown, Sierra Leone Institute of Agricultural Research, PMB 540, Freetown, Sierra Leone
A. Yarmah
Affiliation:
Institute of Agricultural Research, PMB 540, Freetown, Sierra Leone
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Summary

Traditionally, only one groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) crop is grown in the uplands during the rainy season (May-October) in Sierra Leone, with sowing starting at the beginning of the rains. However, a recent trend among groundnut farmers is to sow a second crop in September after harvesting the first crop. Thus a system comprising a first (major) and a second (minor) cropping season is being adopted, with the second season crop having to depend largely on moisture stored in the soil. Experiments were conducted in 1993 at the Institute of Agricultural Research Experimental Farm, Njala, to assess the agronomic potential of growing two crops a year. Crop phenology, growth and productivity were strongly influenced by cropping season. Pod yield ranged from 1·63 to 2·58 and from 1·16 to 1·95 t ha-1 in the major season, declining to 0·72–1·29 and 0·57—1·07 t ha-1 in the minor season. Haulm yield, number of mature pods, crop growth rate and partitioning were lower in the minor season by 58, 57, 40 and 13%, respectively. However, kernel quality was higher in the minor season. The results suggest that the growing of two groundnut crops in the uplands is a potentially viable management option in Sierra Leone, and could represent a more efficient utilization of the growing period.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 127 , Issue 2 , September 1996 , pp. 201 - 206
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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References

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