Groundnut Contains 48 to 50% Oil and 24 to 25% Protein

Groundnut is an important Oil Crops contain 45 to 50 % of Edible oil and 24 to 25 % of Protein and 25 to 30% of Vitamin B & E. The protein is well balanced, it has more protein than meat and any other vegetable foods. In Bangladesh a great portion of this crop is directly used as "fried food". Although Groundnut Oil is edible but it is not as popular as Mustard Oil. The seed grows under the ground looks like a shell, inside the shell 1 to 3 number of seeds.

The Groundnut is a native of South America. But its cultivation has increased rapidly in Indian Subcontinent and inmany other countries in Asia.

The nuts are used to make various tasty biscuits by confectioners. An edible product is prepared both in Urban and Rural areas by mixing the roasted nuts in a paste of Molasses. It has a great medicinal value, it builds a resistive power against some well known diseases like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis. The oil that Groundnut contains is easily digested, that's why these are useful consumptives.

Soil and Climate:

A light sandy soil is essential for growing Groundnut well. In Sandy loam and silt loam, it grows also but not better than light sandy soil. But now a days it is grown even in well-drained heavy black soil. But the important thing is that the soil should be light and soft so that the Gynophores can easily penetrate the soil and go underground to help growing the nuts.

Medium rainfall, sufficient sunshine and comparatively higher temperature are essential during the growth phase of Groundnut. The region where rainfall varies from 1070 - 1140 mm, Groundnut grows successfully, although it can even stands in heavier rainfall up to 50-60 inches (1270 - 1520 mm).

Botanical Description:

Groundnut is a leguminous plant, its scientific name is Arachis Hypogae. It is a dwarf & deep green cover crop. Every plant develops many branches with thick foliage. The Groundnut Plants of some varieties are erect while some are creepers. Small yellow flowers are borne throughout the entire plant, but nut develops mostly from the flowers borne at the basal areas. After pollination, the Gynophores go under the soil and develop as nuts.

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A brief Botanical Decsription of Soybean

Soybean belongs to the family Leguminosae and sub-family Papilionaceae. The scientific name of Soybean is Glycine Max.

• The plants are usually dwarfing (60 - 90 cm) and erect.

• The leaves consist of three leaflets and contain one long Petiole.

• While flowers in Soybean crops are borne in the axil of leaves.

• Fruits or pods are long and hairy. Each pod contains 4 - 5 seeds which are round or oval in shape. These are usually cream colored.

Varieties Soybean:

Research on different aspects of Soybean has been conducted in different Institution under Bangladesh Coordinated Soybean Research Project (BCSRP) of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). After a series of experiments on yield, maturity period, resistance to diseases, etc., two varieties has been found suitable and recommended for adoption in Bangladesh:

1. Bragg:

This kind of Soybean plant is medium in height. The flowers are white. Depending on different seasons it takes 3 - 4 months to mature. Three Soybean Crops may be raised in a year with this variety under favorable climate it may yield up to 27 mds per acre (25 quintals per hectare).

2. Davis:

This kind of Soybean plant is slightly more than that of Bragg. The flowers are white and the likes 110 - 120 days to mature. The numbers of pods per plant are more than those of Bragg. As a result, the yield is also higher. Under favorable climate conditions, its yield goes up to 29 mds per acre (27 quintals per hectare). The viability, germination capacity, resistance to diseases and pests of Davis type Soybean is higher than those of Bragg.

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Soybean is the Best Pulse Crop for Nutrition

Soybean a very prospective Oil Crop in the World. Its also a pulse Crop. From the view point of nutrition no other Pulse Crop like Mung Bean, Lentil or Gram is equivalent to it, and rather it is very much superior to any one of those Crops.

For each 100 gm:

• The ingredient of calorie in Soybean is 432.0, in Chickpea it is 372.0, in Mung Bean it is 348.0, in Lentil it is 343.0 and in Ponpea it is 335.0

• The ingredient of Protein in Soybean is 43.2gm, in Chickpea it is 20.8gm, in Mung Bean it is 24.5gm, in Lentil it is 25.1gm and in Ponpea it is 22.0gm

• The ingredient of Fat in Soybean is 19.5gm, in Chickpea it is 5.6gm, in Mung Bean it is 1.2, in Lentil it is 0.7gm and in Ponpea it is 1.7gm.

• The ingredient of Mineral in Soybean is 4.6gm, in Chickpea it is 2.7gm, in Mung Bean it is 3.5gm, in Lentil it is 2.1gm and in Ponpea it is 3.5gm.

• Some other ingredients like Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Carotene, Riboflavin and Niacin are also more than the above mentioned Oil Seeds.

Though the oil content of Soybean is less than those of two major Oil Seeds, Mustard and Groundnut, its Protein content is quite high. The protein content of Soybean is 43.2% against 24 - 25% and 25 - 26% of Mustard and Groundnut, respectively.

Soybean is a very old Oil Crop. It was mentioned in a book by a Chinese Emperor in connection with some useful plants long time back. He considered Soybean as a beneficial food and medicinal plant.

Soil and Climate:

Soybean may be grown in almost in all kind of soil, but loamy or sandy loam is better suited for its cultivation. Also a well-drained fertile soil is considered desirable.

During the first three months of the crop growth, enough rain and warm atmosphere are essential. But at the time of maturity of the Seed and Crop harvest, cool and dry conditions are desirable. A temperature of 24 to 25 degree C. considered being helpful and it should not fall bellow 10 degree C. Irrigation is not essential but depending on the climate sometimes it may be helpful for the growing plants.

Click for a brief Botanical Description of Soybean

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Cultivation and Importance of Oil Seeds and Oil Crops

Edible Oil is integral part of our daily diet. It is essential for Health. Fats and oils are available from different sources like animal and plants. Animal Fats are derived from Milk, Butter etc but compared to the oil obtained from various Oil Crops are very costly.

Oil from plants is easily digestible and its Nutrient Quality is better than that of Animal Fats. Also more energy is supplied by plant products than that by Animal Products, particularly from Oil Crops like Groundnut, Soybean, Palm and Mustard etc.

For example oil extracted from Coconut, Groundnut or Mustard supplies 900 kilo-calorie (energy) as against Butter and Fish which provides 729 and 273 kilo-calorie, respectively.

It is evident that Vegetable Oil, which may be obtained from plant sources by cultivation of Oil Crops, is no less important than Animal Fat for energy.

The Nutritional requirements of human being are vary depending on the body weight, age, sex climate etc. It is generally recommended that 15% to 20% of the total calories requirement for a person should be supplied from fats and Oils. The average requirement, at this rate, works out to approximately 35 gm.

Oil Seeds provide an additional advantage because the Oil cake or meal contains adequate amounts of protein which is available without any extra cost and labor. Both men and animal derive benefit from them either directly or indirectly. The Mustard cake is good manure or Crops. It is also beneficial as a feed for draft animal and milch cows. The Protein content in the "whole seeds" of most Oil Crops varies from 20 % to 25%, but in the cakes it is much higher.

Soybean is an exception in that it contains 40% to 45% protein, which is the highest of all the Crops. Like Vegetable Oil, proteins food from vegetable sources is cheaper than that from animal sources and is more desirable.

Some other benefits are also derived from Oil Seeds. Milk from Soybean and Groundnut is important among these. The milk prepared from Soybean is already in use within many countries. Beside Soybean and Groundnut improve the soil by addition of Nitrogen from their nodules formed in the root system. This increases the yield of the next crop substantially and reduces the requirement of Nitrogenous Fertilizers.

For example, it is found that the effect of the next Wheat Crop is very beneficial.

Another benefit of growing Oil Crops like Mustard, Sesame, Sunflower and Niger is that they are a source of Honey collected by bees. Also no one can deny the aesthetic beauty of Sunflower, Safflower, Niger when in bloom. Thus an Oil Crop not only helps in getting Oil, Protein, Milk, Honey, Nitrogen (fertilizer) but also beautifies the landscape.

Which other Crop can provide so many benefits at one time?

It is therefore important that Oil Seed should be cultivated and the production increased to reduce the deficiency of oil as well as to derive other benefits.

Thanks for reading my Oil Seed and Oil Crop Blog.

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