Source: http://vasat.icrisat.ac.in/?q=node/110

Adverse weather conditions like delay in the onset of rains and/or failure of rains for few days to weeks some time or other during the crop period is very common in the rain fed groundnut growing areas.
      Adverse weather conditions result in economic losses to the farmers due to the partial or total failure of groundnut crop.
      To over come this situation there is need to adopt or follow groundnut based cropping systems like intercropping or mixed cropping in rain fed groundnut growing areas.
      Intercropping refers to growing more than one crop in the same land area in rows of definite proportion and pattern.

       An ideal intercropping should aim to:

• Produce higher yields per unit area through better use of natural resources;
• Offer greater stability in production under adverse weather conditions and with disease and insect infestation;
• Meet the domestic needs of the farmer;
• Provide an equitable distribution of farm resources.

The following intercropping practices were found to be remunerative than sole crop of groundnut even under drought or excessive rainfall in AP.

        Groundnut + Red gram (pigeon pea)                                7:1 ratio 

              Groundnut + Castor                                                 7:1 ratio

              Groundnut + Sorghum                                              6:2 ratio

             Groundnut + Pearl millet                                           6:2 ratio

             (7:1 ratio indicates 7 rows of groundnut and one row of the other crop)

Groundnut + Sorghum inter cropping system is recommended to farmers to meet the fodder needs of cattle and milch animals.

       The following intercropping practices were found to be remunerative in other groundnut growing States in India.

Mixed cropping refers to simultaneously growing more than one crop in the same land area as a mixture.

Unlike in intercropping system, in mixed cropping the crops are grown without any definite proportion or pattern.

Mixed cropping is practiced in traditional subsisting farming to meet the domestic needs of the farmer's family. Thus, the number of crops grown mixed varies depending on the family needs.

 Even though crops in the mixed cropping meets the farmer’s family needs, the yield of crops will be very low due to the competition between the crops for water, light, nutrients etc.
       A better cropping system will be adopting intercropping system involving the major crops.However to meet the family needs, the minor crops could still be grown on field bunds, on the field borders, and in the house back yards.