Photo by Jewel Kinilitan-Bissdorf
Scientific name: Arachis hypogaea
Common names: Earth nuts, Goobers, Goober peas, Ground nuts, Pindas, Pinders, Manila nuts, Monkey nuts
nPeanut when used as intercrop for upland corn and planted along the contour reduces soil runoff (Presbitero, 2003). The plant also reduces the corn borer population for it serves as the hiding place for the beneficial insects.
There is an increase in the yield of peanut when intercropped with early maturing pigeon pea (ICRISAT, 2001).
Peanut is a good intercrop for upland rice, sorghum, okra, sugarcane, and sunflower. To get a good yield however, proper planting distance should be observed along with the other recommended cultural practices (Palomar, 1998).
To improve the peanut production in developing countries, international breeding programs (USDA, ICRISAT, BORIF, etc) are developing cultivars that are high yielding, early maturing (less than 80 days), disease resistant (rust, leaf-spots, bacterial wilt, aflatoxin), and tolerance to acidic soils.
Peanut is a 3rd major source of oilseed next to soybean and
cottonseed. It is used as food in Asia, eaten either raw or cooked.
For more than 25 years, India, China, and the US are the leading peanut producers and they grow about 70% of the world crop.
A biopesticide, Aspergillus flavus
AF36 is now available for the control of aflatoxin in cottonseed in the US. AF36 is a naturally occurring strain of Aspergillus flavus
that does not produce aflatoxin. When applied in the soil surface, it reduces the multiplication of the aflatoxin producing fungi (Rutgers University, 2003).
- CABI. (2000): Crop protection compendium. Global module, 2nd edition. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
- CABI. (2004): Crop protection compendium. 2004 Edition. CAB International Publishing. Wallingford, UK.
- CABI. (2001): Crop protection compendium. Global module, 3rd edition. CAB International Publishing. Wallingford, UK.
- Palomar, M. (1998): Peanut in the Philippine food system. Visayas State College of Agriculture. Baybay, Leyte, Philippines.
- PCCARD. (1986): The Philippines recommends for peanut. PCARRD. Los banos, Laguna, Philippines.
- Presbitero, A. (2003): Soil erosion studies on steep slopes of humid-tropic Philippines. Griffith University, Australia.
- Putnam, D.; et. al. (1992): Alternative field crops manual: Peanut. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Center for Alternative Plant and Animal Products.