Integrated Management Practices for Climate-smart Groundnut Production: An Evidence-based Review
Amit M. Pujar *
University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad-580008, India.
Kiran B.O
University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad-580008, India.
Sharanappa Kuri
Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture and Horticulture Sciences, Shivamogga, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a key oilseed and food legume in semi-arid tropics, where climate change is already disrupting yield stability, grain quality and farm incomes. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) seeks to deliver three co-benefits—productivity, resilience and lower emissions—yet operational frameworks tailored specifically to groundnut systems remain fragmented. This review synthesises recent evidence on integrated crop management (ICM) options that can make groundnut production more climate-smart. It examines how climate-resilient varieties, integrated nutrient management, conservation- and precision-based soil and water management, diversified groundnut-based cropping systems, and integrated pest, disease and aflatoxin management interact to enhance system performance. This review is based on a structured, narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed journal articles published between January 2005 and October 2025. Long-term experiments and multi-location trials show that combining balanced mineral fertilisation with organic inputs, residue retention, reduced tillage and legume-based diversification can raise pod yield and biomass while increasing soil organic carbon and nutrient availability, thereby buffering climate risks. Integrated disease and aflatoxin management packages that combine host resistance, biological control, cultural practices and improved storage substantially lower aflatoxin contamination and associated market losses. Digital decision-support tools and climate information services are beginning to support site-specific ICM decisions, though adoption remains constrained by input access, advisory quality and institutional support. The review highlights critical trade-offs, including labour and knowledge requirements, short-term input costs, and the risk of maladaptation if practices are poorly targeted. It concludes that climate-smart groundnut production requires a portfolio approach that aligns breeding, agronomy, post-harvest management and policy incentives at field and landscape scales. Climate-smart groundnut production cannot rely on single interventions; it depends on integrated crop management portfolios that combine genetics, agronomy, soil and water conservation, pest and disease management, and post-harvest improvements coherently.
Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, groundnut, integrated crop management, conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management, aflatoxin management