Introduction

• Belongs to Leguminosae family
• Highly self-pollinated crop
• Short pegging plant and has a well-developed tap root system bearing nodules.
• Seed is ex-albuminous, cylindrical to spherical in shape.

Importance

• Has relatively high protein digestibility (82-83%).
• Groundnut oil and butter are good cooking media.
• The nuts may be consumed as roasted, baked, and flavor enhancer.
• Limited use in cosmetics, candles, dressing, furniture etc.
• Used to extract glycerin and as substitute to olive oil.
• Groundnut milk (extracted from kernels): a good admixture in milk and milk products.
• Groundnut shell is used as fuel wood, for making activated charcoal, biogas alcohol, compressed blocks etc.
• Groundnut oil emulsion is used as insecticide, suckericide (tobacco suckers).
• Haulms (either green, dried or silage): as cattle feed (rich in protein, lipids and minerals).
• They fix N by different root system (estimated amount: 72-124 kg N/ha/year).

Origin and distribution

• Center of origin is South America.
• At present, it is widely distributed and grown in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and many other regions of the globe.
• China, India, USA, Argentina, Sudan, Senegal etc are the major producers of groundnut.