Biodiesel From Groundnut Oil, Groundnut as Biofuel Feed Stock,Groundnut Shell Biomass

Groundnut is the 13th most important food crop of the world. It is the world's 4th most important source of edible oil and 3rd most important source of vegetable protein. Groundnut seeds contain high quality edible oil (˜ 50%), easily digestible protein (˜ 25%) and carbohydrates (˜ 20%). Groundnut is grown in nearly 100 countries. Groundnut is also known as peanut, earthnut, monkey nut, goober, pinda and Manila nut.

   Among the oilseed crops, groundnut has first Groundnut oil is primarily used in the manufacture of vegetable oil. The biological value of groundnut protein is among the highest of the vegetable proteins, and equals that of casein. Groundnuts are a good source of all B vitamins except B12. They are a rich source of thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid and vitamin E.However, they lack in vitamin A. With regard to minerals, phosphorus, calcium and iron are present in significant amount.

   The flowers are born in the axils of the leaves mostly near the base of plant and have generally yellow petals. It is a self pollinated crop. After fertilization stalk of ovary elongates and forms peg which contains fertilized ovules at the tip. The growth of peg is positively geotropic until it penetrates soil to some depth (7 cm). The tip then becomes diageotropic and ovary starts developing into a fruit called pod which contains seeds. Generally it takes about 60 days from fertilization to full pod maturity.

Botanically cultivated groundnut can be classified into two subspecies which mainly differ in their branching pattern: subspecies hypogaea with alternate branching and subspecies fastigiata with sequential branching.

Each subspecies is again divided into two botanical varieties; subsp. hypogaea into var. hypogaea (virginia) and var. hirsuta; and subsp. fastigiata into var. fastigiata (valencia), var. vulgaris (spanish), var. peruviana, and var. aequatoriana.

Peanuts are a rich source of protein (roughly 30 grams per cup after roasting) and monounsaturated fat. Recent research on peanuts and nuts in general has found anti-oxidants and other chemicals that may provide health benefits. Because peanuts are considered an incomplete protein, containing relatively low amounts of the essential amino acids lysine, cystine, and methionine.

It is advised to be sure that a diet or meal with peanuts as a staple also include complementary foods such as dairy or whole grain. Peanuts are also an unbalanced source of fat because they are devoid of required Omega-3 fats.

Peanut, valencia, raw

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.527 oz)
Energy 570 kcal 2390 kJ
Carbohydrates	20.91 g
-Sugars	0.0 g
-Dietary fiber	8.7 g
Fat	47.58 g
Protein	25.09 g
Thiamin (Vit. B1) 0.639 mg	49%
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.30 mg	20%
Niacin (Vit. B3) 12.875 mg	86%
Pantothenic acid (B5) 1.809 mg	36%
Vitamin B6 0.34 mg	26%
Folate (Vit. B9) 246 µg	62%
Vitamin C 0.0 mg	0%
Calcium 62 mg	6%
Iron 2.09 mg	17%
Magnesium 184 mg	50%
Phosphorus 336 mg	48%
Potassium 332 mg	7%
Zinc 3.34 mg	33%

Type of Soil :

For a medium heavy soil, the soil should be tilled once or twice, then leveled. A network of deep furrows to act as drainage channels should be dug every 3 - 4 meters. On light soils, only light plowing is needed to remove weeds and dig the drainage channels.

Season :

Groundnut is essentially a tropical plant. It requires a long and warm growing season. The most favorable climatic conditions for groundnut are a well distributed rainfall of at least 50 centimeter during growing season, abundance of sunshine and relatively warm temperatures. It seems that plant will grow best when the mean temperature is from 21-26.5 °C. Lower temperatures are not suitable for its proper development.

During ripening period it requires about a month of warm and dry weather. The rain fed crop should be sown with the advent of monsoon in the last week of June or in the first week of July. The sowing should be completed as early as possible as delayed sowing causes progressive reduction in the yield. Where irrigation facilities are available, groundnut should be sown around 20th June or 10-12 days before the onset of monsoon with a pre-sowing irrigation. This helps in best utilization of monsoon by the crop because all the germination will take place before rains start which ultimately result in a higher yield. It will also help in getting the field vacated in time for the sowing of Rabi crops.

In southern part of the country where groundnut is sown in Rabi season also, it should be sown in the month of November and December.

Dig the pods at the right time for obtaining higher yields of pods and oil. Nut takes two months to attain full development. A fully mature pod will be difficult to split easily with finger pressure. This stage is achieved when vine begins to turn yellow and leaves start shedding. Harvesting should be done when good percentages of nuts are fully developed and fairly intact. In case of bunch type of groundnut, the plants are harvested by pulling.

Harvesting of spreading type of groundnut is done by spade, local plough or with the help of blade harrow or groundnut digger. Leave the harvested crop in small heaps for two three days for curing. After curing, collect the crop at one place and detach the pods either by hand or using groundnut pluckier for separating the pods.

Jatropha Oil	Biomass Energy	Services	Business Enquiry
Jatropha Seed	Biomass Briquettes	Biodiesel Supplier	Castor Cultivation
Jatropha Plantation	Biofuel Feedstock Supplier	Biodiesel from Algae Oil	Pongamia Plantation