Effect of Rainfall Distribution on Productivity of Kharif Groundnut

Considering its importance of Groundnut as a Major Kharif crop of Junagadh district. A study was planned with objectives to find rainfall variability, evaluate rainfall departure on regional scale and its effect on groundnut yield. Correlation and regression analysis between rainfall and groundnut yield was also carried out for each of 4 months, 9 fortnights and 18 SMWs. The seasonal correlation coefficient was found as 0.79. The correlation of June was highest with correlation coefficient as 0.68 and lowest in August as 0.26. In case of weekly rainfall, highest positive correlation was observed to be 0.73 for the SMW22 followed by SMW39, 24 and 23. The lowest correlation observed as -0.30 for the 34SMW. Years with excess rainfall in September observed highest average yield of 2176 kg/ha, years with excess rainfall in 39th SMW recorded highest average yield 2316 kg/ha. No years recorded deficient rainfall in 35th and 36th SMW. The total seasonal rainfall splitted into 15 weeks, the predictability was increased 37 % as compare to seasonal, 22 % compare to monthly and 9 % as compare to fortnightly rainfall with large number of variables as significant.