Paired-row planting and furrow irrigation increased light interception, pod yield and water use efficiency of groundnut in a hot sub-humid climate

•Evaluated groundnut responses to irrigation regimes and planting techniques.•Ridge and furrow and paired-row methods increased pod yield (13–17%) and WUE (33–48%) over flat-bed.•Higher irrigation regimes regulated soil temperature favorably under hot sub-humid condition.•Improved methods facilitated higher intercepted PAR, chlorophyll and leaf photosynthesis.•Estimated maximum pod yield (2109 kg ha−1) in paired-row with 359 mm ET through yield-ET functions.