Abstract
Water requirement and pattern of crop growth of a medium to long season groundnut crop were assessed at Samaru (11º 11’ N, northern Guinea savanna), Nigeria. Although the crop was sown two weeks later than the average earliest possible date of sowing, the pattern of availability of water at Samaru appears to be favourable enough to accommodate such a delay in sowing without experiencing real difficulties with lifting and harvest. Seasonal energy conversion was 0·6 per cent of the total incoming radiation, while the season crop water requirement was 43·8 cm corresponding to a crop water use efficiency of 518g of water per gramme of dry matter.
