CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY

        Groundnut belongs to the family Fabaceae and a member of the genus Arachis. Groundnut is classified into two subspecies based on morphological characteristics (Kaprovickas and Gregory, 1994). The pods of the subspecies hypogaea, are typically two-seeded and these seeds show marked dormancy, ranging from 30 to 360 days (Gregory et al., 1951; Zade et al., 1986). Their seeds also do not suffer from vivipary when harvesting is delayed. Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important leguminous oilseed crop and commonly called as poor man’s nut. It is also known as peanut, monkey nut and goober nut. It is the world 13th most important food crop, 4th most important source of edible oil and 3rd most important source of vegetable protein.

         Groundnut seed contains 44 to 56% oil and 22 to 30% protein on dry seed basis and is a rich source of minerals (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (Vinothini et al. 2018, Kaba et al. 2014). Good quality seeds having rapid and uniform field emergence is an essential prerequisite for increased yield, quality and ultimately profit to farmers. Uniformity and percentage seedling emergence of direct seeded crops have a major impact on final yield and quality. Slow emergence results in weaker seedlings which are more prone to diseases. Various presowing seed treatments have been practiced to reduce the time between sowing and seeding emergence. Heydecker (1973) acknowledged the term “seed priming” coined by Malnassy (1971) and showed the beneficial effect of priming. The term seed priming is synonymous with seed invigouration.

        Seed priming is widely used now a day for betterment of seed performance in terms of higher rate of germination and uniformity of establishment. Also, it causes the reduction in emergence time, accomplishment of uniform emergence and betterment of crop stand in many crops. More recently priming with a range of agents like hormones, botanicals, bioagents and growth regulators is under practice to get the desired benefits during seed germination and later on good performance of the crop (Janmohammadi et al. 2008).   Groundnut seeds contain 48–50% oil and 26–28% protein. They are also a rich source of dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. Over the years, the food use of groundnut has increased. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, and linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, account for 75–80% of the total fatty acids in groundnut oil (Mercer et al. 1990). High oleic acid groundnut has longer shelf life and flavor stability than normal oleic acid groundnut (Mugendi et al. 1998). Groundnut is adapted to varying agroclimatic conditions and soils. It is primarily grown in rainy (kharif) season (June/July to September/October) under rainfed conditions in India, which accounts for 83% of the total area under the crop in

the country. The remaining 17% of the area is cultivated mostly in the postrainy (rabi/summer) season (October/November to March/April) with irrigation or on residual soil moisture. A new cropping season, viz, spring (February/March to June/ July) is becoming popular in northern India especially in Uttar Pradesh.

        Groundnut cultivation in the rainy season is mainly concentrated in semi-arid and arid parts of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan states in India. In most countries in Asia and Africa, the rainfed groundnut is grown under low input conditions; hence yields can vary substantially from year to year due to biotic and abiotic stresses. The crop is grown either as sole crop or mixed/ intercropped with other crops in rainy season. Commercial cultivation of groundnut in both developed and developing countries is carried out as a sole crop under high

input conditions.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        Groundnut is the 13th most important food crop, 4th in oil seed crop and also 3rd most important of the world source of vegetable protein after soybean, rapeseed and cotton seed (FAO, 2006; Foreign Agricultural Service [FAS], 2010). The seed (kernel) contains 40-50% fats, 20-50% protein and 10-20% carbohydrates (FAO, 2006). About 80% of edible groundnuts are roasted for further processing into snacks food, and peanut butter (GSP NEWS, 2004). It can be crushed for oil and groundnut cake (animals feeds) (Beghin et al., 2003). Groundnut is also good source of minerals such as phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K), as well as vitamins E, K and B (RMRDC, 2004).

         Production in Africa has been estimated at about 2.6 metric tons annually from a land area of approximately 2.5 million hectares with Nigeria inclusive. It is estimated also, that, 78 percent of land area sown to groundnut is in various crop association (Okigbo & Greenland, 1976; Nnadi & Haque, 2003). Although food security remains a major concern due to the subsistence nature of the country’s agriculture as asserted by Nwafor (2008), the sector employs more than 70 percent of the labour force, accounts for over 70 percent of the non-oil export and most importantly provides 80 percent of the food needs of the country (Faburso and Agbonlahor, 2007; CNB, 2009). Nigeria population which grows at about 3.2 percent per annum with food production at about 2.0 percent is not keeping pace with its population (FAO, 2005; NBS, 2011).

         Food production process requires resources which when used judiciously could lead to high productivity and profitability. These resources could be natural or manmade: man-made resources include: labour, capital or entrepreneurship, which are supplied and influenced by man (Olayide & Heady, 1982; Oyekele, Bolaji and Olowa, 2009). In order to ameliorate the dwindling and not too impressive performance of agricultural sector in terms of the gap between food supply and demand owing to  population growth rates, successive governments in the past had come up with different programmes and policies. Among them are: National Fadama Development Project (NFDP), Root & Tubers Expansion, Directorate of Food and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) etc (Oredipe and Akinwumi, 2002).

        These programmes and policies were aimed at raising the productivity and efficiency of agricultural production, but many of these programmes and policies have not yielded tangible result. The decline in groundnut production in the country is worrisome and a real challenge to Government with a population of over 160 million to feed.

        Finally several research has been carried out on the  constraints, challenges, and opportunities in groundnut production. But not even a single research has been carried out on effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal).

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

        The main aim of the study is to investigate effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal). Other specific objectives of the study includes;

1. to investigate effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal).
2.  to investigate the factors affecting  different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal).
3. to investigate the extent to which different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development has affected (germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal).
4. to proffer possible solutions to problems.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal)?
2.  What are the factors affecting  different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal)?
3. What is the extent to which different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development has affected (germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal)?
4. What is the  possible solutions to problems?

1. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
2.  

1.                 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study on effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development(germination) of groundnut seeds(Arachis Hypogaeal). Will be of immense importance to the entire public. In the sense that it will be of great important in helping the government to establish effective body for marketing good germination groundnut seeds for planting.

        It will also help farmers planting groundnut seeds to be able to identify barriers and remove the  possible barriers under control in order to improve groundnut seeds production. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.

1. SCOPE OF STUDY

        The study on effect of different quantities of sunlight on early growth and development is limited to germination of groundnut seeds.

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.    DEFINITION OF TERMS

Groundnut

         Is one of the important legume crops of tropical and semiarid tropical countries, where it provides a major source of edible oil and vegetable protein. 

Seed

         Is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering.