EffiCIENT CROPPING ZONE FOR GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) IN TAMIL NADU

An analytical study was made to identify the efficient groundnut cropping zone for Tamil Nadu. For computing Relative Spread Index (RSI) and Relative Yield Index (RVI) components of analysis, data on groundnut area and its productivity for each district of Tamil Nadu were collected for ten years (1989–90 to 1998–99). The results indicated that among the different climatic zones in Tamil Nadu, North Eastern Zone, North Western Zone and Western Zone were efficient cropping zones with little year to year variation. The North Eastern Zone had a higher RSI (107.67) and RVI (187.92). Among the different districts of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvannamalai district had a higher RSI (292.80), while the RVI was highest ugder Chengalpattu district (130.60). Out of the eighteen erstwhile districts in Tamil Nadu, only one district (Chengalpattu) was under most efficient cropping zone (MECZ), while seven districts were categorized as efficient cropping zone with little variation, three districts came under efficient cropping zone with medium year to year variation, four districts were under efficient cropping zone with greater variation and three districts were categorized as not efficient cropping zone.