Agriculture Crop Manual

COCONUT
COTTON FARM IMPLEMENTS
FOOD
GRAINS
1999 SOYBEAN
SUNFLOWER
O/o. COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Chepauk, Chennai 5. Coimbatore 641 003.
E D I T O R I A L B O A R D
DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE TNAU

Syed Nazeer Peeran
S.P. Ganesan Team of Scientists
R. Padmanaban under the Chairmanship of
R. Kesavan
Dr. T.V. Karivaradaraaju
I. Dorairajan
P. Badrinarayanan
Dr.C. Vidhyasagar
Typeset
Computer Centre,
Directorate of Agriculture
R. Ravichandran
T.S. Manoharan
Printing Coordination
Suresh Joe Kumar Bright
Directorate of Agriculture
Printed at Agricultural Information Unit Press:

O/o. Commissioner of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005.
Dr. A. ABDUL KAREEM, Coimbatore
M.Sc.(Ag.), Ph.D., 641 003.
Vice-Chancellor,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Dated: May 21, 1999.
FOREWORD
To meet the food needs of the burgeoning population, there is an imminent need to revise the research
agenda and refine the agricultural production technology. Commercial Agriculture has come up as a new
dimension and is gaining momentum after the implementation of liberalisation policy.
The agricultural research has to meet the negative consequences like depletion of natural resources,
energy crisis, climatic changes, pollution of environment, deforestation, desertification etc, which resulted
owing to the revolution in the field of agriculture during the past.
In the current context of increasing scarcity of land shrinking water resources, the optimum utilization
of land and water resources assumes paramount importance. The situation warrants the need to utilise the
waste lands which in turn calls for the generation of technologies with a multipronged approach encompassing
agriculture, horticulture, forestry with watershed as a basic unit. Hence, there is a need to revise the Crop
Production Guide in tune with the latest developments.
The Agricultural Scientists of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University are involved in problem oriented,
location specific research programmes to develop appropriate technologies to address the issues/needs and
crop varieties catering to the requirements of the farming community in various agroclimatic zones.
Technology transfer is a vital link between the researches and farmers with the extension functionaries.
To make this important mission very successful, updated Crop Production Guide provides the basic information.
The Guide prepared jointly by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the Department of Agriculture
is updated periodically by involving University Scientists and Senior Officials of the Department of Agriculture.
My sincere appreciation and compliments to both the officials of the Department of Agriculture and
scientists of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in bringing out the updated Crop Production Guide.
It is beyond doubt that this Guide will be of immense value for the extension functionaries and scientists
of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for enhancing the productivity of agricultural crops.
(A.ABDUL KAREEM)
V.K. SUBBURAJ, I.A.S., Chepauk,
Commissioner of Agriculture Chennai 5.
Dated:
FOREWORD
The type and gravity of challenges facing agriculture on the eve of the advent of the new century are
unique. It is warned by the experts that half of the world would live in towns by the turn of the century, that
a grossly reduced cultivable landscape would have to support the increasing food needs of an expanding
population, its increasing per capita consumption (consequent to the impact of rural and urban poverty alleviation
programmes), the increased grains for animal product conversion (due to increase in non vegetarian consumption
of those released from poverty) etc., not to speak of the needs of the raw materials for the expanding agro-
based industries.
As such all out efforts are called for, to usher in radical improvements in the technology generation,
effective delivery and skilful application of the innovations in a big way. The scientists, extension officials
and the farmer trio have to accomplish this. The big gap between the yield performances achieved in several
potential pockets, the crop yield competitions, etc., and the average yields arrived at district and state levels
show clearly the task ahead. The potential is there and the performance does not seem to match it. The
production guide aims to provide the messages for the best performance of diverse crops under various
district and cropping conditions. The extension officials should find and provide the right choice of varieties
and management aspects to the farmers duly taking into account the potential / problems and peculiarities of
the farmholds.
The Guide has been not merely updated but enriched with much more information of practical utility
and I commend the editorial team for its efforts. I hope the exercise will continue in future to provide the best
of alternative for the guidance of the field officers and take the State to the forefront of agricultural performance.
(V.K. Subburaj)
Dr. K. ARULMOZHI, I.A.S., Chepauk,
Director of Agriculture Chennai 5.
Dated:
FOREWORD
Technical input is the major and primary prerequisite for production increase in agriculture. The need
for updating the technical knowhow and dohow among field functionaries needs no emphasis. The Crop
Production Guide being updated periodically has a major role to play in this regard. The Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University supplies the latest information inputs for dissemination among the farmers of this
State.
The great strides made in the production front from the First Five Year Plan period has been possible due
to the varietal and agronomic interventions proposed by the University as much as due to timely supply of
quality fertilizer and pesticide inputs made available by the private agencies, the extension strategies like
demonstrations and campaigns skilfully adopted by the Department and the resourcefulness of the farming
community. As such the recent version of the Crop Production Guide deserves all appreciation for the inclusion
of new findings, refinement of existing technologies etc.
I commend the Scientists of TNAU and Officers of this department who had meticulously prepared this
document and hope it will pave the way for greater production performance in this State in years to come.
(K. Arulmozhi)
N. ATHIMOOLAM, I.A.S., Fort St. George,
Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Chennai 9.
Agricultural Department.
Dated:
FOREWORD
The revised Crop Production Guide brought out by the Department of Agriculture and the Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University for the use of the field functionaries of the Department for propagation of technologies
to the farmers, has been meticulously compiled incorporating all the latest details required for deciding the
varietal choice, nutrient and pest management etc., at farm level.
The extension functionaries shall find the guide of immense practical utility in the field. The right
choice of technologies has however to be made to suit the requirements of the local conditions. The yield of
the various crops could be very much improved by the right choice and skilful application of the technologies
set forth in the Guide.
I commend the efforts of the scientists of diverse disciplines who have contributed to this Guide and the
officers who have neatly compiled this for the use of the field staff. I hope this will go a long way in achieving
the production goals set for the Ninth Five Year Plan. I also wish that the Guide is updated periodically
incorporating the whole range of latest technologies received from the various universities not only from all
over the country but also from aborad.
(N. Athimoolam)
A.P. MUTHUSWAMI, I.A.S., Fort St. George,
Chief Secretary to Government Chennai 9.
Government of Tamil Nadu
Dated:
FOREWORD
The Agricultural and allied activities occupy a key position in the State's economy. Though the share of
the primary sector in the State Domestic Product is around 20% only, about 65% of the population depend on
this sector for their livelihood and the State is concerned with their welfare. Further agriculture is considered
as a source of growth in a developing economy, as it helps growth of secondary and tertiary sector activities
as well. Hence it is necessary to take steps to increase the production of this sector by every means.
Though the productivity of major field crops like cholam, cumbu, groundnut, sugarcane and rice are
among the best in the country, the total output is much below the States like the resource-rich Punjab and the
water starved Maharashtra, due to lack of scope for area expansion. Therefore, besides the measures to
preserve the cultivable area from diversion to other purposes, there is urgent need to "double" the productivity
in the next ten years, for which appropriate technology-mix have to be identified and popularised effectively.
I commend the efforts of the editorial team to update the Crop Production Guide for use of the extension
functionaries, to achieve greater productivity. I wish the Department of Agriculture and the Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University all success in achieving the above goals.
(A.P.Muthuswami)
CROP PRODUCTION GUIDE - 1999
CONTENTS
Crop Page No.
1 RICE 1
2 MILLETS
Sorghum 33
Cumbu 48
Ragi 54
Maize 60
Small Millets 67
3 WHEAT 72
4 PULSES
Redgram 73
Blackgram 79
Greengram 83
Cowpea 88
Horsegram 93
Bengalgram 94
Lab lab (Avarai) 97
Lab lab (Mochai) 101
Soya bean 103
Sword bean 107
5 OILSEEDS
Groundnut 108
Gingelly 117
Castor 122
Safflower 124
Sunflower 125
Coconut 130
Oilpalm 138
Niger 147
Crop Page No.
6 FIBRE CROPS
Cotton 148
Jute 172
Agave 173
7 SUGARCANE 174
8 TOBACCO 190
9 FORAGE CROPS
Fodder Cholam 198
Fodder Cumbu 200
Fodder Maize 201
Neelakolukattai 202
Guinea grass 203
Deenanath grass 204
Cumbu Napier Hybrids 205
Lucerne 206
Hedge Lucerne 207
Fodder Cowea 208
Grass leaf desmodium 210
Muyal Masal 210
Leucaena 211
Sesbania rostrata 213
10 OYSTER MUSHROOM 213
11 MILKY MUSHROOM 215
12 PALMAROSA 216
13 COMPOSTING 218
14 SERICULTURE 221
15 AGRO FORESTRY 224
16 INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM 235

Crop Page No.
17 SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS &

THEIR MANAGEMENT 240
18 CHISEL TECHNOLOGY 242
19 SURGE IRRIGATION 243
20 AGROMETEOROLOGY 246
21 FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY

I. Land preparation implements 251
II. Sowing implements 255
III. Inter-cultural equipments 265
IV. Plant Protection equipments 267
V. Harvesting and thrashing machines 271
VI. Other equipments 277
22.AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS

I. Shelling/Decorticating/Dehusking equipments 281
II. Cleaning & Grading equipments 287
III. Milling/Extraction equipments 289
23.SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

ENGINEERING 291
24.NEW VARIETIES 296

Rice
RICE ( Oryza sativa )
I. SEASON AND VARIETIES
District/Season Month Varieties
1. Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur
Sornavari (April-May) TKM 9, ADT 36, IR 36, IR 50, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 17, IR
64, ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR(CORH1), MDU5,
ASD20, ADT43,ADTRH 1
Samba (August) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, ADT 40, PY 4,
CO 25, ADT 39, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD 19, ASD 20, CORH 2
Late Samba (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 45, CO 43, TRY 1, MDU5,
ASD 20, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec - Jan) IET 1722, IR 20, ADT 36, ADT 39, CO 43, ADT 37, ASD 16, IR
64, CO 37, ASD 18, ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU5, ASD 20
Dry (July - Aug) TKM 9, IR 50, PMK 1, PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM 11.
Semi-dry (July - Aug) TKM 9, IR 20, PMK 1, TKM 10, PMK 2, MDU 5,
TKM 11
2. Vellore/Tiruvannamalai
Sornavari (April - May) IR 64, TKM 9, ADT 36, IR 50, CO 37, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD
17, ASD 18, JJ 92(ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR (CORH1),
MDU5, ASD 20, ADT 43, ADT RH1
Samba (August) Ponmani, ADT 40, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43,
Paiyur 1, PY 4, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20,
CORH 2
Navarai (Dec - Jan) Rasi, ADT 36, IR 20, CO 37, ADT 39, CO 43, IR 64, ASD 16,
ASD 18, ADT 42, MGR (CORH1), MDU 5, ASD 20
3. Cuddalore/ Villupuram
Sornavari (April - May) ADT 36, TKM 9, IR 50, ASD 16, IR 64, ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT
41), ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43,
ADTRH 1
Samba (August) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Ponmani, PY 4, ADT 38, CO 45,
TRY 1, ASD 19, MDU5, ASD 20, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec - Jan) ADT 36, IR 20, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 39, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT
42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU5, ASD 20
4. Tiruchirappalli/Karur/Perambalur
Kuruvai (Jun - Jul) TKM 9, ADT 36, IR 50, IR 64, CO 37, ASD 16, ADT 37, ASD
18, JJ 92(ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR(CORH 1), MDU5, ADT 43,
ADTRH 1
Samba (August) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Paiyur 1, ADT 40, Ponmani, CO
45, TRIY1, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20.
Late Samba (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 43, CO 45, TRY 1, Thaladi,
ASD 19, ASD 20
Navarai (Dec - Jan) IET 1722, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MGR
(CORH 1), MDU5, ASD 20
1
Crop Production Guide
5. Thanjavur/Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur
Kuruvai (Jun - Jul) ADT 36, TKM 9, IR 50, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16,
ASD 18, ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ADT 43, ADTRH
1, CORH 2.
Samba (Aug) CO 25, IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Ponmani, ADT 38, ADT
40, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) ADT 38, IR 20, CO 43, Ponmani, ADT 39, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD
19, ASD 20
Navarai (Kullankar) (Dec - Jan) ADT 36, ADT 37, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MGR
(CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20
6. Pudukottai
Kuruvai (Jun - Jul) ADT 36, TKM 9, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, ADT 42, MGR (CORH
1), MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, ADTRH 1,
CORH 2
Samba (August) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Paiyur 1, Ponmani, ASD 18, TRY
1, ASD 19, MDU5, ASD 20, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, ADT 38, ADT 39, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD 19,
CO 43, ASD 20
Dry (Jul - Aug) ADT 36, Rasi, PMK 1, TKM 9, PMK 2, TKM 10
Semi-dry (Jul - Aug) ADT 36, Rasi, PMK 1, TKM 9, PMK 2, TKM 10
7. Madurai,/Dindigul/Theni
Kar (May - Jun) CO 37, ADT 36, TKM 9, IR 50, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16,
ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5,
ASD 20, ADT 43, ADTRH 1
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 42, CO 43, MDU 2, Paiyur 1, ADT 38,
ADT 40, CO 45, MDU 4, TRY 1, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20,
CORH 2.
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, MDU 2, MDU 3, ADT 39, CO 45, MDU 4,
CO 43, ASD 19, TRY 1, ASD 20
Navarai (Dec - Jan) CO 37, Rasi, IR 64, ADT 36, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT
42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20.
Semi-dry (Jul - Aug) PMK 1, TKM 9, PMK 2, TKM 10, MDU 5
8. Ramanathapuram
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, CO 45, ASD 19, TRY 1, MDU 5,
ASD 20, CORH 2
Rainfed & Semidry (Jul - Aug) ASD 17, ADT 36, PMK 1, PMK 2, MDU 5
9. Virudhunagar
Dry (Jul - Aug) TKM 9, ADT 36, Rasi, PMK1,PMK 2, MDU5,CORH 2.
10. Sivaganga
Semi-dry (Jul - Aug) ADT 36, Rasi, PMK 1, PMK 2, MDU 5
11. Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Early Kar (Apr - May) TKM 9, IR 50, ADT 36, IR 64, ADT42,MGR(CORH 1)
Kar (May - Jun) ASD 16, ASD 17, ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR
(CORH 1), ADT 43, (for Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi), ADTRH 1
2
Rice
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) White Ponni, IR 20, ADT 39, ASD 19, TRY 1, MDU 5, ASD
20, CORH 2.
Pishanam/Late Pishanam CO 45, ASD 18, ASD 19, CO 43, TRY 1, ASD 20
Semi Dry MDU 5
12. Kanyakumari
Kar (May - June) TKM 9, ADT 36, IR 50, TPS 1, IR 56, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 17,
ASD 18, JJ 92(ADT 41), ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5,
ASD 20, ADT 43, ADTRH 1
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) White Ponni, IR 20, Ponmani, CO 43, TRY 1, ASD 20
Pishanam ADT 39, ADT 40, CO 45, ASD 18, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20
Semi-dry (Jul - Aug) ADT 36, Rasi, TPS 1, ASD 17, PMK 1, PMK 2
13. Salem, Namakkal
Kar (May - Jun) IR 50, ADT 36, CO 37, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD
18, ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, ADTRH
1
Samba (August) IR 20, White Ponni, Bhavani, CO 43, Paiyur 1, CO 45, MDU
4, TRY 1, ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20
Navarai (Dec - Jan) IR 20, CO 37, ADT 36, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 39, ASD 18, CO 43,
ASD 19, ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20
14. Dharmapuri
Kar (May - June) CO 37, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni,
Paiyur 1, CO 43, MDU 2, ASD 18, MDU 4, JJ 92 (ADT 41),
ASD 19, PAIYUR 2, ADT 42, MGR (CORH1), TRY 1, MDU
5,ASD 20, ADT 43, ADTRH 1
Navarai (Dec- Jan) CO 37, Rasi, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ADT 36,
ASD 18, PAIYUR 1, ADT 42, MGR (CORH 1),
MDU 5, ASD 20
Samba/Late Samba (Aug - Oct) TRY 1, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni, Paiyur 1,
CO 43, MDU 4, ASD 19.
15. Coimbatore
Kar (May - Jun) CO 37, IR 50, ADT 36, ASD 16, IR 64, ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT
ADTRH 1
Samba (August) IR 20, CO 43, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 45, MDU 4, TRY 1,
ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20, CO 46, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, ADT 39, CO 45, ASD 20, CO 46, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec - Jan) CO 37, IR 20, ADT 39, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, TRY
1, CO 43, ASD 19, MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20
16. Erode
Kar (May - Jun) CO 37, IR 50, ASD 16, IR 64, ADT 36, ASD 18, JJ 92 (ADT
ADTRH 1
Samba (August) IR 20, Bhavani, CO 43, White, Ponni, ADT 39, CO 45, TRY 1,
ASD 19, MDU 5, ASD 20, CO 46
3
Late Samba (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 45, CO 43, TRY 1, ASD 19,
ASD 20, CO 46, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec - Jan) IR 20, CO 37, Rasi, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42,
MGR (CORH 1), MDU 5, ASD 20.
17. The Nilgiris
Samba (Jul - Aug) IR 20, CO 43, CO 45, TRY 1, MDU 5, ASD 20.
II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES
PARTICULARS TKM 9 IR 20 BHAVANI
Parentage TKM 7 X IR 8 IR 262 X TKM 6 Peta x BPI 76
Duration (Days) 100 - 105 130 - 135 130 - 135
Average Yield (kg/ha) 5019 5000 5000
1000 grain wt (g) 25.13 19 21.5
Grain L/B ratio 2.71 3 4.72
Grain type Short bold Medium slender Long Slender
Morphological Characters
Habit Semi-dwarf Semi-dwarf Medium tall
Leaf sheath Green-purple Green Green
line at base
Septum Light purple Cream Cream
Ligule Light purple White Colourless
Auricle Light purple White Colourless
Panicle Medium compact Medium compact Long compact
Husk colour Straw Straw Straw
Rice colour Red White White
Abdominal white Present Absent Absent
Grain size (mm)
Length 8.12 8.2 9.6
Breadth 2.99 2.7 2.03
Thickness 2.01 2 1.5
PARTICULARS CO 37 ADT 36 IET 1444
Parentage TN 1 x CO 29 Triveni x IR 20 TN1X CO 29

Duration (Days) 115 110 115
1000 grain wt (g) 22.5 20.6 19.7
Grain L/B ratio 2.7 3.1 3.8
Grain type Medium Medium Medium
Habit Erect short Erect Erect
Leaf sheath Green Green Green
Septum Cream Green Cream
Ligule Colourless Colourless Colourless
Auricle Colourless Colourless Colourless
Panicle Long compact Long compact Medium compact
Rice colour White White White
Abdominal white Absent Absent Absent
Grain size (mm)

Length 8 7.8 7.8
Breadth 2.9 2.5 2.7
Thickness 2.9 2 2
4
Rice
II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )
PARTICULARS PY 2 PAIYUR 1 IR 50
Parentage Kannagi X Cul.2032 IR 1721-14 x IR 2153-14 X

IR 1330-33-2 IR 28 X IR 36
Duration (Days) 115 150 105(Summer)
130 (Winter)
1000 grain wt (g) 18.4 15.7 20.35
Grain type Medium Fine Long Slender
Habit Erect Erect, Semi-tall Erect
Septum Cream Cream Green
Ligule Colourless Colourless Colourless
Panicle Long compact Large compact Long & drooping
Husk colour Brown Dirty brown Straw
Grain size (mm)

Length 8.1 7.9 8.9
Breadth 2.2 2.2 2.3
Thickness 1.7 1.6 1.8
PARTICULARS CO 43 Ponmani IR 36
Parentage Dasal x IR 20 Pankaj x Jagan- IR 1561-228/1

nath IR 244/O.niv./
CR 94-13
Duration (Days) 135 - 140 155 - 160 120
1000 grain wt (g) 20 23.5 21
Grain type Medium slender Short bold Medium
Habit Erect Erect Dwarf Erect
Septum Green Green Cream
Ligule White, longer White Colourless
Panicle Long drooping Medium drooping Compact
Grain size (mm)

Length 8.1 6.9 8.85
Breadth 2.3 3.1 3.07
5
PARTICULARS White Ponni MDU 2 MDU 3
Parentage Taichung 65/2 CO 25 X IR 8 IR 8/W 1263

Mayang Ebos-80
Duration (Days) 135 - 140 130 - 135 120 - 125
1000 grain wt (g) 16.4 19.5 23.1
Grain type Medium slender Medium slender Long Slender
Habit Medium tall Erect Semi dwarf
Leaf sheath Green Pale Green Green
Septum Green Cream Cream
Ligule White White White
Auricle Colourless Pale Green White, 2-Clefted
Panicle Long drooping Compact, long Medium Compact
Abdominal white Absent Present Absent
Grain size (mm)

Length 8 7.7 9.4
Breadth 3 2.6 2.4
Thickness 2 1.5 1.6
PARTICULARS TPS 1 PMK 1 PY 4 (JAWAHAR)
Parentage IR 8 X Kattisamba CO 25 X ADT 31 IR 8 X H 4

Duration (Days) 110 - 115 110 - 115 145 - 150
1000 grain wt (g) 24.3 24 24.8
Grain type Short bold Short bold Long bold
Habit Semi tall Erect Semi dwarf, erect
Leaf sheath Purple Green Green
Septum Cream Cream Green
Ligule White Colourless Colourless
Panicle Long, compact, Long compact Long drooping
dense
Rice colour Red Dull White White
Abdominal white Present Present Absent
Grain size (mm)
Length 7.7 7.9 9.3
Breadth 3.1 3.2 3
Thickness 2 1.96 1.8
6
Rice
PARTICULARS ASD 16 ASD 17 ADT 37
Parentage ADT 31/CO 39 ADT 31/RATNA/ BG 280-1 2/
ASD 8/IR 8 PTB 33
Duration (Days) 110 - 115 101 105
1000 grain wt (g) 24.2 23.8 23.4
Grain type Short Bold Short bold Short bold
Habit Semi dwarf Semi dwarf Semi dwarf
erect slightly open semi erect
Septum Cream Cream White
Ligule White White, 2-clefted White
Auricle Colourless Pale green White
Panicle Long Compact Long, Intermediate Compact
densely drooping, high panicle
just exerted weight
Abdominal white Present Present Present
Grain size (mm)
Length 7.86 7.9 5
Breadth 3.02 2.8 2.8
Thickness 1.96 1.88 1.88
PARTICULARS ADT 38 TPS 2 ADT 39

Parentage IR 1529-680-3-2/ IR 26/CO 40 IR 8/IR 20
IR 4432-52-6-4/
IR 7963-30-2
Duration (Days) 130 - 135 125 - 130 120 - 125
1000 grain wt (g) 21 23.5 18
Grain type Long Slender Short Bold Medium slender
Habit Semi dwarf, erect Semi dwarf Semi dwarf
Septum White Cream Light Cream
Ligule White White Papery white
Non-prominent
Auricle White White Non-pigmented
Panicle Long moderately Medium Medium, Modera-
dense tely dense
Husk colour Straw White Straw
Abdominal white Absent Present Absent
Grain size (mm)
Length 6.9 8.1 7.6
Breadth 2.4 2.8 2.3
Thickness 2 2 1.9
7
PARTICULARS ADT 40 IR 64 AU 2
Parentage RPW 6-13/Sona IR 5657-33-2-1/ Selection from
IR 2061-465-1-5-3 IR 42
Duration (Days) 145 - 150 115 - 120 140 - 145
1000 grain wt (g) 25.2 23.1 27
Grain type Short bold Long slender Long Bold
Habit Semi dwarf,erect Semi dwarf Medium tall
Septum Cream White Green
Ligule White clefted Light green White
Auricle Dull White Light green Colourless
Panicle Well exerted Intermediate, Long, compact
well exerted drooping
Abdominal white Absent Absent Present
Grain size (mm)
Length 8.4 10.1 8.12
Breadth 3.4 2.9 2.99
PARTICULARS CO 45 ASD 18 MDU 4

Parentage Rathu Heenathi/ ADT 31/IR 50 AC 2836/Jagannath
IR 3403-267-1
Duration (Days) 135 - 140 105 - 110 120 - 125
1000 grain wt (g) 24.9 21.8 22.9
Grain L/B ratio 3.23 3.2 4
Grain type Long, slender Medium slender Long slender
White rice
Habit Erect Semi dwarf(90cm) Erect, tall
Leaf sheath Green Pale Green Green
Septum Cream Light green Green
Ligule White clefted White clefted Colourless
Auricle Colourless Pale green Colourless
Panicle Long and dense Medium, compact Compact, Medium
exerted
Husk colour Straw Straw Yellow
Abdominal white Absent Slightly present Absent
Grain size (mm)

Length 9.8 8.64 9.12
Breadth 2.5 2.7 2.26
Thickness 2.07 2.2 —
8
Rice
PARTICULARS TKM 10 JJ 92 (ADT 41) TPS 3
Parentage CO 31/C22 Dwarf mutant RP 31-492/LMN

of Basmati 370
Duration (Days) 135 105 - 115 135 -140
1000 grain wt (g) 23.2 24.2 23.2
Grain type Medium slender Extra long Short Bold
slender
Habit Semi tall Semi dwarf Semi dwarf/erect
Septum Green Cream Cream
Ligule Colourless White cleft —
Auricle Colourless Pale green —
Panicle Compact Intermediate Long
Husk colour Light brown Straw Straw
Abdominal white Present Occasionally Present
present
Grain size (mm)
Length 9 12.02 7.96
Breadth 2.53 2.3 3
Thickness 1.75 1.88 2
PARTICULARS MGR (CORH 1) ADT 42 PMK 2
Parentage IR62829A/ AD9246/ IR13564-

IR10198-662R ADT 29 149-3/ASD 4
Duration(Days) 115 115 110-115

Ave. yield (kg/ha) 6000 5537 3200
1000 grain wt(g) 20.3 24.8 22.1
Grain/L/B ratio 3.63 3.6 2.53
Grain type Medium, slender Long, slender Medium bold
Morphological characters
Habit Semi-dwarf Semi-dwarf Erect
Septum Cream Cream Cream
Ligule White White Palegreen
Auricle Palegreen Palegreen Palegreen
Panicle Intermediate Intermediate Medium, compact
Husk colour straw straw straw
Rice colour White White Dull white
Abdominal white Occasionally Occasionally Present
present present
Grain size(mm)
Length 8.38 9.32 7.8
Breadth 2.31 2.58 3
Thickness 1.75 1.89 2
9
PARTICULARS ASD 19 TRY 1 MDU 5
Parentage Lalnakanda/ IR578-172-2-2/ O.glaberima x
IR 30 BR-1-2-B-1 Pokkali
Duration(Days) 127 (120-132) 135-140 95 - 100
Ave. yield (kg/ha) 5800 5255 -
1000 grain wt(g) 18.39 24 21.1
Grain type Short, slender Medium Medium slender
Habit Semi-dwarf, erect Erect Erect
Leaf sheath Light green Green Green
Septum Cream White -
Ligule White White Colourless
Auricle Palegreen White Colourless
Panicle Compact, dense Long, moderately Intermediate
drooping & compact
well exerted
Husk colour — straw straw
Abdominal white Absent Absent -
Grain size(mm)
Length 8.28 6.2 8.45
Breadth 2.32 2.4 2.7
Thickness 1.72 1.8 -
PARTICULARS ASD 20 CO 46 ADT 43

Parentage IR 18348/IR25863/ T7/IR 20 IR 50/Improved
IR 58 Ponni
Duration(Days) 110 125 110
1000 grain wt(g) 22.08 23.5 15.5
Grain type Long Slender Long Slender Medium slender
Habit Erect - Semi dwarf
Leaf sheath Pale green Green Light green
Septum Cream - Cream
Ligule Pale white - White
Auricle Pale green Colourless -
Panicle Medium compact Long, heavy & Moderately long,
Compact Intermediate type,
drooping
Husk colour - - -
Abdominal white Absent Absent Very occassionally
present
Grain size(mm)
Length 9.38 6.6 5.46
Breadth 2.18 2.1 1.94
Thickness 1.46 1.7 1.63
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Rice
PARTICULARS TKM 11 ADTRH 1 CORH 2
Parentage C22/BJ1 IR 58025/IR 66 R IR 58025/C 20R
Duration(Days) 110 - 120 115 125
1000 grain wt(g) 21.4 23.8 23.77
Grain type Long slender Long slender Medium
Habit Erect Semi dwarf, erect Semi dwarf
Septum Cream Cream Cream
Ligule Colourless White White
Auricle Light green - Absent
Panicle Long, compact Long Compact
drooping
Husk colour - - Straw
Rice colour White White milky, scented White
Abdominal white - Very occasionally present Occasionally present
Grain size(mm)
Length 9.3 6.96 6.11
Breadth 2.3 2.01 2.33
Thickness 1.6 1.72 1.86
III. RICE SEASONS OF TAMIL NADU
Month of Season Duration of Districts
sowing the varieties
Dec - Jan Navarai Below 120 days Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur,
Karur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Madurai,
Theni, Salem, Namakkal, Dindigul, Dharmapuri,
Coimbatore,Erode and Pudukkottai.
April - May Sornavari Below 120 days Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore, Villupuram
April - May Early Kar Below 120 days Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Erode
May - June Kar (Thadapalli, Arakankottai), Coimbatore, Madurai,
Theni, Dindigul, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri.
June - July Kuruvai Below 120 days Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur,
Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Erode
July - Aug. Early Samba 130 to 135 days Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Salem, Namakkal, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Madurai,
Theni, Ramanathapuram, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore,
Erode, Pudukkottai, The Nilgiris
August Samba 130 to 135 and All districts
above 150 days
Sep - Oct Late Samba 130 - 135 days Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Madurai, Theni,
Thaladi/Pishanam Coimbatore, Erode
Nov to Oct Late Thaladi 115 - 120 days Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur,
130 - 135 days Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Kanyakumari
Late Pishanam Tirunelveli , Thoothukudi
Note of Caution of the varieties: TKM9 - It is susceptible to blast when sown in Navarai (When
exposed to cold weather at any stage of the crop)IR 50 Recommended for Kar, Sornavari and
Kuruvai seasons. It should not be grown during cold weather period.
11
IV. SEED RATE
Adopt a seed rate of 60 kg for short duration, 40 kg for medium duration and 30 kg for long
duration varieties per hectare.
V. NURSERY PRACTICES
1. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH NUTRIENTS
i) Soak the seeds in water for 10 hrs. and drain excess water.
ii) If the seeds are required for sowing immediately, keep the soaked seed in gunny in dark and
cover with extra gunnies and leave for 24 hrs. for sprouting.
iii) To induce tolerance under short and prolonged drought situation in Kharif season in Periyar-
Vaigai Command, a combination of seed treatment with 1% KCl + CCC at 500 ppm with
foliar application at vegetative stage is effective in mitigating the drought and in increasing
the yield.
2. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS
a) Dry seed treatment
i) Mix any one of the following fungicides at 2 g/kg of seeds.
Thiram, Captan, Carboxin or Carbendazim.
ii) Treat the seeds atleast 24 hours prior to soaking for sprouting. The treated seeds can be
stored for 30 days without any loss in viability.
b) Wet seed treatment
i) Treat the seeds in Carbendazim or Pyroquilon or Tricyclozole solution at 2 g/lit of water for
1 kg of seed.
ii) Soak the seeds in the solution for 2 hrs.
iii) Drain the solution, sprout the seeds and sow in the nursery bed.
iv) This wet seed treatment gives protection to the seedlings upto 40 days from seedling disease
such as blast and this method is better than dry seed treatment.
c) Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens
Treat the seeds with talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10g/kg of seed and
soak in 1lit of water for over night. Decant the excess water and allow to sprout the seeds for 24 h
and then sow.
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.
Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents can be mixed together for seed soaking.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
3. SELECTION OF SUITABLE NURSERY AREA

Select 20 cents (800 m2) of land near the water source for raising seedlings per hectare.
4. APPLICATION OF ORGANIC MANURE TO THE NURSERY
Apply 1000 kg of FYM or compost to 20 cents nursery and spread the manure uniformly on dry,
unprepared soil.
5. PREPARATION OF NURSERY FOR SOWING
Flood the nursery area one or two days before ploughing and allow the water to soak in. Keep the
soil under shallow submergence. Before ploughing, allow water to a depth of 2.5 cm. Plough and bring
it to a puddled condition.
Broad cast VAM fungi (Glomus intraradices) in the nursery at the rate of 50 g/m2 (for 8 cent
nursery 0.6 kg mixed with sand 1:1 ratio) to mobilise the phosphorous. (Mix with equal quantity of
sand)
6. APPLICATION OF DI-AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE (DAP) TO THE NURSERY
i) Before the last puddling, apply 40 kg of DAP and if not readily available, apply straight
fertilizers 16 kg of urea and 120 kg of super phosphate. Basal application of DAP is
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Rice
recommended when the seedlings are to be pulled out in 20-25 days after sowing. If seedlings
are to be pulled out after 25 days, application of DAP is to be done 10 days prior to pulling
out.
ii) Clayey soils, where root snapping is a problem, DAP has to be applied at 1 kg/cent 10 days
after sowing.
7. APPLICATION OF PHOSPHORUS TO THE NURSERY HAS THE FOLLOWING
ADVANTAGES
i) Seedlings absorb and store phosphorus and utilise it even in later stages of crop growth.
ii) If 30% of phosphorus recommended as per soil test is applied to main field, besides nursery
application, higher yield can be realised.
iii) Application of phosphorus to nursery is very economical.
8. FORMING SEED BEDS
i) Mark out plots, 2.5 metres broad with channels 30 cm wide in between.
ii) Collect the mud from the channel and spread on the seed beds or drag a heavy stone along
the channel to lower it, so that the seed bed is at a higher level.
iii) Level the surface of the seed bed, so that the water drains into the channel.
9. SEED TREATMENT WITH Azospirillum
i) Three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum AZ204 M culture are to be mixed with sufficient
water wherein the seeds are soaked overnight before sowing in the nursery bed (The bacterial
suspension after decanting may be poured over the nursery area itself).
ii) Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens for the management of rice blast: Three
packets (600 g/ha) of Pseudomonas fluorescens peat culture should be added in water
wherein the seeds are soaked overnight before sowing in the nursery bed. P.fluorescens
can be mixed with Azospirillum AZ204 M culture as it is not inhibitory to Azospirillum.
10. SOWING
Having a thin film of water in the nursery, sow the sprouted seeds uniformly on the seed bed.
11. WATER MANAGEMENT

i) Drain the water 18 to 24 hours after sowing and if there are pockets where water is stagnating,
drain it into the channel (Germination will be affected in place where there is water stagnation).
ii) Allow enough water to saturate the soil from the 3rd to 5th day.
iii) From the 5th day onwards, increase the quantity of water to a depth of 1.5 cm depending on
the height of the seedlings.
iv) Afterwards, maintain 2.5 cm depth of water.
12. WEED MANAGEMENT
Apply any one of the pre-emergence herbicides viz., Butachlor 2 l/ha, Thiobencarb 2 l/ha,
Pendimethalin 2.5 l/ha, Anilophos 1.25 l/ha on 8th day after sowing to control weeds in the lowland
nursery. Keep a thin film of water and allow it to disappear. Avoid drainage of water. This will control
germinating weeds.
13. PEST MANAGEMENT

Nursery
An area of 800 sq.m. (20 cents) nursery is required for planting one ha of main field. Forty litres
of spray is necessary for spraying the nursery area.
i) Army worm: Drain water from the nursery and spray chlorpyriphos 20 EC 80 ml or Endosulfan
35 EC 80 ml during late evening.
ii) Thrips:
Sampling: Pass a wet table tennis bat (painted with white paint) over the foliage in 12
places in the nursery. If thrips population exceeds 60 numbers in 12 passes or if rolling
13
of 1/2 area of first and 2nd leaves in 10% of seedlings is noticed, apply one of the following
insecticides.
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 25 ml (or) Monocrotophos 36 WSC 40 ml (or) Endosulfan 35 EC
80 ml
iii) Green leaf hopper
Sampling: Take 25 net sweepings in the nursery area. If the population exceeds 60 for 25
sweepings or 20/M2 by actual counting, spray any one of the following insecticides.
Fenitrothion 50 EC - 80 ml Phosphamidon 85 WSC - 25 ml
Fenthion 100 EC - 40 ml Quinalphos 25 EC - 80 ml
Phosalone 35 EC - 120 ml Endosulfan 35 EC - 80 ml
Monocrotophos 36 WSC - 40 ml (or)
maintain 2.5 cm of water in the nursery and broadcast anyone of the following: Carbofuran 3
G 3.5 kg, Phorate 10 G 1.0 kg, Quinalphos 5 G 2.0 kg.
iv) Caseworm: Mix 250 ml of kerosene to the standing water, dislodge the cases by passing a
rope and drain water, collect the cases and destroy and spray Monocrotophos 36 WSC 40
ml or Quinalphos 25 EC 80 ml.
v) White tip nematode: Presoaking overnight and sun drying for 12 hours at 6 hrs/day for two
days, two or three days prior to sowing to denematize the seeds.
vi) Rice-root nematode: Application of carbofuran 3G at 3.5 kg/20 cent nursery.
14. DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Blast/Brown spot:
If dry seed treatment alone is done, spray the nursery with any one of the following fungicides on
observing the initial infection of blast or brown spot in the nursery along with insecticides: Carbendazim
40 g; Copper oxychloride 100 g; Mancozeb 80 g; Edifenphos 40 ml for blast and any one of the above
fungicide except Carbendazim for Brown spot.
Spray the nursery with any one of the following fungicides on observing initial symptom of diseases
such as blast or brown spot in the nursery along with insecticides if necessary. Edifenphos 50 EC 25
ml, Carbendazim 50 W - 25 g. for 8 cents nursery.
Tungro disease
Apply Carbofuran 3 G at the rate of 3.5 kg ten days after sowing or spray two rounds (10 and 20
days after sowing) with any one of the following insecticides: Monocrotophos 36 WSC 40 ml,
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 40 ml, Fenthion 100 EC 40 ml for 20 cents nursery.
Blast:
Seed treatment with Carboxin or Carbendazim 4 g/kg of seed and spraying of Edifenphos at 1%,
immediately on noticing blast (or) The spray formulation (500 g) of Pseudomonas fluorescens may be
dissolved in 500 litres of water and used for one ha.
Biological control :
Stagnate water to a depth of 2.5cm over an area of 25m2 in the main field. Sprinkle 2.5kg of the
talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and mix with stagnated water. The seedlings
pulled out from the nursery are to be soaked for 30 min in the stagnated water and then transplanted.
15. TOP DRESSING WITH FERTILISERS
If seedlings show symptoms of nitrogen deficiency and if growth is not satisfactory, apply urea at
500 g/cent of nursery, 7-10 days prior to pulling. If DAP is applied 10 days prior to pulling, urea
application is not necessary.
16. AGE OF SEEDLINGS

The normal age of the seedlings is 18-22 days for short, 25-30 days for medium and 35-40 days
for long duration varieties.
14
Rice
17.PULLING OUT THE SEEDLINGS
i) Pull out the seedlings at the appropriate time.
ii) If too much mud is found sticking to the roots, do not strike against a rod or any other hard
object as this injures the seedlings.
iii) Tie the seedlings into convenient bundles of 5 to 8 cm diameter with soft materials such as
banana twine and keep the root portion submerged in water.
iv) Do not allow the seedlings to dry.
VI.MAIN FIELD PREPARATION
Wet rice requires a well puddled soil. Proper puddling helps in the following ways:
i) The fine clay particles in the soil disperse and help in preventing loss of water by seepage
and through percolation.
ii) It destroys the weeds.
iii) Eggs and larvae of pests in the soil are destroyed.
iv) Organic matter gets rapidly decomposed.
1. PREPARATION OF FIELD
i) Plough the land during summer to economise the water requirement for initial preparation of
land.
ii) Flood the field one or two days before ploughing and allow water to soak in. Keep the
surface of the field covered with water.
iii) Before ploughing allow water to a depth of 2.5 cm.
iv) Compaction technology
a) For fluffy paddy soils: Compact the fluffy paddy soils by passing 400 kg stone roller or
oil drum with stones inside, eight times at proper moisture level (Moisture level at
friable condition of soil which is approximately 13 to18%) once in three years, to prevent
the sinking of draught animals and labourers during puddling.
b) Sodic soils: For sodic soils with pH values of more than 8.5, plough at optimum moisture
regime, apply gypsum at 50% gypsum requirement uniformly, impound water, provide
drainage for leaching out soluble salts and apply green leaf manure at 5 t/ha, 10 to 15
days before transplantation.
Mix 37.5 kg of Zinc sulphate per ha with sand to make a total quantity of 75 kg and
spread the mixture uniformly on the levelled field. Do not incorporate the mixture in the
soil. Paddy under sodic soil responds well to these practices.
c) Saline soils: For saline soils with EC values of more than 4 m.mhos/cm, provide lateral
and main drainage channels (60 cm deep and 45 cm wide), apply green leaf manure at
5 t/ha at 10 to 15 days before transplanting and 25% extra dose of nitrogen in addition
to recommended P and K and ZnSo4 at 25 kg/ha at planting.
2. APPLICATION OF ORGANIC MANURES
i) Apply 12.5 tonnes of FYM or compost per ha.
ii) Spread the manure evenly on the dry soil before letting in water as spreading organic manure
over dry soil helps in even distribution of the manure.
iii) If FYM or compost is not applied, apply green manure at 6.25 t/ha. Compute the quantity or
green manure as follows:
a) Cut one square metre of green manure crop and weigh. Compute the quantity of green
matter using the formula: Production per acre yield per M2 in kg x 4000 or
b) In the absence of a balance, compute on the basis of head load - one head load weighs
about 20 kg.
15
c) The yield of green matter may be taken on hectare basis directly; the yield from one
hectare of pure crop of green manure is Daincha 10,000 to 15,000 kg; Sunnhemp 8000
to 12,000 kg; Kolingi 5000 to 7500 kg; Sesbania 6000 kg.
3. INCORPORATION OF GREEN MANURE
Sesbania rostrata: Grow the of stem nodulating Sesbania rostrata in the month of March-April.
Adopt a seed rate of 50-60 kg/ha before sowing. Treat the seeds with rhizobial culture. Cut the crop
at 45th to 60th day to have maximum green matter (25 to 30 t/ha). Resort to spraying of rhizobial
culture on the 15th day if the seed treatment is not done.
Application of 10 kg N/ha as urea at the time of first puddling incorporating the stubbles of
previous crop (10 days prior to planting of subsequent crop) is suggested for kullan kar area of
Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur district.
i) If the green manure crop is raised in the field itself and if the yield is estimated at about 6
tonnes per ha. plough in the green manure crop directly into the soil using a mould board or
country plough or tractor.
ii) Maintain 2.5 cm depth of water in the field.
iii) Plough the field and incorporate the green matter to a depth of 15 cm using Burmese Setturn.
iv) If the green manure is brought from outside for application, plough the field twice with mould
board plough or thrice with country plough maintaining 2.5 cm depth of water in the field.
vii) Spread the green manure evenly on the puddled field. The cut plants should be laid parallel to
each other in the same direction to facilitate easy incorporation.
4. APPLICATION OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIC FERTILIZERS
i) If di-ammonium phosphate is applied to the nursery, apply 30% of the recommended dosage
of P2O5 over and above the di-ammonium phosphate application to the nursery.
ii) When straight fertilisers are applied, mix the phosphate and potassic fertilisers by the
quartering method.
iii) When green manure is applied, mix the phosphate and potassic fertilisers by the quartering
method. In the place of green manure pressmud, composted coirpith can also be used.
iv) When the green manure is applied, rock phosphate can be used as a cheap source of
Phosphorus. It will also hasten decomposition of stubbles in the second crop.
v) In case of in-situ ploughing of green manure plants into the field, apply the fertilisers on the
green manure plants prior to ploughing. Apply in the early morning, so that the fertiliser may
stick on the moist leaves.
vi) In case green manure is brought from outside and applied, spread the green manure first on
the ploughed field and then apply the fertilisers over the green matter and then incorporate.
vii) Apply 50 kg P2O5/ha as rock phosphate plus 10 tonnes of green manure. If rock phosphate
is applied, the succeeding rice crop need not be supplied with phosphorus. Application of
rock phosphate + single super phosphate/DAP mixed in different proportion (75:25 or 50:50)
is equally effective as SSP/DAP alone. Application of phosphate fertilisers with green manure
has the following advantages
a) The organic acids produced during the decomposing process dissolve the phosphates
and make them easily available to the crop.
b) Potash application along with green manure has no special advantage. But application
of fertilisers simultaneously saves labour and is therefore more economical.
16
Rice
c) Do not apply nitrogenous fertilisers at this time as loss of nitrogen will be inevitable, if
the puddle dries out. However, if a sheet of water is maintained over the puddle, there
is no loss of nitrogen.
d) Broadcast Phosphobacteria 10 packets mixed with sand or soil, with 75% of
recommended inorgonic P for both Kuruvai and Thaladi seasons.
e) Split application of N and K for hybrid rice (CORH 1). Apply N and K @ 150 - 50 kg/ha
as four splits viz., basal tillering, panicle initiation and heading for light textured soil
while for heavy textured soils apply in two splits viz., basal and tillering.
f) Foliar application of DAP: Apply DAP 2% solution as foliar spray to the seed crop at
65th and 80th DAS.
5. WATER MANAGEMENT
i) Plough the field after water has soaked in and allow water to a depth of 2.5 cm, plough the
land once with mould board plough or twice with country plough or work tractor with cage
wheel once with sufficient water. Follow it with working puddler or Burmese setturn to level
the field.
ii) Summer ploughing tends to minimise water requirement for land preparation.
iii) Maintain 2.5 cm of water over the puddle and allow the green manure to rot inside the puddle
for a minimum of 7 days in the case of softer plants like sunnhemp and 15 days for green
manure plants which are more fibrous.
iv) Ploughing with tractor cagewheel reduces percolation losses and saves 20% of water
requirement.
6. DIGGING CORNERS AND MAINTENANCE OF BUNDS
i) Dig the corners of field which are not covered by ploughing.
ii) Cut off 2.5 cm of soil from the top and sides of the bunds to remove the weeds along with
their seeds and to destroy the eggs of insect pests by using mammutty.
iii) If the bunds are very broad, trim them to a width of 15 cm and height of 15 cm so that rats do
not harbour in the bunds.
iv) If rat burrows are noticed, insert pellets of 0.5 g or 0.6 g Aluminium phosphide and plug the
exit holes.
v) Apply mud paste to the sides and top of the bund to a thickness of 2.5 cm with a mammutty
and plaster it using the flat surface of the mammuty. Plastering the bunds helps in checking
weed growth and prevents harbouring of insect pests.
7. FIELD PREPARATION
i) If only FYM or compost is added, plough the field after water has soaked in and let in water
to a depth of 2.5 cm. Plough the land once with a mould board plough or twice with a
country plough or work a tractor with cage wheel once followed by working puddler or Burmese
setturn.
ii) Drain the excess water and have only a thin film of water.
iii) Level the field by using a levelling board.
iv) As far as possible, apply fertilizers as per soil test recommendations. If soil test
recommendation is not followed, adopt blanket recommendation as follows:
N P2O5 K2O
Short duration varieties 120 38 38 kg/ha
Medium and long duration varieties 150 50 50 kg/ha
Although a blanket recommendation is given for the short, medium and long duration varieties the
need for giving specific recommendations for different tracts for obtaining the maximum yield has been
well recognised.
For this purpose, the various recommendations of the soil testing laboratories made in the
districts in the past for the different tracts have to be critically analysed with the help of the chemists
17
incharge of Soil Testing Laboratories as well as the Scientists of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
available in the districts and the same have to be discussed in the monthly zonal workshops prior to
the season and suitable recommendations for the different tracts in the districts have to be made for
adoption.
v) Ammonium chloride application to rice as a source of N on equal nitrogen basis is comparable
to urea.
vi) If nursery is already manured with di-ammonium phosphate, full dose of P2O5 need not be
applied. Apply only one third of the recommended dose for higher yield.
vii) Apply 50 per cent of the total N along with P2O5 and K2O basally at the last ploughing,
keeping a thin film of water. Apply 50% of the K2O with P2O5 basally at the last ploughing
keeping a thin film of water.
viii) If green manure is applied, wherein the P2O5 and K2O are applied earlier, plough the field
once with mould board plough or twice with a country plough or work a tractor with cage
wheel once followed by a puddler or Burmese setturn after the green manure has rotten.
ix. Apply 50% of N basally during last ploughing. In light soils, apply 25% N basally.
x. Apply rock phosphate to supply 50 kg P2O5 along with green leaf or rice stubbles for thaladi.
xi. Basal application of N can be skipped if green manure is incorporated. Under this situation,
apply N as top dressing in 3 splits at 10 days interval between 15 and 45 days after transplanting
for short and medium duration rice varieties.
xii. For Kuruvai rice, whenever green manure is applied (6.25 t/ha), the recommended N can be
applied as split of 1/6th N at 7 DAT, 1/3rd at 21 DAT, 1/3rd at PI and 1/6th N at first flowering.
8. BIOFERTILISERS:
When bio-fertilisers are used by seed, seedlings and main field apply only 75% of N recommended
for the area by the Soil Testing Laboratory. For lowland rice under Dindigul/Theni condition Azospirillum
strain IPI responds well.
9. APPLICATION OF ZINC SULPHATE

i) Mix 25 kg of zinc sulphate and sand to make a total quantity of 75 kg and
ii) Spread the ZnSO4 - sand mixture uniformly on the levelled field. Do not incorporate in the
soil as there will be Zn-phosphate interaction.
iii) When green manure (6.25 t/ha) is applied, it is enough to apply 12.5 kg ZnSO4/ha.
Correction of zinc deficiency: Basal application of ZnSO4 at 25 kg/ha or 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray
on 30, 40 and 50 days after planting for medium and long duration varieties and 20, 30 and 40 days
after planting for short duration varieties.
10. DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

i) Nitrogen deficiency: Plants become stunted and yellow in appearance first on lower leaves.
In case of severe deficiency the leaves will turn brown and die. Deficiency symptoms first
appear at the leaf-tip and progress along the midrib until the entire leaf is dead.
ii) Potassium deficiency: Bluish green leaves - when young, older leaves irregular. Chlorotic
and necrotic areas - grain formation is poor - weakening of the straw which results in lodging.
iii) Magnesium deficiency: Leaves are chlorotic with white tips.
iv) Iron toxicity: Brown spots on the lower leaves starting from tips and proceeding to the leaf
base and turns into green or orange purple leaves and spreading to the next above leaves.
v) Zinc deficiency: Lower leaves have chlorotic particularly towards the base. A deficient plant
give a brown rusty appearance.
18
Rice
11. APPLICATION OF LIME
Apply lime to acid soils based on the soil analysis for obtaining normal rice yields. Apply 2.5
tonnes of lime per ha before last ploughing. Apply lime at this rate to each crop upto the 5th crop.
12. NEEM TREATED UREA AND COALTAR TREATED UREA

Blend the urea with crushed neem seed or neem cake 20% by weight. Powder neem cake to
pass through 2 mm sieve before mixing with urea. Keep it overnight before use (or) urea can be mixed
with gypsum in 1:3 ratio, or urea can be mixed with gypsum and neem cake at 5:4:1 ratio to increase
the nitrogen use efficiency. For treating 100 kg urea, take one kg coal tar and 1.5 litres of kerosene.
Melt coaltar over a low flame and dissolve it in kerosene. Mix urea with the solution thoroughly in a
plastic container, using a stick. Allow it to dry in shade on a polythene sheet. This can be stored for
a month and applied basally.
13. BASAL APPLICATION OF GYPSUM

Gypsum at 500 kg/ha applied basally with NPK in the main field in non-calcareous heavy soils.
VII. TRANSPLANTING
1. ROOT DIPPING
If rice-root nematode is a problem, dip the seedlings roots in phosphamidon 0.02% solution for 20
minutes prior to planting.
2. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS IN THE MAIN FIELD

Plant the seedlings at the correct age and at optimum spacing. When super seedlings are used,
transplant 20-25 days after sowing in the 4th leaf stage for short and medium duration varieties. In
case of seedlings other than super seedlings, transplant at 4th or 5th leaf stage.
Medium and low fertility High fertility

DURATION
Short Medium Long Short Medium Long
No.of seedlings per hill 2-3 2 2 2-3 2 2
Depth of planting (cm) 3 3 3 3 3 3
Spacing (cm) 12.5x10 20x10 20x15 20x10 20x15 20x20
No.of hills/M2 80 50 33 50 33 25
Note: Give closer spacing (80 hills/M2) in case of light soils. Use transplanting rod to ensure adequate
population.
VIII. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS
1. WATER MANAGEMENT
At the time of transplanting, a shallow depth of 2 cm of water is adequate since high depth of
water will lead to deep transplanting resulting in reduction in tillering. Upto seven days of transplanting,
maintain 2 cm of water. During this period, establishment of seedlings take place. That is, the
depletion should be recouped as and when it occurs. After the establishment stage, cyclic submergence
(as in table) of water is the best practice for rice crop. This cyclic 5 cm submergence has to be
continued throughout the crop period.
Days after disappearance of ponded water at which irrigation is to be given
SOIL TYPE SUMMER WINTER

Loamy 1 day 3 days
Clay Just before/immediately after disappearance 1 - 2 days
Moisture stress due to inadequate water at rooting and tillering stage causes poor root growth
leading to reduction in tillering, poor stand and low yield.
19
Critical stages of water requirement in rice are a) primordial initiation, b) booting, c) heading and
d) flowering. During these stages, the irrigation interval should not exceed the stipulated time so as to
cause the depletion of moisture below the saturation level. At booting stage, excess water, due to
rainfall and canal supply to more than 5 cm inundation, leads to delay in heading and reduction in the
growth of panicles. Provide adequate drainage facilities to drain excess water. Stop irrigation 15 days
ahead of harvest.
CONTINGENT PLAN
In command areas, anticipating the release of water, rice crop can be raised under semi-dry
condition upto the maximum of 45 days. Weed control should be attended to carefully. Therefore,
convert the crop to wet condition on receipt of water. This saves 30 - 40 per cent of water.
Spray Cycocel @ 1000 ppm (1 ml of commercial product in one lit. of water) under water deficit
situations to mitigate ill-effects.
Split application of potassium 50% at basal and 25% each at tillering and panicle initiation stages
along with Azospirillum (Seed inoculation, seedling dipping or soil application) alleviates harmful effects
of the soil moisture deficiency. Foliar spray of Kaolin 3% or KCl 1% to overcome moisture stress at
different physiological stages of rice.
For delayed water release in LBP area, irrigating rice to 5 cm depth three days after disappearance
of pounded water and growing ADT 38 rice can be resorted to if the release of water is delayed upto
September.
PRECAUTIONS FOR IRRIGATION
a) The field plot can be 25 to 50 cents depending on the source of irrigation.
b) Field to field irrigation should be avoided and they should be irrigated individually from a
channel.
c) Small bund may be formed parallel to the main bund of the field at a distance of 30 to 45 cm
within the field to avoid leakages of water through main bund crevices.
d) To minimise percolation loss, the depth of stagnated water should be 5 cm or less.
e) In water logged condition, open channel drains, about 2 feet in depth and one and half feet
width, may be formed in the field across.
f) Care should be taken not to allow development of cracks.
g) In canal command area, conjunctive use of surface and ground water may be resorted to for
judicious use of canal water and to guard against water logging.
In double cropped wetland of Periyar-Vaigai command area, raise groundnut in the place of Kharif
rice if water is a constraint.
2. WEED MANAGEMENT - PRE-EMERGENCE

Transplanted rice:
a) Use Butachlor 2.5 l/ha or Thiobencarb 2.5 l/ha or Fluchloralin 1 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3 l/ha
or Anilophos 1.25 l/ha as pre-emergence application. Alternately, pre-emergence application
of herbicide mixture viz., Thiobencarb 1.2 l+2,4 DEE 1.5 l/ha, Butachlor 1.2 l + 2,4 DEE 1.5
l/ha, Fluchloralin 1.0 l + 2,4 DEE 1.5 l/ha or Pendimethalin 1.5 l + 2,4 DEE 1.5 l/ha or
Anilophos + 2, 4 DEE ready mix at 1.25 l/ha followed by one hand weeding on 30 - 35 days
after transplanting will have a broad spectrum of weed control in transplanted rice.
b) Any herbicide has to be mixed with 50 kg of sand on the day of application (3 - 4 days after
transplanting) and applied uniformly to the field in 2.5 cm depth of water on the 10th day after
planting. Water should not be drained for 2 days from the field (or) fresh irrigation should not
be given.
c) Wherever there is possibility of heavy weed infestation, herbicides can also be applied with
neem coated urea which could serve as carrier, three to four days after transplanting instead
basal application of N at last puddling.
20
Rice
3. WEED MANAGEMENT - POST-EMERGENCE
If herbicides are not used as pre-emergence, hand weed on 15th day after transplanting. 2,4-D
sodium salt (Fernoxone 80% WP) 1250 g dissolved in 625 1/ha of water is sprayed with a high volume
sprayer, three weeks after transplanting or when the weeds are in 3 - 4 leaf stage.
4. GAP FILLING
Fill up the gaps between 7th and 10th day after transplanting.
5. APPLICATION OF BIOFERTILISERS
a) Azolla as a bio-fertilizer for rice has been found to be effective. It is also able to reduce the
nitrogen bill upto 25 to 30 kg/ha. It is raised as a dual crop by inoculating 250 kg/ha 3 to 5
days after weeding and then three weeks thereafter will add 20/30 kg N/ha.
b) Powder 10 kg of soil based blue green algae flakes. Broadcast the powdered algae flakes
10 days after tranplanting. Maintain a thin film of water in the field.
c) Prepare the slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum inoculant in 40 lit. of water and
dip the root portion of the seedlings for 15 - 30 minutes in bacterial suspension and transplant.
d) Mix 10 packets (2000 g)/ha of Azospirillum inoculant with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil and
broadcast the mixture uniformly in the main field before transplanting.
Note: Blue green algae multiplies well from March to September and can be used for any variety
raised during this period provided there is adequate water supply. Care should be taken that
green algae is not multiplied.
6. PEST MANAGEMENT
i) Remove/destroy stubbles after harvest
ii) Trim field bunds
iii) Provide effective drainage if required
iv) Avoid use of excessive ‘N’ fertilizers.
v) Avoid close planting, especially in BPH and leaf folder prone areas/seasons.
vi) Leave 30 cm space at every 2.5 M
vii) Use irrigation water judiciously
viii)Keep the fields free from weeds
ix) Use light traps to monitor pest incidence
x) Remove egg masses of stemborer
xi) In BPH prone areas/seasons, avoid use of synthetic pyrethroids, Methyl parathion and
Quinalphos and use recommended chemical at recommended doses.
xii) Use insecticides based on ETLs.
PESTS E.T. LEVELS
Stemborer 2 egg masses/M2 or 10% dead hearts
Gall midge 10% silver shoots
Whorl maggot 25% damaged leaves
Green leaf hopper 60/25 net Sweeping or 5/hill at vegetative stage or 10/hill at
flowering or 2/hill in tungro endemic area
Spray any one of the following/ha. Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml, Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml, Fenitrothion
50 EC 1000 ml, Phosalone 35 EC 1500 ml, Quinalphos 25 EC 1000 ml, Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300
ml.
THRIPS: ETL as in the nursery. Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml, Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500
ml, Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml.
i) Stem borer and leaf folder
Release of Trichogramma japonicum on 30 and 37 DAT (twice) and T.chilonis on 37, 44 and
51 DAT (thrice) followed by three sprays of Monocrotophos 1000 ml/ha on 58, 65 and 72 DAT also
reduce the damage. The sprayings are based on ETL. Release of Trichogramma japonicum
21
against stem borer is effective at 5 ml/ha/release at weekly intervals. Release of T.chilonis against leaf
folder is effective at 5 ml/ha/release at weekly intervals.
ii) Gall midge
Release of Platygaster oryzae parasitised galls @ 1 per 10 M2 in the main field 10 days after
transplanting gives effective control.
iii) Brown Plant Hopper
i) Avoid excessive use of nitrogen
ii) Control irrigation by intermittent draining
iii) Drain the water before use of insecticides and direct the spray towards the base of the
plants. Apply any one of the following insecticides if BPH is present at the rate of 1 hopper/
tiller in the absence of wolf spider and 2 hoppers per tiller when wolf spider at 1/hill.
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 500 ml; Monocrotophos 36 EC 1250 ml; Phosalone 35 EC 1500
ml; Carbaryl 10% dust 25 kg/ha; Methyl demeton 25 EC 1000 ml/ha; Acephate 75 SP 625
gm/ha; Chlorpyriphos 1250 ml/ha; Carbofuran 3 G, 17.5 kg/ha; Dichlorvos 76 WSC 350 ml/
ha; Neem seed kernel extract 5% 25 kg; Neem oil 3% 15 lit; Iluppai oil 6% 30 lit.
iv) Set up light traps or yellow pan traps during day time.
iv) WBPH
Spray Phosphamidon 500 ml/ha for effective control of WBPH.
v) Leaf folder
When 10% leaves are damaged in the vegetative phase and 5.0% of flag leaf damage is noticed
at flowering, spray any one of the following:
Fenitrothion 50 EC 1000 ml Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 1000 ml Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml
Phosalone 35 EC 1500 ml Carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg
Quinalphos 25 EC 1000 ml Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 250 ml Neem seed kernel extract 5% 25kg
vi) Stem borer
If 2% white ears at initial flowering are noticed apply any one of the insecticides suggested for
stem borer (dead heart) control in the vegetative stage.
vii) Mealy bug
Spray any one of the following in the initial stage of infestation. Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml;
Fenitrothion 50 EC 1000 ml; Phosalone 35 EC 1500 ml; Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml.
viii) Black bug
Spray Monocrotophos @1000 ml/ha or acephate @625 g/ha or NSKE 5% for effective control of
black bug.
ix) Earhead bug
When present at the rate of 5 bugs/100 earheads at flowering and 16 bugs/100 earheads at milky
stage to grain maturity, dust any one of the following at 25 kg/ha twice, the first during flowering and
second a week later:
Quinalphos 1.5% D Carbaryl 10% D
Fenitrothion 2% D Malathion 5% D (OR)
Spray any one of the following twice as above:
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml/ha Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml/ha
Fenitrothion 50 EC 1000 ml/ha Malathion 50 EC 500 ml/ha
Botanical powder formulations viz., NSK, Notchi leaf powder extract, Ipomoea leaf powder and
Prosopis leaf powder are effective in reducing the earhead bug population.
22
Rice
x) Termite
Apply chopped paddy straw treated with Quinalphos 1.5D @ 50 kg/ha to reduce the harvester
termite (Anacanthoterimus viarum) damage.
xi) Rice-root nematode
Apply Carbofuran 3G 16.25 kg in 2 cm standing water. Treat Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10
and 20 g/kg of seed to protect against rice root nematode.
xii) White tip nematode:
Spray any one of the following:
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml/ha
Spray Monocrotophos 36 WSC at 1 l/ha immediately after the emergence of boot leaf to reduce
the percentage of chaffiness and to check the white tip nematode incidence in rice.
xiii) Rat
Use poison bait at 1 part Zinc phosphide with 49 parts popped corn/rice/dry fish or Warfarin 0.5%
1 part with 19 parts of popped corn/rice/dry fish or Bromodiolone 0.25 w/w (1:49) at 0.005%. Use bait
at one part of Bromodiolone + 49 parts of bait and keep inside the field.
Setting up of owl perches effectively reduces the rat damage.
i) Blast
Chemical: Spray any one of the following fungicides on observing initial infection of the disease.
Edifenphos 500 ml/ha; Carbendazim 250 g/ha; IBP 500 ml/ha. Tricyclozole 75 WP 500 g/ha. Spray
Pseudomonas fluorescens formulations (500 g) dissolved in 500 litres of water and used for one
hectare.
Biological control :
Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens
Treat the seeds with talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10g/kg of seed and
soak in 1lit of water for over night. Decant the excess water and allow to sprout the seeds for 24 h
and then sow.
Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents can be mixed together for seed soaking.
Stagnate water to a depth of 2.5cm over an area of 25m2 in the main field. Sprinkle 2.5kg of the
talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and mix with stagnated water. The seedlings
pulled out from the nursery are to be soaked for 30 min in the stagnated water and then transplanted.
Foliar spray :
Spray the talc based formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 0.2% concentration (1kg/500l/
ha) commencing from 45 days after transplanting at 10 days interval for 3 times depending on disease
severity.
Cultural:
a) Remove collateral weed hosts from bunds and channels
b) Use only disease free seedlings
c) Avoid excess nitrogen
d) Apply N in three split doses (50% basal, 25% in tillering phase and 25% N in panicle
initiation stage)
e) In Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur district samba crop may be planted in September to minimise
losses caused by Brown spot, sheath rot and grain discolourations.
ii) Brown spot
Spray Edifenphos 500 ml/ha or Mancozeb 1000 g/ha when grade reaches 3. If necessary, repeat
15 days later.
23
iii) Sheath rot
Spray Carbendazim 250 g or Edifenphos 500 ml/ha; Mancozeb 1 kg/ha or NSKE (5%) or Neem
oil 3% or Ipomoea leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha) or Prosopis leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha). First
spray at boot leaf stage and second 15 days later. Application of Gypsum @ 500 kg/ha basally is
being adopted. If it is given as two equal splits, once basally and another at active tillering can also
effectively reduce the sheath rot of rice. Neem formulations Neem oil 60 EC(A) and Neem oil 60 EC(C)
developed by TNAU is advocated as foliar spray at 30 ml/l of water twice at 15 days interval starting
from panicle emergence to reduce the sheath rot incidence in rice.
iv) Bacterial leaf blight
Spray Streptomycin sulphate + Tetracycline combination 300 g + Copper oxychloride 1250 g/ha.
spray when grade reaches 3. If necessary repeat 15 days later. Nickel nitrate 0.3% controls this
effectively or foliar spray fresh cowdung extract 20% twice (starting from initial appearance of the
disease and another at fortnightly interval) or spray neem oil 3% and NSKE 5%
v) Sheath blight
Spray Carbendazim 250 g or IBP 500 ml/ha or Edifenphos 500 ml/ha or Carbendazim 200 gm or
Neem oil 15 l/ha as foliar spray. Neem cake at 150 kg/ha followed by foliar spray with Neem oil at 3%
starting from disease appearance reduces sheath blight intensity or Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens
talc based formulation or combined application of P.fluorescens viz., Seed soaking (10g/Kg), root
dipping (1.5 Kg/ha), Soil application at 30 DAT @ 2.5 Kg/ha and foliar spray at boot leaf and 10 days
later @ 1 Kg/ha to effectively control sheath blight.
vi) Grain discolouration
Spray Mancozeb at 1000 g/ha or IBP 500 ml or Carbendazim 250 g/ha at the boot leaf stage.
Spray Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf 1 TNAU formulation) @ 1 kg/ha twice, once at booting and again
15 days after first spraying to reduce the grain discolouration in rice.
Spray Neem formulations Neem oil 60 EC (A) 3% and Neem oil 60EC(C) 3% twice once at
booting and again at 15 days after first spraying to reduce the incidence of grain discolouration in rice.
vii) Tungro
To identify the plants infected by tungro virus, collect leaf samples at 6 a.m. The top 10 cm
portion of the leaf is immersed in a solution containing 2 g of iodine and 6 g of potassium iodide in 100
ml of water for 15 minutes or 10 ml of tincture of iodine + 140 ml of water for one hour. They are then
washed in water and examined. Tungro infected leaves develop dark blue streaks.
viii) RTV Management
To control the green leaf hopper vector in the main field, two rounds of any one of the following
insecticides Monocrotophos 36 WSC (1000 ml/ha), Phosphamidon 85 WSC (500 ml/ha) or Fenthion
100 EC (500 ml/ha) may be sprayed 15 and 30 days after transplanting. The vegetation on the bunds
should also be sprayed with the insecticides.
Light traps are to be set up to attract and control the leaf hopper vectors as well as to monitor the
population. In the early morning, the population of leafhopper alighting near the light trap should be
killed by spraying/dusting the insecticides. This should be practiced every day.
ix) Rice yellow dwarf
Plough the stubbles as soon as the crop is harvested to prevent the survival of yellow dwarf
pathogen during off-season.
x) Compatibility
The compatibility of insecticides Monocrotophos or Phosalone with fungicides Edifenphos or
Mancozeb along with ZnSO4 has been established to have good control of yellow stemborer, rice leaf
folder, brown leaf spot and sheath rot.
xi) The Integrated Pest Management practices to be adopted in rice has been identified as
follows:
24
Rice
1. Use of a resistant variety.
2. Seed treatment with carbendazim
3. Nursery application of Carbofuran 3G 3.5 kg/20 cents at 15 DAS.
4. Split application of N at 50% basal, neem coated urea 25% at tillering and 25% at panicle
initiation stage.
5. Neem based application of fungicides.
6. ETL based application of insecticides.
7. Use of neem seed kernel extract 5% instead of insecticides.
8. Rodent management using Bromodiolone.
Pest control measures for JJ 92
Apply carbofuran 3G @ 3.5 Kg/20 cents nursery followed by spraying edifenphos @ 250 ml/ha on
30 and 45 DAT, Carbendazim 50 WP @ 250 g/ha on 35 DAT under Chengleput condition.
8. TOP DRESSING THE BALANCE QUANTITY OF N

Apply only 25% of the N and K basally to ensure the activation of blue green algae and apply the
balance 75% of the N in three split doses at active tillering, panicle initiation and at heading to maintain
the proportion of 1:1 N and K.
In light textured soils, three top dressings may be done viz., 1/4 at active tillering, 1/4 at panicle
initiation and 1/4 at heading in addition to the 1/4 dose as basal.
9. SPRAYING ZINC SULPHATE

If Zinc sulphate is not applied basally, spray 0.5 per cent Zinc sulphate solution thrice during the
crop growth on 20th, 30th and 40th day of planting for short duration varieties and 30 and 40 and 50th
day for medium and long duration varieties in case of zinc deficiency is noticed.
10. LATE HAND WEEDING

Hand weed a second time, 80 to 85 days after transplanting, if necessary.
Yield maximisation
i) Thamirabarani Tract
Kar season: Adopt plant population of either 80 hills/M2 (15 cm x 8 cm) with NPK at 125:50:50
kg/ha along with other recommended practices. Apply ‘N’ in five equal splits and ‘K’ in two (basal and
panicle initiation) equal splits.
ii) Coimbatore tract
Kar/kuruvai: Apply and incorporate 12.5 t/ha of green manure with NPK at 150:50:50 kg/ha.
Apply N and K in three splits and 50% basal, 25% at tillering, 25% at panicle initiation stage. Adopt
plant population of 80 hills/M2 (12.5 cm x 10 cm) with other recommended practices.
Kharif (Technology package) Irrigate rice to 5 cm depth once in 4 days. Cultivate ADT 38 instead
of IR 20 rice. Apply Zinc sulphate 25 kg/ha and Azospirillum AZ 204 M. Apply Butachlor at 1.25 Kg ai/
ha as Pre emergence application + One hand weeding.
iii) Cauvery Delta Zone
Kuruvai: Adopt plant population of 80 hills/M2 (12.5 x 10 cm) with NPK at 150:50:50 kg/ha with
other recommended practices. Apply N in four equal splits at basal, tillering, panicle initiation and
heading stage and ‘K’ in two equal splits at basal and panicle initiation.
Apply 50 Kg ha-1 of Ferrous sulphate in Kuruvai and Thaladi.
Application of balanced fertilizer for getting higher net income through fertilizer recommendation
obtained through STCR fertilizer prescription equation for targetted yield test verified indicated its
validity.
Application of P as DAP or Super Phosphate or rock phosphate along with phosphobacterium
saved the P fertilizer to the tune of 25%
25
Foliar spraying of 2% DAP at panicle initiation and boot leaf stage mitigates yellowing syndrome.
11. HARVESTING
i) Taking the average duration of the crop as an indication, drain the water from the field 7 to 10
days before the expected harvest date as draining hastens maturity and improves harvesting
conditions.
ii) When 80 per cent of the panicles turn straw colour, the crop is ready for harvest. Even at
this stage, the leaves of some of the varieties may remain green.
iii) Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehull a few grains. If the rice is
clear and firm, it is in a hard dough stage.
iv) When most of the grains at the base of the panicle in the selected tiller are in a hard dough
stage, the crop is ready for harvest. At this stage harvest the crop, thresh and winnow the
grains.
v) Dry the grains to 12% moisture level and store.
vi) Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to
escape monsoon rains.
WET SEEDED RICE
a. Optimum seed rate for wet seeded rice is 80 Kg/ha
b. In wet seeded rice, apply Thiobencarb at 1.25 Kg ai ha-1 or Pretilachlor 0.45 Kg ai ha-1 on 4
DAS/6DAS/8DAS followed by one hand weeding for effective control of weeds.
c. In wet seeded rice, Pre-emergence application of (Pretilachlor + Safener) at 0.3 Kg ai ha-1 on
4 DAS followed by one hand weeding on 40 DAS effectively controls weeds.
Technologies to be adopted for cultivation of rice in salt affected soils.
In addition to the normal package of practices, the following technologies are recommended:
1. Seedlings have to be kept for one more week in the nursery than normal.
2. The dosage of Nitrogen has to be increased by 25%
3. Forty Kg of Zinc sulphate has to be applied per ha before planting.
4. Four seedlings have to be planted per hill.
The following special package of practices are to be adopted for MGR (CORH 1) rice cultivation.
Seed rate :
20 Kg per hectare
Nursery Basal application of DAP at 2 Kg per cent of nursery area (50 g per m2 )
:
Sparse sowing of seeds at one Kg. per cent of nursery area (25 g per m2)
This gives robust seedlings with 1-2 tillers per seedling at the time of
planting. If the soil is heavy, apply 4 Kg. of gypsum per cent of nursery
area, 10 days before pulling of seedlings.
Age of seedling : 20 to 25 days
Spacing : 20 x 10 cm (50 hills/m2) or 25 x 10 cm (40 hills/m2) according to soil
fertility.
Seedling per hill : One with 1-2 tillers.
Other operations are as usual for any other high yielding varieties.
RAINFED RICE
1. DISTRICTS
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga and Kanyakumari.
2. SEASON
June - July to November - December.
26
Rice
i) The field has to be prepared to a very fine tilth, taking advantage of summer rains and early
monsoon showers.
ii) Apply gypsum at one t/ha basally wherever soil crusting and soil hardening problem exist.
4. SOWING
i) Seed rate: 75 to 100 kg dry seed per ha for any recommended variety.
ii) Seed treatment: As adopted for wet paddy.
iii) Broadcast the seeds, cover immediately by harrows or sow by local ‘gorrus’ for line sowing.
5. AFTER CULTIVATION
Thinning and gap filling should be done 10 - 12 days after sowing, taking advantage of the immediate
rain.
6. MANURES AND MANURING

Apply 750 kg of FYM enriched with fertilizer phosphorus basally (P at 25 kg/ha) and N at 50 kg/
ha and K at 25 kg/ha in the two equal splits viz., 20 - 25 and 40 - 45 days after germination.
7. WEEDING
i) First weeding should be done between 15th and 20th day.
ii) Second weeding may be done 45 days after first weeding.
iii) Use Thiobencarb 2.5 1/ha or Pendimethalin 3 l/ha 8 days after sowing if adequate moisture
is available, followed by one hand weeding on 30 to 35 days after sowing.
8. INTERCROPPING
Raise one row of blackgram for every four rows of rice.
9. SPRAYING
Insecticides and fungicides may be need based.
10. HARVESTING
Same as that for wet rice cultivation.
Technologes for Ramnathapuram district
a) Varieties PMK 2 and ASD 17 are more suitable
b) Best time of sowing is between September 15 to October 1st
c) Apply 75% P as enriched FYM + Phosphobacteria to seed and soil
SEED TECHNOLOGY
Upgrading : Upgrade the seeds on weight basis before sowing by density grading
using common salt solution having a specific gravity of 1.13 (1.5 kg
in 10 l potable water) and collect only the heavy seeds that sink at
the bottom and rinse with water.
Seed hardening : Hardening of rice seeds with 1% KCl solution prior to direct seeding
under dry condition has been found useful to obtain normal yield
under Cauvery delta region. For this seeds are to be soaked in 1%
potassium chloride solution (equal volume) for 20 hrs. After soaking,
they are dried to original moisture content.
For breaking dormancy : Seeds may be soaked in 0.18 Con.HNO3 (240 ml in 45 l water) at 1:1
(equal volume) for 12 - 16 hrs. The seeds may then be air dried to
original moisture.
Seed treatment : Treat the seeds with panostine guazatine at 0.2% dissolved in
Dichloromethane or with Cuman 1.0% dissolved in 20% PEG for 12
hr. to kill H. Oryzae internally borne. Air dry the seeds.
27
Root-soak treatment : Prepare the transplants giving root-soak treatment with 100 ml of
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC and 2. 5 kg/lit of urea dissolved in water for 20
minutes.
Spacing : Double row planting with spacing of 15 x 10 cm.
Manuring : N at 100 kg, P2O5 at 50 kg and three levels of K2O at 50, 75 and 100
kg/ha (for all the rice duration groups).
Harvesting : The earheads should be harvested when the seeds have attained
maximum physiological maturity (in 28 and 31 days respectively for
medium and short duration varieties) after the 50 per cent of the
spikelets in the panicle have flowered. At this stage 90% of the
seeds will be straw coloured and associate with moisture content of
20% for short and medium duration varieties and 17% for long duration
varieties.
Threshing : Harvested earheads should be threshed at 16-17 per cent seed
moisture content.
Drying : Dry the seeds to reduce the moisture content to 13 - 14%.
Grading : A sieve size of 1.3 mm x 19 mm oblong perforations for fine seed
varieties and a sieve having 1.5 mm x 19 mm oblong perforations for
medium and less coarse-seed varieties and 1.8 mm x 19 mm for
coarse seeded varieties should be used.
Treating : Treat the seed with Captan or Thiram 75% WDP at 4 g/kg of seed at
13% moisture for open storage and at 9 - 10% for moisture-vapour-
proof storage. Use Captan or thiram to control the infection by
Drechslera oryzae, Sarocladium oryzae and Trichoconis padwickii
upto 8 months in storage without affecting germination and seed
vigour in rice.
Container : a) For short-term carry over use moisture free container like fresh
grade bag or gunny bag.
b) For long term carry over use moisture proof 700 guage polythene
bag or PAFP bags.
Mid storage correction : Seeds from storage can be given with hydration-dehydration treatment
with Disodium phosphate (3.60 g/100 l) to improve the viability and
vigour.
SEED PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY FOR MGR HYBRID RICE (CORH 1)
Particulars Female parent Male parent
1. Duration 115 days 105 days
2. Sowing season May-June, Dec-Jan May-June, Dec-Jan
3. Planting 30 days old Seedling 20 days old Seedling
4. Rows 8 to 10 2
5. Spacing(cm) 15 x 10 or 15x15 15x20x30
6. Seedling per hill One Two
7. Seed rate in the nursery One Kg/cent One Kg/cent
8. Seed rate /ha. 20 Kg 10 Kg.
9. DAP basal in the nursery 2 Kg/cent 2 kg/cent
10. Fertilizer dose NPK-150+50+50 Kg/ha. N and K in three splits.
Application of 200 kg N/ha is recommended for hybrid rice ADTRH 1 and CORH 2.
11. Points to be noted for synchronisation of flowering
Male parent will flower 10-15 days earlier than female parent with short flowering period of 8-10
days. Hence, two sowings of male parent can be taken up on 10th and 15th day after sowing of female
line and make them to flower 2-3 days later than female parent.
28
Rice
Female flowering period is longer (8-12 days) and hence the two peak period of flowering of
parental lines should coincide. To enhance the panicle exertion in female parent spray GA3 (Gibberellic
acid) at 100g/ha in two doses with knapsack sprayer. One at 25% of flowering (50g/ha in 500 litres of
water) and another on the next day (50 g/ha in 500 liters of water). First the GA3 should be dissolved
in alcohol (1g in 50 ml of 75% alcohol) and the dissolved solution can be stored even for weeks under
cool condition (25oC) in brown glass bottles and mixed in water whenever necessary. Spraying in the
morning time is preferable (8 - 10 am) than in the evening (4 - 6 pm). Second spraying should be done
on the next day within 24 hours of the first spraying.
Sowings can be taken either in May-June or December-January. Since, during winter the female
line will prolong its duration for another 10 days. September - October sowings may be avoided.
If male line comes to flowering very early ie. 4-5 days earlier than female parent, remove the early
emerging panicles (Jerking) from the male line and allow to emerge the panicles from side tillers. In
such cases apply one more split nitrogen to male line to prolong its duration and give some more tillers
to flower.
Application of more nitrogen to the field or a spray of 2% urea will delay the flowering and 2% DAP
spray will enhance flowering in both the lines. After the spray of GA3, supplementary pollination with
rope pulling may be done for one week both in the morning (11 to 12 noon) and evening (3-4 pm) three
to four times. Supplementary pollination is not necessary in windy days.
xii. Planting the rows across the wind direction will enhance the pollination and seed set on the
female line.
xiii. By proper management, seed set in female line can be increased to 40-50 per cent.
xiv. Roguing should be done periodically from tillering onwards to remove the off types both in
male and female lines.
xv. During flowering, every day, the pollen shedders, the plants which are having yellow and
plumpy anthers should be removed. Only white, narrow and shrivelled anthered plants to be
allowed in the female population. At maturation, the plants with full seed set (>70%) in
female parent should removed.
xvi. At the time of harvesting the male parents should be harvested first from the field and then
the female parent.
xvii. After harvest the seeds may be cleaned, dried, graded and stored at 12% moisture level.
Commercial cultivation of MGR rice hybrid (CORH 1)
Total Duration : 110 - 115 days
Season : May - June - sowing (Kuruvai)
December - January - sowing (Navarai)
Seed rate : 20 Kg/ha
Nursery area : 20 cents/ha
Sowing the seed : 1 Kg/cent
DAP as basal : 2 Kg/cent
Gypsum -10 days before
pulling out of the seedings : 4 Kg/cent
Farm yard manure : 12.5 tonnes per ha.
Inorganic fertilizers : 150:60:60 Kg NPK Kg/ha.
N P K (Kg/ha)
Basal : 50 60 20
First top dressing at active tillering : 50 - 20
Second top dressing at panicle
initiation stage : 50 - 20
29
Seedling age : 20 - 25 days
Transplanting : one seedling/hill
Spacing-in fertile soil : 25 x 10 cm (40 hills per sq.m)
Spacings-in normal soil : 20 x 10 cm(50 hills per sq.m)
Plant Protection Need based protection
Irrigation & Post harvest technology : Similar to other normal varieties
Note: Fertilizer dose may be increased or decreased according to the fertility of the soil.
Planting ratio for Hybrid rice
A planting ratio of 10:2 (female to male) can be adopted for CORH 1 hybrid seed. For seed
production in Kharif, the male parent may be sown 5 to 10 days than the female parent and in Rabi 10
to 15 days later.
To improve panicle exertion, give a foliar spray of GA3 at 125 g/ha.
Dry dressing of paddy seeds
Dry dressing of paddy seeds at 13% seed moisture with halogen mixture (Pure
CaCl2+CaCO3+arappu leaf powder at (5:4:1 ratio) @ 3g/kg and packed in gunny bag controlls loss of
germination and vigour during storage.
DIRECT SEEDING IN RICE CULTIVATION

l Direct seeding in rice is widely practiced in sandy loam soils of Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur district
and is getting popularised in clay soils of Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur district due to late receipt of
water. Suitable and specific varieties are recommended as follows for specific month of sowing.
Ponmani 160 to 165 days From 1st August to 30th August
Co 43,IR20, ADT 38 125 - 135 days From 1st September to 30th September.
ADT 39, Ponni, White Ponni
ADT 36, ADT 37 105 - 110 days From 1st October to 10th October
TKM 9 and IR 50 should not be sown after 15th July.
l On receipt of showers during the months of May - July repeated ploughings should be carried out
so as to conserve the moisture, destroy the weeds and break the clods.
l Application of FYM/Compost at 5 t/ha is necessary. In addition 62 kg of super phosphate to
supply 10 kg P2O5, 17 kg of MOP to supply 10 kg of K2O and 10 kg of Ferrous sulphate should be
applied in the field and properly incorporated.
l Alternatively, application of 750 kg of FYM enriched with 50 kg P2O5/ha can be applied as basal
dose in clay soils of Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur district.
l For new deltaic area of Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur district, combined application of ZnSO4 at 25 kg/
ha and FeSO4 at 50 kg/ha can be recommended as basal or foliar spray of 1% FeSO4 + 0.5%
ZnSO4 on 15th, 25th and 35th day after planting.
l A seed rate of 80-100 kg/ha should be adopted.
l Seedling throwing method of planting: The seedlings raised in the nursery area meant for the
specified area is thrown into the levelled puddled field. A slight yield reduction is compensated
by less labour consumption.
l Azospirillum inoculant 10 packets (2 kg/ha) mixed with 25 kg of FYM may be broadcasted
uniformly over the field before sowing.
l Seed hardening can be carried out with 1% potassium chloride solution. One kg of KCl in 100
litres of water for 100 kg of seed will be sufficient for treatment.
l The seeds should be soaked for 10 hours and drained. The soaked seeds should be treated with
1% KCl solution for another 10 hours and dried under shade to restore the original moisture
content of the seed.
l Seed treatment with Thiram at 4 grams/kg of seed can be done 24 hours prior to sowing.
30
Rice
l The seeds can be mixed with Azospirillum at 10 pockets per hectare. A little quantity of rice
‘Kanji’ can be added for sticking to the seeds.
l The seeds can be sown behind the country plough or drilled with local implement called ‘Gorru’
and the depth of sowing should be 3 cm and the top soil can be made compact with guntakha.
l Pre-monsoon sowing is advocated so that the germination will be uniform on receipt of soaking
rain.
l If the seeds are sown in moist soils the covering will be difficult in clay soils.
l The same dose of N at 100 - 125 kg/ha recommended for low land rice can be applied for direct
seeding as top dressing. 3 - 4 split doses can be carried out.
l For direct seeded lowland rice, 125 Kg N ha-1 for ADT 36 and 150 Kg N ha-1 for IR 20 is optimum.
Apply this dose as 50% N at 15 DAS, 25% N at AT and 25% N at PI stage.
l The first top dressing should be applied immediately after the receipt of sufficient rain or canal
water.
l Hand weeding, thinning and gap filling should be done before N-fertilizer application.
l Subsequent top dressings in two or three splits should be done before heading.
l Use of herbicide is possible in direct seeding. Thiobencarb/Butachlor at 2.5 lit/ha as pre-emergence
application one day after wetting/soaking can be applied and it should be followed by hand
weeding on 30th day. Sufficient soil moisture should be available for herbicidal use.
l Proper plant protection measures should be carried out.
SEMI DRY RICE

1. DISTRICTS
Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur and
Pudukottai.
2. SEASONS
July - August - Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Kanyakumari
August - Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur, Pudukottai
September - October - Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga
i) On the receipt of showers during the months of May - July, repeated ploughings should be
carried out so as to conserve the moisture, destroy the weeds and break the clods.
ii) Apply FYM/compost at 12.5 t/ha. Application of 750 kg of FYM enriched with 50 kg P2O5/
ha can be applied as basal dose in clay soils of Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur district.
iii) Seed treatment with Thiram at 4 grams/kg of seed can be done 24 hours prior to sowing.
iv) The seeds can be mixed with Azospirillum at 10 pockets (2 kg) per hectare. A little quantity
of rice ‘Kanji’ can be added for sticking to the seeds.
v) Drill sowing with bullock drawn seed drill with 20 cm inter row spacing.
vi) In the event of uncertainity in the release of water as late as 45 days, the following technologies
can be adopted.
a) Seed treatment and foliar application of KCl(1%) + basal application of 25% N + full
dose of P as enriched FYM and Potash.
b) Pre emergence application of pretilachlor 0.3 kg/ha followed by post emergence
application of 2,4-D Na salt 1.0 kg/ha + one hand weeding on 45 DAS.
Thinning and gap filling should be done on 25 - 30th day after receipt of sufficient rain or impounding
water in the field from the adjoining tanks.
31
5. MANURES AND MANURING
i) Apply 100 kg of N/ha in three splits. 50% N at basal, 25% N at tillering and remaining 25%
at panicle initiation stage.
ii) The first top dressing should be done immediately after the receipt of sufficient rain or canal
water.
6. WEEDING
Use Thiobencarb 3 l/ha or Pendimethalin 4 l/ha on 8th day after sowing as sand mix if adequate
moisture is available, followed by one hand weeding on 30-35 days after sowing.
7. WATER MANAGEMENT
In command area, anticipating the release of water, rice crop can be raised under semi dry
condition upto a maximum of 45 days. Then convert the crop to wet condition on receipt of water. This
saves 30-40 per cent of water. In Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur and Ramanathapuram district, the crop is
irrigated from 30-35 days onwards, after impounding water in the tanks.
8. SPRAYING OF INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES

May be need based.
9. HARVEST
Same as that for wet rice cultivation.
For rice-groundnut system, planting rice in 2nd week of August with irrigation to a depth of 5 cm
at once in 4 days and sowing groundnut during first fortnight of January with irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE
ratio (once in 10-12 days) were optimum for Bhavanisagar condition.
Integrated farming system of rice (ADT 36) - rice (ADT 38) - Maize (CO 1) + fish culture from
draining the excess water from surrounding rice field is superior over farmers’ practice of rice-rice-
blackgram.
32
Millets
MILLETS
SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor)
DISTRICTS/SEASON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur
1. Thaipattam CO 21, K 5, CSH 5, CO 26, BSR 1, COH 4
2. Chithiraipattam K4, CSH 5, COH 3, CO 26, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam K 5, K Tall, COH 3, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam K 5, K Tall, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai
1. Thaipattam CO 21, K 5, CSH 5, COH 3, CO 26, COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 21, CSH 5, COH 3, CO 26, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 19, K 5, K Tall, COH 3, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, K 5, K Tall, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CSH 5, COH 3, CO 26, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CSH 5, COH 3, CO 26, BSR 1
3. Adipattam K 5, K Tall, COH 3, CO 25, CO 26, CO 21,
CSH 5, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, K 5, K Tall, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Perambalur
1. Thaipattam CO 25, CSH 5, COH 3, COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, CO 21, CSH 5, COH 3, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam K 5, K Tall, COH 3, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
Kanyakumari
1. Thaipattam K8
2. Chithiraipattam K8
3. Adipattam K3
4. Puratasipattam K3
Salem, Namakkal
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 18, CO 26, BSR 1
3. Adipattam CO 19, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, Paiyur 2, BSR 1
Dharmapuri
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
3. Adipattam CO 19, CO 26, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, Paiyur 2
Coimbatore
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, CSH 5, COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, CO 26, CSH 5, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26
33
Erode
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, CSH 5, COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, CO 26, CSH 5, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1, Paiyur 2
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1, Paiyur 2
Pudukottai
1. Thaipattam CO 21, CO 25, COH 3, CSH 5, BSR 1, COH 4
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, COH 3, CSH 5, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 23, CO 25, CO 26, COH 3, K Tall, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, K Tall, BSR 1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni
1. Thaipattam CO 25,CO 26,CSH 5,COH 3,K 5,K 8,COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 25, COH 3, CSH 5, CO 26, K 8, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, COH 3, K 5,
CSH 5, K 8, BSR 1, COH 4, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 21, CO 25, CO 26, K Tall, K 8, BSR 1, APK 1
Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar
1. Thaipattam K 5, K4, COH 3, CSH 5, CO 26, K 8, BSR 1, COH 4
2. Chithiraipattam COH 3, CO 26, CSH 5, K 8, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 21, COH 3, CSH 5,K 8, BSR 1, COH 4, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, K 10, CO 25, K 5, K Tall, K 8, BSR 1, APK 1
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
1. Thaipattam K 8, CO 25, CO 21, K 4, COH 3,CO 26, COH 4, BSR 1,
2. Chithiraipattam K 8, CO 25, K 4, CSH 5, COH 3,CO 26, COH 4, BSR 1,
K 9 for Tenkasi tract
3. Adipattam K 8, CO 21, K4, K Tall, COH 3,CO 25, CO 26, BSR 1, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 25, KTall, CO 26, K 8, K 10, BSR 1, APK 1
Note: Thaipattam: January - February; Chithiraipattam: April - May; Adipattam: June - July;
Puratasipattam: September - October.
II. SELECTION OF SEEDS

Good quality seeds are collected from disease and pest-free fields.
Quantity of seed required
Irrigated Transplanted 7.5 kg/ha, Direct sown 10 kg/ha
Rainfed Direct sown 15 kg/ha
Sorghum under irrigated condition is raised both as a direct sown and as a transplanted crop.
Irrigated transplanted crop
Transplanted crop has the following advantages:
a. Main field duration is reduced by 10 days.
b. Shoot fly, which attacks direct sown crops during the first 3 weeks and which is difficult to
control can be effectively and economically controlled in the nursery itself.
c. Seedlings which show chlorotic and downy mildew symptoms can be eliminated, thereby
incidence of downy mildew in the main field can be minimised.
d. Optimum population can be maintained as only healthy seedlings are used for
transplanting.
e. Seed rate can also be reduced by 2.5 kg/ha.
Population
60 plants for 10 m2, leaving only one healthy plant per hill.
34
Millets
III. PARTICULARS OF SORGHUM VARIETIES
PARTICULARS K5 K7 CO 19 CO 26
Parentage Reselection K 3 x M 35-1 A mutant from Derivative of
from IS 3541 CO 2 MS 8271x
IS 3691
Duration (days) 90 - 95 105 - 110 145 105 - 110
Area (Districts) All districts Southern dists. Salem & D'puri ..
Season (Pattam) Adi Puratasi .. All seasons
Rainfed Puratasi .. Puratasi ..
Irrigated Thai .. .. ..
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed 2750 690 900 4500
Irrigated 3500 .. .. 6000
Fodder yield kg/ha
Rainfed 8750 20,000 8,000 14000
Irrigated 10500 .. .. 19000
Stalk Juicy, Sweet Juicy, Sweet, Pithy Juicy, Sweet
non-pithy
Height (cm) 170 220 370 160 - 190
Sheath colour Brown Reddish purple Purple Green
Node Green, glabrous Green, glabrous Green, hairy Green
Midrib Dull Dull white White Dull white
Earhead shape Lanceolate Obovate Ovate Long cylindrical
Compactness Semi-open Semi-compact Open Semi compact
Grain colour Light green, pearly White, pearly White, pearly Pearly white
Special feature .. .. .. ..
PARTICULARS CO 20 (Fodder) CO 21 K4 K8
Parentage Sele. from inter- Mutant of CSV 5 CO 18 X K2 IS 12611 X
specific cross (dwarf) SV 108
CO11x S.halapense
Duration (days) 55 - 60 100 - 105 90 85
Area (Districts) .. All districts Southern districts Southern dists
Season (Pattam) All seasons Chithirai (Pre- Thai, Chithirai Puratasipattam
monsoon sowing)
Rainfed .. Puratasi, Adi .. Puratasipattam
Irrigated .. Thai, Chithirai .. ..
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed .. 2750 3000 2440
Irrigated .. 4250 .. ..
Straw yield kg/ha
Rainfed 20,800 15000 8000 7300
Irrigated 44,500 18750 ... ...
Stalk Juicy,sweet brix 7% Juicy, sweet Juicy non pithy ...
Height (cm) 260 200 Medium tall 170 - 180
Sheath colour Green Reddish purple Reddish purple Reddish purple
Node Green Green, glabrous Green ...
Midrib Dull white Dull white Dull white Dull white
Earhead shape Loose panicle blac- Ovate Ovate ...
kish purple Glume
Compactness Loose Semi compact Compact Semi compact
Grain colour Yellow White pearly White pearly Pearly white
Special feature Suited for Moderately Suited for summer Tolerant to dro-
ratooning resistant to major cropping under ught, moderate
pests & diseases irrigation in resistant to
southern districts shootfly,
stem borer
35
III. PARTICULARS OF SORGHUM VARIETIES (CONTD...)
PARTICULARS K9 K 10 COH 4 PAIYUR 1
Parentage Hybrid derivative K 7 x SPV.102 296A X TNS30 CO 19 X CO 24
(M.36200 x
Tenkasi Vellai x
Tenkasi Vellai)
Duration (days) 120 110 - 115 105 - 110 145 - 150
Area (Districts) Tenkasi Vellai- ... ... ...
cholam tract
Season (Pattam) ... ... ... ...
Rainfed Chithiraipattam Puratasi Thai, Chithirai Adi, Puratasi
Irrigated ... ... ... ...
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed 2000 1600 ... 1000
Irrigated ... ... 6500 ...
Straw yield kg/ha
Rainfed 8300 16000 ... 9000
Irrigated ... ... 20000 ...
Stalk Green Sweet, Juicy Juicy Juicy
Height (cm) 190 - 200 250 200 - 215 300
Sheath colour Reddish purple Reddish purple Green Green
Node ... Green, glabrous Green Green
Midrib White Dull white White White
Earhead shape Erect, obovate Erect, loose Elliptic Lax panicle
Compactness Semi compact Semi open Semi Compact Open
Grain colour Pearly white Dull white lustrous Pearly white Pearly white
Special feature Field tolerant Good dry fodder High yield, Low Tolerant to
to drought sorghum for incidence of leaf drought, non-
rainfed diseases, grain lodging
mould & sugary photosensitive
disease
PARTICULARS CO 25 CSH 5 K TALL COH 3
Parentage 3 Way cross 2077A X CS3541 2219A x IS3541 2077Ax699 Tall
derivative
Duration (days) 115 - 120 100 90 105 - 110
Season (Pattam) All seasons Thai,Chithirai All Seasons All seasons
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed 3680 4000 3750 3000
Irrigated 6000 4500 4250 6000
Straw yield kg/ha
Rainfed 13250 8750 11250 12500
Irrigated 17500 12500 13250 15000
Stalk Juicy sweet Pithy Juicy Juicy/sweet
Height (cm) 190 ... ... ...
Sheath colour Green Reddish Brown Tan
Node Green Green Green Green
Midrib Dull white Dull Dull white Dull white
Earhead shape Long cylindrical Lanceolate Lanceolate Lanceolate
Compactness Semi compact Semi compact Semi open Semi loose
Grain colour White pearly Cream pearly Cream pearly Pearly white
Special feature ... ... ... Striga
resistant non-
lodging
36
Millets
III. PARTICULARS OF SORGHUM VARIETIES (CONTD...)
Particulars BSR 1 Paiyur 2 APK 1
Parentage (Multiple cross derivative Pureline selection Hybrid derivative of

(SC 108 - 3 x ICSV 4) from IS 15845 TNS 30 x CO 26
16-3-1 x (MR-801 x
R 2751) 4-1-1
Duration (days) 105-110 90-95 105-110
Area (Districts) Western Zone Salem, Namakkal Southern districts of

(Coimbatore, Erode, Tamil Nadu
parts of Salem,
Trichirappalli
Perambalur, Karur
and Dindigul)
Season (Pattam) Kharif (rainfed) Rainfed - Adi and June - July (Adi
and summer (irrigated) Purattasi pattam) - as rainfed
Sep - Oct
(Purattasi pattam)
as rainfed
Rainfed June - July — —

Irrigated December - January — —
Grain yield (Kg/ha) Rainfed 2500 - 3500, Rainfed 2113 2619 kg/ha
Irrigated 6000 - 6500
Fodder Yield(kg/ha) Rainfed 1180 Rainfed 8789 8090

Irrigated 9600
Stalk Juicy, sweet Juicy, sweet Pithy

Height (cm) 150 - 180 200-215 175
Sheath colour Reddish purple Green Tan
Node Green Green Green
Mid rib Dull white White Dull white
Earhead shape Long, cylindrical Elliptic Medium cylindrical
Compactness Semi-compact Semi-compact semi-compact
Grain colour Pearly white Red White
Special feature Fertilizer responsive, Dual purpose red grain Non-lodging
moderate resistance to sorghum suited to rainfed
earhead bug, shoot fly tract of Salem Namakkal
and stem borer. districts. Tolerant to
downy mildew and
charcoal rot diseases.
IV. NURSERY PRACTICES

1. NURSERY PREPARATION
For raising seedlings to plant one hectare, select 7.5 cents (300 m2) near a water source
where water will not stagnate.
37
2. APPLICATION OF FYM TO THE NURSERY
i. Apply 750 kg of FYM or compost for 7.5 cents nursery and apply another 500 kg of
compost or FYM for covering the seeds after sowing.
ii. Spread the manure evenly on the unploughed soil and incorporate by ploughing or apply
just before last ploughing.
3. LAYING THE NURSERY
i. Provide three separate units of size 2m x 1.5 m with 30 cm space in between the plots
and all around the unit for irrigation.
ii. Excavate the soil from the interspace and all around to a depth of 15 cm to form channels
and spread the soil removed on the bed and level.
4. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS
i. Treat the seeds 24 hours prior to sowing with Carbendazim or Captan or Thiram 2g/kg of
seed.
ii. Treat the seeds with 2% KH2PO4 for 6 hours and shade dry. Dissolve 20 g KH2PO4 in one
litre of water for soaking 5 kg seeds.
iii. Dissolve 0.5 g of gum in 20 ml of water. Add 4 ml of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC or Monocrotophos
35 WSC or Phosalone 35 EC. To this add one kg of seed, pellet and shade dry.
iv. Treat the seeds with three packets (600 g)/ha of Azospirillum using rice kanji as binder.
v. Harden the seeds with 1% aquous fresh leaf extract of Prosopis juliflora and pungam,
(Pongamia pinnata) mixed in 1:1 for 16 hrs at 1:0.6 ratio (Seed and solution) followed by
drying and subsequently pelleting the seeds with Pungam leaf powder @300 g/ka with
gruel.
vi. Halogenise the seeds containing CaOCl, CaCO3 and arappu leaf powder @5:4:1 ratio or
iodine based (containing 2 mg of Iodine in 30 g of CaCO3) formulation @ 3g/kg packed
in polylined cloth bag to maintain seed viability for more than 10 months.
vii. Dry the seeds to 9 - 10% moisture, treat with thiram @ 2 g/kg seeds and store in polylined
cloth bag to maintain 75% of germination upto 9 months of storage.
5. SOWING AND COVERING THE SEEDS
i. Make shallow rills, not deeper than 1 cm on the bed by passing the fingers vertically over
it.
ii. Broadcast 7.5 kg of treated seeds evenly on the beds.
iii. Cover by levelling the rills by passing the hand lightly over the soil.
iv. Ensure that the seeds are not sown deep as germination will be affected.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
i. Provide one inlet to each nursery unit.
ii. Allow water to enter through the inlet and cover all the channels till the raised beds are
wet and then cut off water and
iii. Adjust the frequency of irrigation according to the soil types as follows:
Number of irrigations Red soils Heavy soils
First irrigation Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
Second irrigation 3rd day after sowing 4th day after sowing
Third irrigation 7th day after sowing 9th day after sowing
Fourth irrigation 12th day after sowing 16th day after sowing
Fifth irrigation 17th day after sowing .. ..
NOTE: Do not keep the seedlings in the nursery for more than 18 days. If older seedlings are
used, establishment and yield are adversely affected. Do not allow cracks to develop in
the nursery by properly adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.
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Millets
V. MAIN FIELD PREPARATION FOR IRRIGATED CROP
1.PLOUGHING
Plough the field with an iron plough once and twice with a country plough. Sorghum does not
require fine tilth since it adversely affects germination and yield in the case of direct sown crop.
To overcome the subsoil hard pan in Alfisols (deep red soils) chiselling the field at 0.5 m
intervals to a depth of 40 cm on both the directions of the field followed by disc ploughing once and
cultivator ploughing twice help to increase the yield of Sorghum and the succeeding blackgram
also. This was true with Sorghum followed by Groundnut also.
Application of FYM and 100% of recommended N can also be followed. In soils with sub-soil
hard pan, chiselling should be done every year at the start of the cropping sequence to create a
favourable physical environment.
2.APPLICATION OF FYM
Spread 12.5 t/ha FYM or composted coir pith along with 2 kg of Azospirillum (10 pockets/ha)
on the unploughed field and incorporate the manure in the soil by working a country plough. Apply
well decomposed poultry manure @ 5 t/ha to improve the grain yield as well as physical properties
of soils.
3. FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

i. Form ridges and furrows using a ridger 6 m long and 45 cm apart
ii. Form irrigation channels across the furrows
iii.Alternatively, form beds of size 10 m2 and 20 m2 depending on the availability of water.
4. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS
Transplanted crop:
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations. If soil test recommendations are
not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 90 N, 45 P2O5, 45 K2O kg/ha.
ii. Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before planting.
iii. In the case of ridge planted crop, open a furrow 5 cm deep on the side of the ridge at two
thirds the distance from the top of the ridge and the bottom and place the fertilizer mixture
along the furrow and cover with soil upto 2 cm.
iv. Soil application of Azospirillum at 10 packets (2 kg/ha) after mixing with 25 kg of FYM +
25 kg of soil may be carried out before sowing/planting.
Direct sown crop
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If soil test
recommendations are not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 90 N, 45 P2O5,
45 K2O kg/ha.
ii. Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing and if basal
application is not possible the same could be top dressed within 24 hours.
iii. In the case of bed planted crop, mark lines to a depth of 5 cm and 45 cm apart. Place the
fertilizer mixture at the depth of 5 cm along the lines. Cover the lines upto 2 cm from the
top before sowing.
iv. In the case of sorghum raised as a mixed crop with a pulse crop (Blackgram, Greengram
or Cowpea) open furrows 30 cm apart to a depth of 5 cm.
v. Apply fertilizer mixture in the two lines in which sorghum is to be raised and cover upto 2
cm.
vi. Skip the third row in which the pulse crop is to be raised and place fertilizer mixture in the
next two rows and cover upto 2 cm with soil.
vii. Application of bio-fertilizers: When Azospirillum is used apply only 75% of recommended
N for irrigated sorghum.
39
viii. Soil test based fertilizer recommendation may be adopted in Western and North Western
Zone in soils viz., Alfisol, Inceptisol and Vertisol for prescribing fertilizer doses for specified
yield targets.
5. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE
Transplanted Crop
i. Mix 12.5 kg/ha of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture,
Tamil Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg and apply the mixture over
the furrows and on top one third of the ridges.
ii. If micronutrient mixture is not available, mix 25 kg of zinc sulphate with sand to make a
total quantity of 50 kg and apply on the furrows and on the top one third of the ridges.
Direct Sown Crop
i. Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil
Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg.
ii. Spread the mixture evenly on the beds.
iii. Basal application of 25 kg ZnSO4/ha for the deficient soils.
iv. Basal application of FeSO4, 50 kg/ha along with 12.5 t/ha FYM for iron deficient soils.
VI. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD
1. TRANSPLANTED CROP
i. Pull out the seedlings when they are 15 to 18 days old.
ii. Prepare slurry with 5 packets (1000 g/ha) of Azospirillum inoculant in 40 lit. of water and
dip the root portion of the seedlings in the solution for 15-30 minutes and transplant.
iii. Let in water through the furrows
iv. Plant one seedling per hill
v. Plant the seedlings at a depth of 3 to 5 cm.
vi. Plant the seedlings on the side of the ridge, half the distance from the top of the ridge and
the bottom.
vii. Maintain a spacing of 15 cm between plants in the row which are 45 cm apart (15/m2).
2. DIRECT SOWN CROP
Seed hardening ensures high germination. The seeds are pre-soaked in 2% potassium
dihydrogen phosphate solution for 6 hours in equal volume and then dried back to its original
moisture content in shade and are used for sowing.
i. In the case of pure crop of sorghum, maintain the seed rate at 10kg/ha.
ii. In the case of inter crop of sorghum with pulse crop, maintain the seed rate of sorghum
at 10 kg/ha and pulse crop at 10 kg/ha.
iii. In the case of pure crop of sorghum, sow the seeds with a spacing of 15 cm between
seeds in the rows which are 45 cm apart.
iv. Maintain one plant per hill.
v. If shootfly attack is there, remove the side shots and retain one healthy shoot.
vi. Sow the seeds over the lines where fertilizers are placed.
vii. Sow the seeds at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
viii. In the case of sorghum intercropped with pulses sow one paired row of sorghum alternated
with a single row of pulses. The spacing between the row of sorghum and pulse crop is
30 cm.
Forage cowpea CO 1 can be inter-cropped in sorghum at two rows of fodder cowpea in
between paired rows of sorghum.
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Millets
3. WEED MANAGEMENT
i. Apply the pre-emergence herbicide Atrazine 50 WP - 500 g/ha on 3 days after sowing as
spray on the soil surface, using Backpack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with a flat fan
nozzle using 900 l of water/ha.
ii. Sorghum is slow growing in early stages and is adversely affected by weed competition.
Therefore keep the field free of weeds upto 45 days. For this, after pre-emergence
herbicide application, one hand weeding on 30 - 35 days after sowing may be given.
iii. If pulse crop is to be raised as an inter-crop in sorghum do not use Atrazine.
iv. Hoe and hand weed on the 10th day of transplanting if herbicides are not used. Hoe and
weed between 30 - 35 days after transplanting and between 35 - 40 days for a direct
sown crop, if necessary.
4. APPLICATION OF NITROGENOUS FERTILIZERS
Transplanted crop
Apply the balance 50 per cent of N along the furrows on the 15th day of planting and irrigate.
5. THINNING OF THE SEEDLINGS AND GAP FILLING

Direct sown crop
Thin the seedlings and gap fill with the seedlings thinned out. Maintain a spacing of 15 cm
between plants after the first hand weeding on the 23rd day of sowing. Thin the pulse crop to a
spacing of 10 cm between plants for all pulse crop except cowpea, for which spacing is maintained
at 20 cm between plants.
Zinc: Deficiency symptoms first appear in the newly formed leaves at 20 to 30 days age.
Older leaves have yellow streaks or chlorotic striping between veins.
Iron:Interveinal chlorosis will be observed. If the deficiency continues the entire leaf including
the veins may exhibit chlorotic symptoms. Newly formed leaves exhibit chlorotic symptoms. The
entire crop may exhibit bleached appearance, dry and may die.
Direct sown crop
i. Spray only if micronutrient mixture is not applied.
ii. Apply in case of iron deficiency.
iii. If soil is calcareous
Rust: Spray Mancozeb at 1 kg/ha when the disease reaches grade 3. Repeat fungicidal
application after 10 days.
Sugary disease
i. Sowing period to be adjusted so as to prevent heading during rainy season and severe
winter.
ii. Spray any one of the following fungicide at emergence of earhead (5 - 10% flowering
stage) followed by a spray at 50% flowering and repeat the spray after a week if necessary.
Ziram 1 kg/ha, Mancozeb 1 kg/ha, Zineb 1 kg/ha
Head Mould
Spray any one of the following fungicides in case of intermittent rainfall during earhead
emergence and a week later. Mancozeb 1 kg/ha, Zineb 1 kg/ha, Captan 1 kg/ha + Aureofungin sol.
100 g/ha.
Downy mildew
Seed treatment with Metalaxyl at 4 g/kg of seed. Rogue infected plants upto 45 days after
sowing and spray Metalaxyl 500 g or Mancozeb 1 kg or Ziram 1 kg or Zineb 1 kg/ha. Spray
Mancozeb 1250 g/ha after noticing the symptoms of foliar diseases, for both transplanted and
direct sown crops.
41
Charcoal Rot
Treat the seeds of Cholam with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/Kg of seed.
8. PEST MANAGEMENT
i. Take up early sowing of sorghum immediately after the receipt of South West or North
East monsoon to minimise the shootfly incidence.
ii. Use seeds pelleted with insecticides.
iii. In case of direct seeding, use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg per hectare and remove
the shootfly damaged seedlings at the time of thinning or raise nursery and transplant
only healthy seedlings.
iv. Plough soon after harvest, remove and destroy the stubbles.
v. Set up the TNAU low cost fish meal trap @ 12/ha till the crop is 30 days old. Arpocarb
Fishmeal formulation is more effective in attracting the shootfly adults especially the
females.
Preparation of Arpocarb fishmeal formulation for shootfly attraction: Fishmeal
powder is to be sprayed first with 2.0 per cent starch dissolved in hot water as a sticking
agent. The insecticide Arpocarb should then be sprayed at 50 ml/kg of fishmeal powder.
The resultant mixture is shade dried and can be used at 50 g/trap. The formulated product
should be moistened well before placing in the trap. The formulation can be changed
once in 10 - 14 days depending upon the smell.
vi. The sowing of sorghum should be completed in as short a time as possible to avoid
continuous flowering which favours grain midge and earhead bug multiplication in an
area.
vii. Sowing the lab lab or cowpea as an intercrop to minimise stemborer damage (Sorghum:
Lab lab 4:1).
viii. Setting up of light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults of stem borer, grain
midge and earhead caterpillars.
ix. Setting up sex pheromone traps at 12/ha to attract male moths of Helicoverpa sp. from
flowering to grain hardening. Two applications of NPV at 10 days interval at 250 LE/ha
along with crude sugar 2.5 kg + Cotton Seed Kernel powder 250 g on the earheads is
effective in reducing the larval population of Helicoverpa.
x. Apply insecticides when the pest population reach the ET levels viz., Shootfly one egg
per plant in 10% of the plant population in the first two weeks of sowing or 10 per cent
dead hearts. Stemborer 10 per cent damage; grain midge 5 per earhead; earhead bug
10 per earhead; earhead caterpillar 2 per earhead, mites 5 per sq. cm.
a. Shootfly: In nursery, spray one of the following for an area of 120 sq. m, Endosulfan
35 EC 18 ml; Methyl demeton 25 EC 12 ml; Dimethoate 30 EC 12 ml. In main field
for direct sown crop, spray one of the following per ha - Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml;
Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml; Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml (250 l of spray fluid/ha).
Keeping 12 Nos. of fish meal traps/ha effectively reduces the damage.
b. Seed-borne disease and shootfly control: Combined application of Carbendazim
2 g/kg + Monocrotophos 4 ml.
c. Stemborer: Mix any one of the following insecticides with sand to make up a total
quantity of 50 kg/ha and apply in the leaf whorls. Quinalphos 5 G 15 kg; Endosulfan
4 G 15 kg; Phorate 10 G 8 kg; Carbofuron 3 G 17 kg; Carbaryl 4 G 20 kg; Carbaryl +
Lindane (Sevidol) 4 G 20 kg; Endosulfan 4 D 10 kg; Phosalone 4 D 10 kg; Fenthoate
2 D 5 kg or Endosulfan 35 EC 750 ml or Carbaryl 50 WP 1.00 kg (500 l spray fluid/
ha).
d. Grain midge, earhead bug, earhead caterpillar: Dust carbaryl 10 D 25 kg/ha;
Malathion 5 D 25 kg/ha; Phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha. Dust on 3rd and 18th day after
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Millets
panicle emergence. For the earhead bug and sugary disease predominance, spray
twice with Malathion 500 ml/ha. Plus Ziram 1.25 kg/ha in 500 lit of water at 10%
heading and 9 days after.
e. Mites: Spray 3.75 kg wettable sulphur or 1500 ml dicofol per ha. Direct the spray
fluid towards the under surface of the leaves. ETL for Sorghum mite = 5 mites/cm2
of leaf area.
f. Storage Pests: Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) treat the seeds with Monocrotophos
or Chlorpyriphos 4 ml per kg of seed.
Some of the pesticides listed may cause phytotoxicity to sorghum crop.
1. Dichlorvos 2. Fenitrothion 3. Phosphamidon 4. Methyl Parathion
5. Quinalphos 6. Monocrotophos 7. Copper Oxychloride 8. Methyl demeton
9. Dimethoate 10. Thiometon
VII. WATER MANAGEMENT

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Transplanted crop Direct sown crop

Growth phase 1 to 40 days 1 to 33 days
Flowering phase 41 to 70 days 34 to 65 days
Maturity phase 71 to 95 days 66 to 95 days
No. of Days of Transplanting/Sowing of Crop

STAGES Irrigation Transplanted Direct sown
Light soils
i. Irrigate for germination 1 1st day 1st day
or establishment 2 4th day 4th day
ii. Regulate irrigation 1 15th day 15th day
during vegetative phase 2 28th day 28th day
iii. Flowering phase (copious irrigation) 1 40th day 40th day
2 52nd day 52nd day
3 .. 64th day
iv. Maturity phase (Control irrigation) 1 65th day 76th day
2 .. 88th day
v. Stop irrigation thereafter .. ..
Heavy soils
i. Irrigate for germination 1 1st day 1st day
or establishment 2 4th day 4th day
ii. Regulate irrigation 1 17th day 17th day
during vegetative phase 2 30th day 30th day
iii. Flowering phase (give 1 40th day 45th day
copious irrigation) 2 52nd day 60th day
3 .. 75th day
iv. Maturity phase (Control irrigation) 1 72nd day 90th day
v. Stop irrigation thereafter
NOTE: Adjust irrigation schedule according to the weather conditions and depending upon the
receipt of rains.
Contingent Plan: Spraying 3% Kaolin (30 g in one litre of water) during periods of stress will
mitigate the ill effects.
43
VIII. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING
i. Consider the average duration of the crop and observe the crop. When the crop matures
the leaves turn yellow and present a dried up appearance.
ii. The grains are hard and firm.
iii. At this stage, harvest the crop by cutting the earheads separately.
iv. Cut the straw after a week, allow it to dry and then stack.
v. In the case of tall varieties, cut the stem at 10 to 15 cm above ground level and afterwards
separate the earheads and stack the straw.
vi. Dry the earheads.
vii. Thresh using a mechanical thresher or by drawing a stone roller over the earheads or by
using cattle and dry the produce and store.
RATOON SORGHUM CROP
1. VARIETIES FOR RATOONING:
CO 25, CO 26, Hybrid CSH 5, K Tall.
2. RATOONING TECHNIQUE
i. Harvest the main crop leaving 15 cm stubbles.
ii. Remove the first formed two sprouts from the main crop and allow only the later formed
two sprouts to grow. Allow two tillers per hill.
3. HOEING AND WEEDING
i. Remove the weeds immediately after harvest of the main crop.
ii. Hoe and weed twice on 15th and 30 th day after cutting.
i. Apply 100 kg N/ha in two split doses.
ii. Apply the first dose on 15th day after cutting and the second on 45th day after cutting.
iii. Apply 50 kg P2O5/ha along with first application of N.
5. PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
i. Since the ratoon crop invites pests and diseases in early stages, plant protection measures
have to be resorted to. Spray chemicals immediately after application of fertiliser before
irrigation.
ii. Follow the plant protection measures as recommended for the control of stemborer,
earhead midge and earhead bug for the main crop.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
i. Irrigate immediately after cutting the main crop.
ii. Irrigation should not be delayed for more than 24 hours after cutting.
iii. Irrigate on 3rd or 4th day after cutting.
iv. Subsequently irrigate once in 7 - 10 days.
v. Stop irrigation on 70 - 80 days after ratooning.
7. HARVEST
Harvest the crop when the grains turn yellow.
NOTE: The duration of the ratoon crop is about 15 days less than the main crop.
RAINFED SORGHUM
1. RAINFALL
Average and well distributed rainfall of 250-300 mm is optimum for rainfed sorghum.
44
Millets
2. DISTRIBUTION
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar,
Sivagangai, Tiruchirapalli, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore and Dharmapuri Districts.
3. SEASON
The crop can be grown in South West and North East monsoon seasons.
Test the soil and apply fertilizers based on soil test recommendations.
i. Field has to be prepared well in advance taking advantage of early showers. FYM
application should be done at 12.5 t/ha and well incorporated at the time of ploughing.
ii. Chiseling for soils with hard pan
Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M
interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one
once in three years. Apply 12.5 t FYM or composted Coir pith/ha besides chiselling to
get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
iii. To conserve the soil moisture sow the seeds in flat and form furrows between crop rows
during inter cultivation or during third week after sowing.
5. VARIETIES
CO 21, CO 26, CO 25, K Tall, COH 3, K5, K8.
6. SEED RATE
15 kg/ha
7. SEED TREATMENT
i. Soak the seeds in 2% (20 g in one litre of water) potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 500
ppm of CCC (1 ml in one litre of water) for six hours and shade dry the seeds for 5 hours.
Use 350 ml of solution for soaking one kg of seed.
ii. Treat the seeds with three packets of Azospirillum (600 g) and 3 packets of
Phosphobacterium. In the main field, apply Azospirillum 2 kg (10 pockets/ha) with
Phosphobacteria 2 kg with 25 kg FYM + 25 kg soil.
8. SOWING
Sow the seeds well before onset of monsoon at 5 cm depth (by seed drill or by country
plough). The seed is pelletised with 15 g of Chloropyriphos in 150 ml of gum and shade dried.
Pre-monsoon sowing
Sow the hardened seeds at 5 cm depth with Seed cum fertilizer drill to ensure uniform depth
of sowing and fertilizer application before the onset of monsoon as detailed below:
District Optimum period

1. Coimbatore 37-38th week (II to III week of September)
2. Erode 38th week (III week of September)
3. Sivaganga 40th week (I week of October)
4. Ramanathapuram 40th week (I week of October)
5. Thoothukudi 39-40th week (Last week of September to I week of October)
6. Vellore, Tiruvannamalai 37th-38th week (September II week to September III week)
i. Sow the sorghum seeds over the line where the fertilizers are placed.
ii. Sow the seeds at a depth of 5 cm and cover with the soil.
iii. Sow the seeds with the spacings of 15 cm in the paired rows spaced 60 cm apart.
iv. Sow the pulse seeds to fall 10 cm apart in the furrows between the paired rows of sorghum.
45
9. SPACING
45 x 15 cm or 45 x 10 cm.
10. FERTILIZER
Apply 12.5 t/ha or Composted Coir pith + NPK at 40:20:0; enriched FYM 750 kg/ha. The
recommended dose of 40 kg N and 20 kg P2O5/ha for rainfed sorghum can be halved if FYM @ 5 t/
ha is applied.
11. WEED MANAGEMENT

Keep sorghum field free of weeds from second week after germination till 5th week. If sufficient
moisture is available spray Atrazine @ 500 g/ha as pre-emergence application within 3 days after
the receipt of the soaking rainfall for sole sorghum while for sorghum based intercropping system
with pulses, use Pendimethalin at 3.0 l/ha.
12. CROPPING SYSTEM

1. The most profitable and remunerative sorghum based cropping system adopted is
intercropping sorghum with cowpea, redgram, lab-lab, blackgram.
2. In rainfed Vertisol, adopt paired row planting in sorghum and sow one row of blackgram/
cowpea in between paired rows of sorghum to have 100% population of sorghum plus
33% population of blackgram/cowpea.
3. Intercropping of sunflower CO 1, with the main crop of sorghum CO 26 in 4:2 ratio is
recommended under rainfed conditions during North-East monsoon for black soils of
Coimbatore.
4. Intercropping of soyabean with sorghum in the ratio 4:2 is recommended or kharif and
summer seasons.
5. For sorghum - blackgram intercropping system as well as sole cropping, application of
20 kg N and 20 kg P2O5/ha through enriched FYM and treating the seeds with Azospirillum
is recommended for Aruppukottai region.
6. For sorghum (CO 25) + Fodder cowpea (CO 1) intercropping system, application of 20 kg
N and 20 kg P2O5/ha with enriched FYM is recommended for Coimbatore region.
7. The intercropping system, fodder sorghum (K 7) + Fodder cowpea (CO 5) at 3:2 ratio is
found profitable for rainfed Vertisols of Aruppukottai.
8. Tamarind and Neem trees upto 3-4 years from date of planting form an ideal tree
component for agroforestry in black cotton soils of Kovilpatti. Sorghum and blackgram
given higher yield even at 50 per cent of the recommended level of fertilizer application.
HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION

1. SEASON
October - December for hybrid. June - July and October - November for varieties.
2. SOWING
To achieve synchronised flowering of the parental lines and quick disposal of the produce,
sowing the parental lines from 15th November to 15th of January is most advantageous. The
flowering period should coincide with cool and low temperature for proper seed set. Under
Coimbatore conditions for CSH 5 the female parent (MS 2077A) must be sown 10 - 15 days earlier
to the male (CS 3541), for K tall MS 2219-A must be sown 3 - 5 days later to IS 3541 and for CSH
6 the female parent MS 2219-A can be sown simultaneously, with CS 3541 and for CSH 9 the
female parent MS 206 A must be sown 7 - 10 days earlier than male CS 3541 in November -
December season.
Presowing hardening: Soak the graded seeds with 2% Potassium dihydrogen phosphate
(KH2PO4) for 10 hrs and dry back to original moisture content. The same may be further seed
treated before sowing.
46
Millets
3. PLANTING RATIO
4:2 at F.S. and 5:2 at C.S. Spacing : 45 x 10 cm
4. FERTILIZERS
100:50:50 kg NPK/ha. 50:50:50 as basal; 25:0:0 top dressing after weeding; 25:0:0 kg at boot
leaf stage (i.e.) 45th day of sowing.
5. TO ACHIEVE SYNCHRONISATION
1. Spraying growth retardant Maleic hydrazide 500 ppm at 45th day after sowing delays
flowering in advancing parent.
2. N in the form of urea 1% can be sprayed to the logging parent.
3. With-hold one irrigation in advancing parent.
4. Take up staggered sowing.
5. Spraying CCC 300 ppm will delay flowering.
6. Pre-harvest sanitation spray: Spraying of Carbendazim or Carboxin for black mould
attacked or rain soaked earheads.
6. PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY:
Attains physiological maturity 40 - 45 days after half-bloom stage when seed moisture content
would be 30 per cent.
7. HARVEST:
Harvest the male rows first and then the female.
8. THRESHING:
At a seed moisture content of 15 - 18 per cent.
9. SIEVE SIZE:
9/64" round perforated sieve.
10. STORAGE:
Dry the seeds to safe moisture content of 7 per cent. Treat with Captan or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of
seed and pack it in cloth bag for short term and in 700 guage polythene bag for long term storage.
11. MID STORAGE CORRECTION:

Old seeds with declining viability may be upgraded and soaked for 6 hrs in double the volume
of Disodium hydrogen phosphate (3.59 g/100 l water) and quickly dried back to 8% moisture content.
;;;;;
47
CUMBU ( Pennisetum glacum )
Districts/Season Varieties/Hybrid
1. IRRIGATED
i. CHITHRAIPATTAM (March-April)
All districts except Kanchipuram WCC 75, K 3, CO 7, X 6, X 7
Tiruvallur and The Nilgiris.
ii. MASIPATTAM (January-February)
All districts except The Nilgiris, WCC 75, CO 7, X 6, X 7
Kanchipuram & Tiruvallur
2. RAINFED
i. ADIPATTAM (June-July)
All districts except Kanchipuram WCC 75, K 3, CO 7, X 6, X 7
Tiruvallur and The Nilgiris K4HB
II. NURSERY
1. PREPARATION OF LAND
i. For raising seedlings to plant one ha select 7.5 cents near a water source. Water should
not stagnate.
ii. Plough the land and bring it to the fine tilth.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM
Apply 750 kg of FYM or compost and incorporate by ploughing. Cover the seeds with 500 kg
of FYM.
3. FORMING RAISED BED

i. In each cent mark 6 plots of the size 3 m x 1.5 m with 30 cm channel in between the plots
and all around.
ii. Form the channel to a depth of 15 cm.
iii. Spread the earth excavated from the channel on the beds and level.
NOTE: The Unit of 6 plots in one cent will form one unit for irrigation.
4. REMOVAL OF ERGOT AFFECTED SEEDS AND SCLEROTIA TO PREVENT
PRIMARY INFECTION
i. Dissolve 1 kg of common salt in 10 litres of water.
ii. Drop the seeds into the salt solution.
iii. Remove the ergot and sclerotia affected seeds which will float.
iv. Wash seeds in fresh water 2 or 3 times to remove the salt on the seeds.
v. Dry the seeds in shade.
vi. Treat the seeds with three packets (600 g) of Azospirillum inoculant.
5. TREATMENT OF THE NURSERY BED WITH INSECTICIDES
Apply phorate 10 G 180 g or Carbofuran 3 G 600 g mixed with 2 kg of moist sand, spread on
the beds and work into the top 2 cm of soil to protect the seedlings from shootfly infestation.

i. Open small rills not deeper than 1 cm on the bed by passing the fingers over it.
ii. Sow 3.75 kg of seeds in 7.5 cents (0.5 kg per cent).
iii.
Cover the seeds by smoothening out the rills with hand. Sprinkle 500 kg of FYM or
compost evenly and cover the seeds completely with hands.
NOTE: Do not sow the seeds deep as germination will be affected.
48
Cumbu
7. IRRIGATION OF THE SEED BED
i. Provide one inlet to each unit of 6 plots to allow water in the channels.
ii. Allow water to enter the channel and rise up in it. Turn off the water when the raised bed
is wet.
iii. Irrigate as per the following schedule.
Light Soil Heavy Soil
1st immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
2nd on 3rd day after sowing On 3rd day after sowing
3rd on 7th day after sowing On 9th day after sowing
4th on 12th day after sowing On 16th day after sowing
5th on 17th day after sowing
8. PROTECTION OF SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY FROM PEST ATTACK
If seed bed is not treated before sowing, protect the nursery by applying any one of the
insecticides given below on the 7th and 14th day of sowing by mixing in 6 litres of water. Endosulfan
35 EC 12 ml; Methyl demeton 25 EC 12 ml; Dimethoate 30 EC 12 ml.
NOTE: 1. The seedlings should not be kept in nursery for more than 18 days. As they mature,
establishment and yield are affected adversely.
2. Ensure that cracks do not develop in the nursery. This can be avoided by properly
adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.
III. PARTICULARS OF CUMBU HYBRID AND VARIETIES

PARTICULARS X6 WCC 75 K3 CO 7 X7
Season-irrigated/ Both Both Both Both Both
rainfed
Duration (Days) 90 - 100 95 85 90 - 100 90
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed grain 2394 2000 800 2500 - 2800 2513
Rainfed fodder — 2750 1600 4000
Irrigated Grain 3236 3000 1100 3000 - 3500 3295
Irrigated fodder — 6250 2500 6300
Plant height (cm) 155 - 175 170 - 180 140 - 160 130 - 145 155 - 180
Tillers (No.) 4-6 2-3 4-7 6 - 10 4-7
Pigmentation Green Green Light purple Green Non-
pigmented
Hairiness Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous
Days to 50% bloom 55 - 60 50 50 65 - 70 50 - 55
Shape of earhead Spindle Spindle Spindle Conical/ Candle
cylindrical/spindle
Bristles Absent Present Nil Nil —
Length of earhead 20 - 25 25 - 28 25 - 28 22 - 26 25 - 35
(In cm)
Breadth of earhead — 2-3 2-3 3-4 —
(In cm)
Grain colour Slate Slate grey Slate grey Slate colour Slate
1000 grains
weight (gm) 7.7 - 8.8 8-9 6.6 6.8 - 7.2 8.0 - 9.0
Special features Resistant to ... ... Resistant to Resistant to
downy downy mildew downy
mildew mildew
49
IV. PREPARATION OF MAIN FIELD
i. Plough with an iron plough twice and with country plough twice. Bring the soil into fine
tilth.
ii. CHISELING FOR SOILS WITH HARD PAN: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation
at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval, first in one direction then in the
direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t/ha FYM, or
composted coir pith besides chiseling, to get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST
Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith uniformly on unploughed soil.
Incorporate the manure by working the country plough and apply Azospirillum to the soil @ 10
packets per ha (2000 g).
3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS/BEDS
i. From ridges and furrows (using 3 ridges) 6 m long and 45 cm apart. If pulses is
intercropped, form ridges and furrows 6 m long and 30 cm apart. For CO 7 cumbu, form
ridges 40 cm apart.
ii. If ridge planting is not followed, form beds of the size 10 m2 or 30 m2 depending upon
water availability.
iii. Form irrigation channels.
iv. To conserve soil moisture under rainfed condition, sow the seeds in flat and form furrows
between crop rows during intercultivation on third week after sowing.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If soil test
recommendation is not available follow the blanket recommendation of 70:35:35 kg N, P2O5, K2O/
ha for all varieties. For hybrids, apply 80 kg N, 40 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per ha. Apply 50 per cent
of the recommended nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus and potassium basally.
Combined application of Azospirillum SP 7 and Phosphobacterium along with 75 per cent of
the recommended level of N and P is recommended for rainfed conditions.
Method of application: For transplanted crop, open a furrow more than 5 cm deep on the side
of the ridge (1/3 distance from the bottom), place the fertilizer and cover. For the direct sown crop,
mark the lines more than 5 cm deep 45 cm apart in the beds for all strains except CO 7. For CO 7
mark the lines 35 cm apart. Place the fertilizer below 5 cm depth and cover upto 2 cm from the top
before sowing. In the case of intercropping with pulses, mark lines more than 5 cm deep 30 cm
apart in the beds. Apply fertilizer only in the rows in which cumbu is to be sown and cover upto 2
cm. When Azospirillum inoculant is used for seeds, seedlings and soil apply only 50 kg N/ha for
variety, 60 kg N/ha for hybrid, in other words, reduce 25% N of soil test recommendations.

Apply 12.5 kg/ha of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture. Mix
the mixture with enough sand to make 50 kg and apply on the surface just before planting/after
sowing and cover the seeds. Broadcast the mixture on the surface to seed line. If micronutrient
mixture is not available apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate per ha. Mix the chemical with enough sand to
make 50 kg and apply as above.
V. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS

1. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS OR SOWING PRE-TREATED SEEDS
Transplanted Crop
i. Pull out the seedlings when they are 15 to 18 days old.
ii. Adopt the spacing 45 x 15 cm for all the varieties except CO 7. For CO 7 the spacing is
35 x 15 cm.
iii. Plant seedlings on the side of ridge, half way from the bottom. Depth of planting should
be 3 to 5 cm.
50
Cumbu
iv. Root dipping with bio-fertilizers: Prepare the slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of
Azospirillum SP 7 inoculant in 40 lit. of water and dip the roots of the seedlings 15 - 30
minutes before planting.
Direct sown crop
Soaking of cumbu seeds either in 2% Potassium chloride (KCl) or 3% Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
for 16 hours followed by 5 hours shade drying improves germination and stand.
i. Adopt the spacing of 45 x 15 cm for all varieties except CO 7. For CO 7, give a spacing
of 35 x 15 cm. If pulse is intercropped, adopt a spacing of 35 x 15 cm for cumbu and 30
x 10 cm for Cowpea and 30 x 10 cm for other pulses. One pair row of cumbu is alternated
with a single row of pulse crop.
ii. In the furrows in which fertilizers have been applied, place 5 kg of seed, allowing them to
fall 4 - 5 cm apart (Use higher seed rate of 5 kg to offset mortality). The optimum population
should be 1,45,000 per ha.
iii. Where pulse seeds are to be sown, drop pulse seeds to fall 5 cm apart and cover.
2. WEED MANAGEMENT
Spray Atrazine 50 WP 500 g/ha on the 3rd day. Then, one hand weeding on 30 - 35 days after
transplanting may be given. If herbicide is not used hand weed on 15th day and again between 30
and 35 days after transplanting.
Direct Sown crop
i. Apply the pre-emergence herbicide Atrazine 50 WP at 500 g/ha, 3 days after sowing as
spray on the soil surface using Back-pack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat type
nozzle using 900 l of water/ha.
ii. Apply herbicide when there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
iii. Hand weed on 30 - 35 days after sowing if pre-emergence herbicide is applied.
iv. If pre-emergence herbicide is not applied hand weed twice on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
3. THINNING AND GAP FILLING
In direct sown crop after 1st weeding at the time of irrigation, gap fill and thin the crop to a
spacing of 15 cm between plants; cowpea crop to 20 cm between plants and other pulses crops to
10 cm between plants.
4. TOP DRESSING OF FERTILIZERS

i. Top dress the remaining quantity of nitrogen (50%) 15 days after transplanting for
transplanted crop and 30 days after sowing for direct sown crop.
ii. In transplanted crop, open a furrow 5 cm deep with a stick or hoe at the bottom of the
furrow, place the fertilizer and cover.
iii. In the case of direct sown crop apply the fertilizer in band. If intercropped with pulses
apply the fertilizer to cumbu crop only.
iv. After the application of fertilizer, irrigate the crop.
5. EARHEAD PROTECTION
Apply any one of the insecticides at 25 kg/ha at 50 per cent flowering: Carbaryl 10% D,
Malathion 5% D, or spray Carbaryl 50 WP 750 g or Endosulfan 35 EC 750 ml (500 l of spray fluid/
ha).
VI. WATER MANAGEMENT
The different growth stages of cumbu are as follows and regulate irrigation according to growth
phases. Heading and flowering are the critical phases of water demand.
Vegetative Phase a. Seedling 1 to 18 days
b. Tillering 19 to 35 days
c. Flowering phase 36 to 55 days
d. Maturity phase 56 to 85 days
51
Days after transplantation/sowing
STAGES No. of Transplanted Crop Direct Sown Crop
irrigation
Light Soils
i. Germination 1 1st day after transplanting 1st day after sowing
2 4th day 4th day
ii. Vegetative phase 1 15th Day 17th day
2 28th day 30th day
iii. Flowering phase 1 40th day 42nd day
2 52nd day 55th day
3 49th day 70th day
iv. Maturity phase 1 59th day 73rd day
Heavy Soils
i. Germination 1 1st day after planting 1st day after sowing
2 4th day 5th day
ii. Vegetative phase 1 15th day 15th day
2 28th day 30th day
iii. Flowering phase 1 42nd day 45th day
2 44th day 60th day
iv. Maturity Phase 1 54th day 75th day
NOTE: This is only a guideline and the irrigation schedule is to be adjusted depending upon the
prevailing weather conditions.
VII. HARVESTING THE CROP
1. SYMPTOMS OF MATURITY
i. Leaves will turn yellow and present a dried apprearance.
ii. Grains will be hardened.
2. HARVESTING
i. Cut the earheads separately.
ii. Cut the straw after a week, allowing it to dry and stack it in the field till it can be transported.
3. THRESHING, CLEANING, DRYING AND STORING
i. Dry the earheads
ii. Thresh in a mechanical thresher or
iii. Spread it and drag a stone roller over it or
iv. Cattle thresh.
VIII. DISEASE MANAGEMENT (SPECIFIC PROBLEMS)
1. SUGARY AND ERGOT DISEASES (CHEMICAL CONTROL)
Spray Carbendazim 500 g or Ziram 1000 ml or Mancozeb 1 kg when 5 - 10% flowers have
opened and again 50% flowering stage.
2. RUST
Spray any one of the following fungicides when the initial symptoms of the diseases are
noticed. Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg or Mancozeb 1 kg/ha. Repeat the application of any one of the
fungicides 10 days after.
Sowing during December - May result in less incidence of rust disease. Control measures
are to be adopted when there is rust incidence in the early stages as spread of infection to top
leaves results in poor grain filling.
52
Cumbu
3. DOWNY MILDEW
Growing downy mildew resistant varieties CO7, WCC 75 is recommended. Transplanting
reduces disease incidence. At the time of planting infected seedlings should be removed. In the
direct sown crop, infested plants should be removed upto 45 days after sowing as and when the
symptoms are noticed.
Treat seeds with Metalaxyl at 6 g/kg followed by one spraying with metalaxyl 500 g or Ridomil
MZ WP 2 kg/ha or Mancozeb 1 kg/ha.
IX. SEED TECHNOLOGY
CUMBU HYBRID / VARIETY / COMPOSITE
1. SEASON
Winter season - October - December. The parental lines of Pusa 23 cumbu can be raised in
the ratio of 8:2 F:M for maximising hybrid seed production.
2. SPACING
Give a spacing of 45 x 20 cm.
3. PLANTING RATIO
Plant in the ratio of 6:1 (6 female lines and 1 male line) for hybrid.
N P K (Kg/ha)
i. Basal 50 50 50
ii. Top dressing (30th day after sowing) 50 .. ..
iii. Foliar application Diammonium phosphate 1%
at peak tillering phase.
5. HARVESTING AND THRESHING
The earheads should be harvested at 20 - 25 per cent moisture content and threshed after
reducing the moisture content to 15 - 20 per cent in a mechanical thresher at 1400 rpm. Harvesting
the earheads from late formed tillers (7th onwards) should be avoided as the seed yield and quality
declines.
6. DRYING
Dry the precleaned seeds in a hot-air dryer for 8 hrs to reduce the moisture content to 10 per
cent.
7. GRADING
A grading sieve with the specification of 4/64" (1.6 mm) diameter round perforations was
found optimum for obtaining higher recovery of 90 - 95 per cent good quality seeds. (For WCC 75,
use 5/64" round perforated sieve).
8. SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat the seeds with Thiram 75% WDP at 2 g dissolved in 5 ml of water per kg. of seed.
9. STORAGE
Treated seeds packed in cloth bag and polythene bags of 700 gauge thick will be able to
remain germinable to an extent of 80 - 90 per cent respectively over a period of 15 months under
ambient temperature and relative humidity obtainable at Coimbatore.
10. STORAGE HYDRATION - DEHYDRATION FOR PROLONGING THE SHELF LIFE

OF SEEDS
Seeds that show a decline in vigour and germinability during the early period of storage should
be soaked for three hours in double the volume of Disodium phosphate 10.4 M (36 mg/lit of water).
The seeds after soaking should be air-dried first and then sundried until they dry back to 8% moisture
content and dry-dressed with Thiram or Captan 75% WP at 2 g per kg of seeds to maintain shelf
life upto ten months, with minimum loss in vigour and viability.
;;;;;
53
RAGI ( Eleusine coracana )
1. SEASONS AND VARIETIES
DISTRICTS/SEASON VARIETIES
Irrigated
i. Marghazipattam (December - January)
Kanchipuram & Tiruvallur,
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai CO 11, CO 7, CO 18
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 7, CO 11, CO 12, CO 13
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam CO 11, TRY 1, CO 13
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai CO 11, CO 7, TRY 1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, CO 11, CO 7, K 7
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi,
Sivaganga, Thoothukudi CO 11, K 5, K7
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri CO 11, CO 7, CO 12, CO 13
Erode, Coimbatore CO 11, CO 12, CO 7, CO 13
ii. Chithiraipattam (April - May)
Kanchipuram & Tiruvallur, Vellore, CO 11, K 7
Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur,
Karur, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 11, CO 12, K 7, CO 13
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam CO 11
Thoothukudi, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar CO 11, K 5, K 7
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri CO 11, CO 7, CO 12, CO 13
Coimbatore, Erode CO 11, CO 7, CO 12, CO 13
Rainfed
i. Adipattam (June - July)
All districts except Kanyakumari CO 11, CO 7, CO12, Paiyur 1
and The Nilgiris
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore,
Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore INDAF 5
Villupuram, Salem, Namakkal
Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erode
Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur,
Karur, Salem, Namakkal, Pudukottai, K7
Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri,
Coimbatore, Erode, Sivaganga
ii. Puratasipattam (September - October)
Tiruvannamalai CO 11
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 11, CO 12
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam CO 11
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni CO 11, CO 7, K 7
Pudukottai CO 11, CO 7
Ramnad, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar CO 11, K 5, K7
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi CO, 11, K 7
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri CO 11, CO 7, Paiyur 1, CO 12
Coimbatore, Erode CO 11, CO 7, CO 12, INDAF 5, CO 13
54
Ragi
II. PARTICULARS OF RAGI STRAINS
PARTICULARS CO 12 Paiyur 1 K5 TRY 1 INDAF 5
Parentage Selection from Pureline Sarada x Selection from Cauvery x IE929
Variety PR 722 EC 158 HR 374
Duration (days) 110 - 120 115 - 120 105 102 105 - 110
Season
Rainfed Both (Northern Rainfed Both Khariff irri- Adipattam/Both
Irrigated districts) gated Sodic/
saline soils
Grain yield kg/ha
Irrigated 4750 .. 1800 4011 4000
Rainfed 3250 3125 1100 .. 2500
Straw yield kg/ha
Irrigated 8750 .. 3000 6800 7500
Rainfed 6250 5750 2000 .. 5200
Stem Erect Erect Erect Erect Erect
Height (cm) 90 - 120 110 100 - 120 .. 85 - 95
Tillers 5-7 1-3 5-6 5-7 5-8
Days to 50% 70 - 75 80 70 78 70 - 75
flowering
Ear size and shape Incurved to Open Incurved Incurved Open, incurved
fisty
Fingers 5-7 6-8 7-9 5-8 6-8
Ear length (cm) 8 8 7-8 7.6 7.5
Grain colour Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown
1000 grain wt (g) 2.8 2.7 2.57 2.74 2.0
PARTICULARS CO 7 CO 11 K7 CO 13
Parentage Pureline Pureline CO 8 x K 2 CO 7 X TAH 107

Duration (days) 100 90 - 95 95 - 100 95 - 100
Season
Rainfed/Irrigated Irrigated Irrigated Both Both
Grain yield kg/ha

Irrigated 4500 4750 .. 3600
Rainfed 2750 3250 3130 2300
Straw yield kg/ha

Irrigated 7500 8750 .. 10000
Rainfed 5000 6250 5750 7500
Stem Erect Erect Erect
Height (cm) 100 - 120 90 - 120 110 85 - 90
Tillers 5-6 5-7 1-3 3-5
Days to 50% 70 - 75 80 55 - 60 55 - 60
flowering
Ear size and shape Incurved Incurved to Open Open
fisty
Fingers 7-9 5-7 6-8 10 - 17
Ear length (cm) 7-8 11 8 ..
Grain colour Brown Brown Brown Light Brown
1000 grain wt (g) 2.57 2.8 2.7 1.7
55
III. PREPARATION OF NURSERY (IRRIGATED TRANSPLANTED CROPS)
i. For raising seedlings to plant one ha of main field, select 12.5 cents (500 m2) of nursery
area near a water source, where water does not stagnate.
ii. Mix 37.5 kg of super phosphate with 500 kg of FYM or compost and spread the mixture
evenly on the nursery area.
iii. Plough two or three times with a mould board plough or five times with a country plough.
2. FORMING RAISED BED
i. Mark units of 6 plots each of size 3 m x 1.5 m. Provide 30 cm space between plots for
irrigation.
ii. Excavate the soil from the interspace and all around to a depth of 15 cm to form channels
and spread the soil removed from the channels on the bed and level.
3. PRE-TREATMENT OF THE SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES
i. Mix the seeds in a polythene bag to ensure a uniform coating of seeds with Thiram 4 g/
kg or Captan 4 g/kg or Carbendazim 2 g/kg of seeds.
ii. Treat the seeds atleast 24 hours prior to sowing.
iii. Seed treatment with Azospirillum may be done @ 3 packets/ha (600 g/ha).
i. Make shallow rills not deeper than one cm on the beds by passing the fingers vertically
over them.
ii. Broadcast 5 kg of treated seeds evenly on the beds.
iii. Cover the seeds by levelling out the hand lightly over the soil.
iv. Sprinkle 500 kg of powdered FYM over the beds evenly to cover the seeds which are
exposed and compact the surface lightly.
NOTE: Do not sow the seeds deep as germination will be adversely affected.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
i. Provide one inlet to each nursery unit.
ii. Allow water to enter through the inlet and cover all the channels around the beds. Allow
the water in the channels to raise till the raised beds are wet and then cut off water.
iii. Adjust the frequency of irrigation according to the soil type.
No. of irrigations RED SOILS HEAVY SOILS
1st Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
2nd 3rd day after sowing 4th day after sowing
3rd 7th day after sowing 9th day after sowing
4th 12th day after sowing 16th day after sowing
5th 17th day after sowing ..
NOTE: 1. One irrigation is given on the 3rd day in the case of red soil to soften the hard crust
formed on the soil surface and also to facilitate seedlings to emerge out.
2. Do not allow cracks to develop in the nursery bed by properly adjusting the quantity of
irrigation water.
7. PROTECTION OF THE SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY FROM PESTS AND
DISEASES
i. Spray any one of the following insecticides mixed in 10 litres of water using a high volume
sprayer if dusting is not done. Methyl demeton 25 EC - 20 ml, Dimethoate 30 EC 20 ml.
ii. Spray any one of the following fungicides using a high volume sprayer. Cover 3 cents
nursery area on noticing initial infection of blast. Carbendazim 5 g or Edifenphos 10 ml
or IBP 10 ml in 10 litres of water.
56
Ragi
iii. The sprayable insecticides and fungicides can be applied simultaneously.
NOTE: If pelleting of seeds with either Carbendazim or Edifenphos is done prior to sowing, nursery
spraying need not be given.
8. PULLING OUT THE SEEDLINGS FOR PLANTING
Pull out seedlings on the 17th to 20th day of sowing for planting.
IV. PREPARATION OF MAIN FIELD

1. PLOUGHING THE FIELD
Plough twice with mould board plough or thrice with wooden plough till a good tilth is obtained.

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field
and then plough and incorporate in the soil.
NOTE: Do not spread and leave the manure uncovered in the field as nutrients will be lost.
i. Soil test based fertilizer recommendations may be adopted in Western and North Western
Zones in soils of Vertisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols for prescribing the fertilizer
doses for specified yield targets. In soils having high intensive cropping system viz.,
Ragi-Maize-Cowpea, having high soil available K (310 kg/ha) potassium need not be
applied. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil
test recommendation is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 60 kg N, 30 kg
P2O5 and 30 kg K2O per ha.
ii. Apply half the dose of N and full dose of N and full dose of P2O5 basally before planting.
iii. Broadcast the fertilizer mixture over the field before the last ploughing and incorporate
into the soil by working a country plough.
iv. Apply 10 packets/ha (2000 g) of Azospirillum inoculant after mixing with 25 kg of soil and
25 kg FYM before transplanting.
4. FORMING BEDS AND CHANNELS
i. Form beds of size 10 m2 to 20 m2 according to topography of the field.
ii. Provide suitable irrigation channels.
i. Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil
Nadu with enough sand to make a total quality of 50 kg/ha.
ii. Apply the mixture evenly on the beds.
iii. Do not incorporate the mixture in the soil.
V. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD
1. TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLINGS
i. Let water into the bed, level the bed, if it is not levelled.
ii. Plant 2 seedlings per hill.
iii. Plant the seedlings at a depth of 3 cm.
iv. Plant 18 to 20 days old seedlings.
v. Adopt a spacing of 15x15 cm for planting.
vi. Root dipping with Azospirillum Prepare slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum
inoculant in 40 litres of water and dip the root portion of the seedlings in the solution for
15 - 30 minutes and transplant.
2. WEED MANAGEMENT
i. Apply Butachlor 2.5 l/ha or Fluchloralin 2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 2.5 l/ha, using Backpack/
Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan type of nozzle with 900 l of water/ha.
57
ii. Apply the herbicides when there is sufficient moisture in the soil or irrigate immediately
after application of herbicide.
iii. If pre-emergence herbicide is not applied, hand weed twice on 10th and 20th day after
transplanting.
iv. For rainfed direct seeded crop, apply post emergence herbicide; 2,4-DEE OR 2,4-D Na
salt at 0.5 kg/ha on 10th day after sowing depending on the moisture availability.
3. PEST MANAGEMENT
i. Spray any one of the following insecticides per ha for the control of leaf hopper, aphids
and stemborer: Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml, carbaryl 50% 1 kg (500 l spray fluid/ha).
ii. Spray Carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha at milky stage to check earhead bug and earhead
caterpillar.
4. HOEING AND HAND WEEDING
i. Hoe and hand weed on the 15th day of planting in light soils and 17th day of planting in
heavy soils and subsequently on 30th and 32nd days, respectively.
ii. Allow the weeds to dry for 2 or 3 days after hand weeding before giving irrigation.
NOTE: Do not adopt hoeing and hand weeding if herbicide is applied.
Blast: Spray Edifenphos 500 ml or Carbendazim 250 g or IBP 500 ml/ha. First spray immediately
after noticing the symptoms. Second and third sprays at flowering stage at 15 days interval to
control neck and finger infection of blast disease if necessary.
Treat the seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens and spray the extracts of Prosopis juliflora
leaf extract (10%) Ipomoea carnea leaf extract (10%) to reduce the incidence of blast.
Foliar spray with Aureofungin sol (100 ppm) at 50% earhead emergence followed by a second
spray with Mancozeb (0.2%) 10 days later to reduce neck and finger blast.
Mosaic streak and mottle streak viruses:
Rogue out the affected plants. Spray Monocrotophos 36 WSC 0.05% or Methyl demeton 500
ml/ha on noticing symptoms and repeat twice if necessary at 20 days intervals.
VI. WATER MANAGEMENT

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop
Stages No. of Crop duration

Irrigations 80 days 100 days 120 days
Vegetative phase(Nursery) 1 to 16 1 to 18 1 to 20
Vegetative phase
(in main field) 1 to 18 1 to 20 1 to 22
Flowering phase 19 to 40 21 to 55 23 to 69
Maturity phase Beyond 40 days Beyond 55 days Beyond 69 days
Heavy soils
Establishment 1 1st day 1st day 1st day
(1 - 7 days) 2 5th day 5th day 5th day
Vegetative phase 1 18th day 20th day 20th day
(8 - 20 days) 2 31st day 33rd day 30th day
Flowering phase 1 41st day 42nd day 37th day
(21 - 55 days) 2 51st day 52nd day 44th day
3 .. .. 63rd day
Maturity phase 1 61st day 62nd day 78th day
(56 - 120 days) 2 .. .. 93rd day
Stop irrigation thereafter
58
Ragi
Stages No. of Crop duration
Irrigations 80 days 100 days 120 days
Light soils
Establishment 1 1st day 1st day 1st day
Vegetative phase 1 15th day 16th day 16th day
Flowering phase 1 36th day 36th day 36th day
3 .. 54th day 54th day
Maturity phase 1 58th day 69th day 78th day
(56 - 120 days) 2 70th day .. 93rd day
Stop irrigation thereafter
NOTE: The irrigation schedule is given only as a general guideline. Regulate irrigation depending
upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rain.
VII. HARVESTING
1. DECIDE WHEN TO HARVEST
i. Ragi crop does not mature uniformly and hence the harvest is to be taken up in two
stages.
ii. When the earhead on the main shoot and 50% of the earheads on the crop turn brown,
the crop is ready for the first harvest.
2. HARVEST OF THE CROP
First harvest
i. Cut all earheads which have turned brown.
ii. Dry, thresh and clean the grains by winnowing.
Second Harvest
i. Seven days after the first harvest, cut all the earheads including the green ones.
ii. Cure the grains to obtain maturity by heaping the harvested earheads in shade for one
day without drying, so that the humidity and temperature increase and the grains get
cured.
iii. Dry, thresh and clean the grains by winnowing and store the grains in gunnies.
Protection from storage pests:
1. Grain purpose: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce the moisture level to 10%.
2. Seed purpose: Admix one kg of Activated kaolin or Malathion 5% D for every 100 kg of
seed. Pack in gunny or polythene lined gunny bags for storage.
Special problems
i. Root Aphids: Mix Dimethoate 3 ml in one litre of water and drench the rhizosphere of the
infested and surrounding plants with the insecticidal solution.
ii. Rainfed ragi: Azospirillum mixed with FYM and applied to field saves the cost of nitrogen
by 50% with a comparable yield obtained with 40 kg N/ha.
iii. Management of aged seedlings of ragi under rainfed conditions: When planting ragi
seedlings beyond 21 days, increase the number of seedlings to 3/hill and increase N
level by 25% to minimise yield loss.
iv. Apply VAM culture (Glomus fasciculatum) at 100 g/m2 in the nursery and also treat with
Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium as seed treatment, seedling dip and field application
to reduce the reniform nematode population in ragi.
VIII. SEED TECHNOLOGY
SELECTION OF SEED
Slurry treat the graded seed with Carbendazim at 2 g or Thiram 75% WDP at 4 g in 5 ml water
per kg of seed.
59
NURSERY SOWING
Sow in rill not deeper than 1 cm in raised bed and sprinkle with 200 kg of powdered FYM.
Level and compact the surface lightly.
SPACING, MANURES Etc., RECOMMENDED PACKAGES
Harvesting
First harvest when 50% of the earheads on the crop turn brown. The second harvest a week
to 10 days later when all the remaining earheads turn brown (Spikelets are non-shattering).
POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
i. Threshing
Green earheads if harvested will contaminate the seeds with immature seeds and interfere
cleaning, drying and grading. Dry earheads until seed moisture content is 15% and separate
manually by threshing with pliable bamboo stick or machine thresher.
ii. Precleaning and drying
Threshed seeds should be precleaned before sundrying, seeds must be dried to 12% before
grading.
iii.Grading
(Bold seeds retained by BSS 12 x 12 will be between 70 and 77%)
a. BSS 10 x 10 (aperture width 2.4 mm) as scalper.
b. BSS 12 x 12 (aperture width 2.0 mm) as grader for CO 7, CO 10, CO 11 and PR 202
Processing loss will be 10 to 15%.
iv. Seed treatment :
a. As above in the selection of seed
b. Pre-sowing hardening : Soak seeds in 0.5% Ca Cl2 at 1:1 ratio until visible expression of
embryonic growth. Air dry to original moisture content.
v. Storage, package, labeling
Seed retains viability and vigour better than any other cereal crop with marginal storage facilities
in hot humid areas. On less humid places use fresh gada cloth for short term storage. For long
term storage, in humid places 700 gauge polythene bag may be used.
MAIZE ( Zea mays )

SEASON STRAIN
Rainfed
1. Adipattam (July - August) COH 1, CO 1, COH 2, COH 3, COBC 1
2. Purattasipattam (September - October) CO 1, COH 1, COH 2, COH 3, COBC 1
3. Thaipattam (January -February) K 1, Ganga 5, COH 1, CO 1, COH 2
COH 3, COBC 1
II.PREPARATION OF THE FIELD (IRRIGATED CROP)
In Western Zone black soils, plough the field with disc plough once followed by cultivator
ploughing twice along with composted coir pith @12.5 t/ha and 150% recommended N to enhance
the yield in maize-sunflower cropping sequence.
Plough twice with an iron plough or three or four times with a country plough. In between the
ploughing, break the clods, if necessary, or plough six times with a country plough till a fine tilth is
obtained.

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field
along with 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and incorporate in the soil.
60
Maize
3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS OR BEDS
i. Form ridges and furrows, 6 m long and 60 cm apart.
ii. Form irrigation channels across the furrows.
iii. If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the
availability of water.
iv. Use a bund former or ridge plough to economise cost of production.
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test
recommendation is not available adopt a blanket recommendation of 135:62.5:50 NPK
kg/ha.
ii. Apply quarter of the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing.
iii. In the case of ridge planted crop, open a furrow 6 cm deep on the side of the ridge at two
thirds the distance from the top of the ridge.
iv. Apply the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
v. If bed system of planting is followed, open furrows 6 cm deep at a distance of 60 cm
apart.
vi. Place the fertilizer mixture along the furrows evenly and cover to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
vii. When Azospirillum is used as seed and soil application, apply 100 kg of N/ha (25%
reduction on the total N recommended by soil test).
5.DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Nitrogen deficiency: Leaves become yellow, older leaves show drying at tips with progress
along mid veins, stalks become slender.
Phosphorus deficiency : Leaves are purplish green during early growth. Growth spindly,
slow maturity, irregular ear formation.
Potassium deficiency : Leaves show yellow or yellowish green streaks - become corrugated
- Tips and marginal scorch. Tips end in ears are poorly filled. Stalks have short internode - plants
become weak and may fall down.
Magnesium deficiency : Older or lower leaves are the first to become chlorotic at margins
and between veins. Streaked appearance of leaves. Necrotic or chlorotic spots seen in leaves.
Zinc deficiency : Older leaves have yellow streaks or chlorotic striping between veins. In
several cases, unfolding of young leaves may be white or yellow.
Iron deficiency : Interveinal chlorosis. The entire crop may exhibit bleached appearance.
6. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENT
i. 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu,
mixed with sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg/ha is to be applied.
ii. Apply the mixture over the furrows and two thirds in the top of ridges, if ridge planting is
followed.
iii. If bed system of sowing is followed, apply the micronutrient mixture over the furrows.
iv. Do not incorporate the micronutrient mixture in the soil.
III. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD
1. SEED RATE
Select good quality seeds and adopt the seed rate; hybrids - 15 kg/ha and varieties 20 kg/ha.
2. SPACING:
Adopt a spacing of 20 cm between plants in the rows which are 60 cm apart. Population :
80,600/ha
61
3. PRE-TREATMENT OF THE SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES
i. Treat the seeds with Metalaxyl or Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g per kg of seed.
ii. Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum.
iii. Halogenise the seeds with either chlorine or iodine as dry or slurry at 3 g/kg seeds and
store in Polylined cloth to maintain seed viability for more than 10 months.
4. SOWING
i. Dibble the seeds at a depth of 4 cm along the furrow in which fertilizers are placed and
covered with soil.
ii. Put one seed per hole in the case of Ganga 5, CO 1 and two seeds per hole in the case
of K 1.
5. WEED MANAGEMENT
i. Apply the pre-emergence herbicide, Atrazine 50 WP at 500 g/ha (900 lit of water) 3 days
after sowing as spray on the soil surface using Backpack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted
with flat fan (or) deflection type of nozzle followed by one hand weeding on 40-45 days
after sowing. For maize + Soybean intercropping System, apply pre-emergence Alachlor
at 4.0 l/ha or Pendimethalin at 3.3 l/ha on 3rd day after sowing as spray.
ii. Apply herbicide when there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
iii. Do not disturb the soil after herbicide application.
iv. Hoe and hand weed on the 17th or 18th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied.
NOTE: If pulse crop is to be raised as intercrop, do not use Atrazine.
i. Leave only one healthy and vigorous seedling per hole and remove the other on the 7th or
8th day of sowing.
ii. Where seedlings have not germinated, dibble seeds at the rate of 2 seeds per hill and
immediately pot water.
7. PEST MANAGEMENT
i. Mix any of the granular insecticides with sand to make up a total quantity of 50 kg and
apply in the leaf whorls on the 20th day of sowing : Quinalphos 5 G 15 kg/ha, Carbaryl 4
G 20 kg/ha.
ii. If granular insecticides are not used, spray Quinalphos 25 EC 1 lit or Carbaryl 50 WP 1
kg/ha on the 20th day of sowing for the control of stemborer, weevils and aphids (500 l of
spray fluid/ha).
8. NEMATODE
If lesion nematodes are present apply Carbofuron 3 G at 30 kg/ha in the seed holes at the time
of sowing.
i. Downy mildew : CO 1, COH 1 and COH 2 are resistant to downy mildew. Rogue out
affected plants. Spray Metalaxyl 72 WP @ 1 kg/ha, Mancozeb 1 kg/ha 20 days after
sowing.
ii. Leaf spot : Spray Mancozeb or Captan 1 kg/ha when the disease intensity reaches
grade 3.
10. HOEING, HAND-WEEDING AND EARTHING UP
i. Hoe and hand-weed on the 30th day of sowing.
ii. Demolish the original ridges.
iii. Earth up and form new ridges so that the plants come directly on the top of the ridges.
This will provide additional anchorage to the plants.
11. TOP DRESSING WITH N
i. Open a furrow 5 cm depth along the base of the ridge (10 cm away from the base of the
plants) with a hand-hoe or stick.
ii. Place half of the dose of N on the 25th day of sowing along the furrows evenly and cover
it with soil.
62
Maize
12. APPLICATION OF INSECTICIDES
i.
Apply any one of the granular insecticides as in item 7, if the pests persist.
ii.
If granular insecticides are not applied, mix any one of the following sprayable insecticides
and fungicides and spray simultaneously on the 35th day of sowing : Quinalphos 25 EC
1 lit/ha, Carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha (500 l spray fluid/ha).
NOTE: Use alternate chemicals for each application and do not repeat the same chemical.
13. APPLICATION OF FUNGICIDES
Mancozeb 1.25 kg/ha. Mix fungicides with insecticides if initial foliar symptoms of diseases
are noticed.
14. SECOND TOP DRESSING WITH N
Place the remaining quarter of N on the 45th day of planting as furrow application at a depth
of 5 cm and 10 cm away from the base of the plants and cover with soil.
IV. WATER MANAGEMENT
Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Germination phase 1 to 14 days
Vegetative phase 15 to 39 days
Flowering phase 40 to 65 days
Maturity phase 66 to 95 days
Heavy soils
Stage No.of Days after sowing
irrigation K1/COH 1 Ganga 5
Irrigate for germination 1 Irrigate after sowing Irrigate after sowing
2 Life irrigation 4th day Life irrigation4th day
Vegetative Phase 1 12th day‘ 12th day
2 25th day 25th day
3 36th day 36th day
NOTE : Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate
irrigation according to the requirement.
Irrigate copiously during
the flowering phase 1 48th day 48th day
2 60th day 60th day
Control irrigation during
maturity phase 1 72nd day 76th day
Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvest.
NOTE : Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (40 to 65 days after
sowing); otherwise yield will be reduced by a considerable extent. Skipping irrigation at
seedling, knee high and dough stage may be followed under water scarce situation.
Light soils
Irrigate for germination 1 Irrigate after sowing Irrigate after sowing
2 Life irrigation Life irrigation
4th day 4th day
Vegetative Phase 1 12th day 12th day
2 22nd day 22nd day
3 31st day 32nd day
4 40th day
Irrigate copiously 1 42nd day 50th day
during the flowering 2 52nd day 50th day
3 62nd day 72nd day
4 72nd day 80th day
Control irrigation
during maturity phase 1 75th day 99th day
Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvest
63
Yield maximisation: Adopt plant population of 1,11,000 plants (60 x 15 cm) with NPK at
200:100:80 kg/ha. Apply N and K in three equal splits at sowing, knee high and tasseling stages.
Apply ZnSO4 at 25 kg/ha as basal in addition to other recommended practices.
V. HARVESTING THE CROP

1. STAGE OF HARVEST
i. Observe the following symptoms, taking into consideration the average duration of the
crop. The sheath covering the cob will turn yellow and dry at maturity.
ii. The seeds become fairly hard and dry. At this stage the crop is ready for harvest.
2. HARVESTING THE CROP
i. Break off or cut and remove the cobs alone along with the sheath.
ii. Remove the sheath to separate the cob.
iii. Carry out harvest operations at a single stage.
3. THRESHING THE COBS
i. Dry the cobs in the sun till the grains are dry.
ii. Use mechanical threshers for threshing or beat with a stick and separate the grains from
the cob.
iii. Clean the seeds by winnowing
iv. Collect and store the dry grains in gunnies.
4. STACKING THE STRAW FOR FEEDING CATTLE
i. Do not dry maize fodder as it is a good cattle feed when green.
ii. Harvest the crop and cut the green straw into bits with a chaff cutter or chopping knife
and feed the cattle.
VI. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
1. COB BORER
Apply any one of the insecticides at silk drying stage. Carbaryl 10 % dust 25 kg/ha or carbaryl
50 WP 1.0 kg/ha. Repeat the insecticidal application 15 days later (500 l spray fluid/ha).
In deep black clayey soils of Western Zone (Periyanaickenpalayam Soil series), the low
permeability and poor infiltration are the main soil problems.
To over come these physical constraints, in a maize-groundnut cropping sequence, ploughing
the field with mould board plough once, followed by disc harrowing twice for the first crop of maize
and working the cultivator twice for the second crop of groundnut can be done.
RAINFED MAIZE
1. FIELD PREPARATION:
Chisel the soil having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M
interval first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one
once in three years. Apply 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith besides
chiselling, to get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST:
Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed
field along with 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and incorporate in the soil.
3. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER
i. Apply NPK as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation
is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 60 : 30 : 30 NPK kg/ha for Alfisols
and 40 : 20 : 0 NPK kg/ha for Vertisols.
ii. Apply half of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O with enriched FYM as basal along with
Azospirillum (10 packets/ha).
64
Maize
iii. Top dress remaining half of N at tasseling.
4. SEED RATE
Select good quality seeds. Adopt the seed rate; Hybrid - 15 kg/ha and varieties - 20 kg/ha.
5. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants in the row.
Population : 1,11,000 plants/ha.
6. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

i. Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seeds
ii. Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum
7. SOWING
Dibble or drill the seeds at a depth of 4 cm.
8. CROPPING SYSTEMS
i. Intercropping system of maize + cowpea or maize + blackgram is recommended for
higher net returns in the red lateritic soils of Southern districts.
ii. For Vertisols of Southern district, maize + redgram intercropping systems is ideal.
VII. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEASON
November - December
2. SPACING
Give a spacing of 45 x 10 cm for varieties and 60 x 25 cm hybrids (CO 1).
3. SEED RATE
Use a seed rate of 10 kg/ha.
4. PLANTING RATIO
For multiplication of ‘A’ line (A x B) 12 kg/ha, 4 kg/ha plant in the ratio of 4 : 2 to female to male
line.
Basal : 40:75:40 NPK kg/ha. Top dressing 20th day 50:0:0 NPK in kg/ha. Top dressing 40th
day 60:0:35 kg/ha. For CO 1 hybrid, 200 : 100 : 100.
6. HARVESTING
Harvest the crop when the husk completely turns into straw colour. Manual dehusking is
better. Sort the cobs true to type (remove ill filled diseased cobs and cobs having kernel colour
variation).
7. SHELLING
The shelling moisture content should be 15 - 18%. Shelling the seed cob by beating with
a pliable stick and also by maize sheller is safer to seed quality. Injury due to improper shelling
amounts to 48% pericarp injury will promote Penicillium sp. Mechanical injury can be estimated
by treating the kernels with 20% FeCl3 or staining with 0.25% tetrazolium solution.
8. GRADING
Grade the seeds in cleaner using the sieve with a size 18/64" (7.28 mm).
9. SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat seeds with 8% moisture content either with Captan or Thiram 75% WP @ 70 g/
100 kg with 0.5 litre of water. Treated seeds can be stored for one year in cloth bag.
65
MAIZE - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
PARTICULARS K1 Ganga 5 CO 1 COH 1
Parentage Composite (CM-111xCM202) Unit Selection UMI 29xUMI 51
variety x cm 500 Indonesian popu-
lation Suwan 1
Duration (days) 80 - 85 100 - 110 105 - 110 90 - 95
Area of Adoption Pudukottai & Entire State Coimbatore, All districts
Pattukottai Erode,Tiru-
nelveli,
Thanjavur &
Pudukottai
Rainfed/Irrigated Both Both Both Both
Grain yield kg/ha
Irrigated 3000 4000 6250 5000
Rainfed 2000 3000 3380 3750
Special features Short duration Suited for Resistant to Short duration
drought tolerant factory downy mildew, drought tole-
possesses good purposes well developed rant, resistant
cooking and ears to downy
keeping quality mildew
Sheath colour Green Green Deep orange Deep yellow
grain colour and flint type
Node colour Green Green Green Green
Mid rib White White White White
Cob size Medium Big Big Medium
Husk coverage Full Full Full Full
Grain colour Yellow Deep yellow Deep orange Deep yellow
Nature of kernels Flint Flint or semi-flint Flint Flint
PARTICULARS COH2 COH 3 COBc1 (Baby corn)

Parentage UMI 810 x (UMI 101 x UMI 130) x Composite involving UMI 836
UMI 90 (UMI 90 x UMI 285) and UMI 836-1-2-55-65
Duration (days) 100 - 105 100 55 - 65
Area of Adoption Coimbatore, Coimbatore, Dindigul All maize growing
Erode, Than- Erode, Thanjavur, areas
javur, Pudu- Pudukottai,
kottai, Madurai,
Theni, Tirunelveli
Thoothukudi
Rainfed/Irrigated Both Both Both
Grain yield kg/ha
Irrigated 5400 5023 6.7 t tender cobs kg/ha &
Rainfed 3500 4215 32.3 t green fodder/ha
3 t tender cobs/ha
Special features Resistant to Resistant to downy First Baby corn, multiple cob
downy mildew mildew, very high seed production (2 to 3 cobs/plant)
and bold grain set, high starch, tender cobs between 50 to
high protein 65 days
Sheath colour Green Green
Node colour Green Green Green
Mid rib White White White
Cob size Medium Big Small
Husk coverage Full Nil Nil
Grain colour Yellow Orange Yellow
Nature of kernels Flint Flint Dent
66
Small Millets
SMALL MILLETS
1. SEASON AND VARIETIES
Crop Districts grown
Tenai Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem, Namakkal,

Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
Samai Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi .
Varagu Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur,
Nagapattinam, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni and Ramanathapuram.
Panivaragu Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
Kudiraivali Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi.
Particulars Variety Duration (Days)

1. TENAI
Rainfed
a) June-July (Hill slopes of Coimbatore and CO 5 90
Erode Districts) K 3 82
CO 6 85 - 90
b) September-October CO 4 65
(Coimbatore and Southern CO 5 90
districts) CO 6 85 - 90
Irrigated
a) February-March K 2 80
b) September-October CO 5 90
CO 6 85 - 90
2. SAMAI
a) June-July (Hill slopes CO 2 55
of Coimbatore and Erode districts) CO 3 80 - 95
b) July-August (Dharmapuri) Paiyur 1 105
CO 3 80-85
c) September-October K 1 100
CO 3 80 - 85
CO3 for All samai growing areas of Tamil Nadu.
3. VARAGU
Rainfed
a) June-July K 1 100
b) July-August CO 3 120
APK 1 100
Vamban 1 95 - 100
4. PANIVARAGU
Rainfed
a) September-October K 1 70
CO 2 80
CO 3 80
CO 4 75
K 2 75
67
Irrigated
a) February-March K 1 60
5. KUDIRAIVALI
Rainfed
a) September-October CO 1 105
Irrigated
a) February-March CO 1 105
Package of practices for Tenai

Varieties : CO 4, K2 and K3
Duration : CO 4 : 65 days
CO 5 : 90 days
K2 : 80 days
K3 : 82 days
Season : Rainfed
June - July : CO 5, K3
(Hill slopes of Coimbatore
and Erode districts)
September - October : CO 4, CO 5
(Coimbatore and Southern
districts)
Irrigated
February - March : K2
September - October : CO 5
Seeds and sowing : For line planting : 10 kg/ha
For sowing : 12.5 kg/ha
Use of Gorru or seed drill is recommended.
Seed treatment : Treat 1 kg of seeds with 2 g Thiram or Carbendazim.
Field preparation : Plough the field thoroughly using a small iron plough or country
plough to fine tilth.
Fertilizer application : Apply basally FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha
Nitrogen 44 kg/ha
Phosphorus 22 kg/ha
Spacing : For line planting 22 x 10 cm, for sowing 10 cm in between plants
Weeding : First weeding is done on the 15th DAS and the second weeding
on 40th DAS
Thinning : Thinning is done soon after weeding or before 20 DAS
Plant Protection : Generally no major problem of pests and diseases
Package of practices for Samai
Varieties : CO 2, Paiyur 1, K1, CO 3
Duration : CO 2 : 55 days
Paiyur 1 : 105 days
K1 : 100 days
CO 3 : 80 - 85 days
Season : June - July : CO 2, CO 3
(Hill slopes of Coimbatore
and Erode districts)
July - August (Dharmapuri) : Paiyur 1, CO 3
September - October : K1, CO 3
(Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi)
68
Small Millets
Seeds and sowing : For line planting 10 kg/ha
For sowing 12.5 kg/ha
Field preparation : Plough the field thoroughly 2 or 3 times using a small iron plough
or country plough to fine tilth.
Fertilizer application : Apply basally
FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha,
Nitrogen 44 kg/ha,
Phosphorus 22 kg/ha,
Spacing : For line planting 25 x 10 cm for sowing 10 cm in between plants
Weeding : First weeding is done on the 15th DAS
and the second weeding on 40th DAS
Plant Protection : Usually no major problem of pests and diseases
Pakcage of practices for Varagu
Varieties : K1, CO 3, APK 1
Duration : K1 : 100 days; CO 3 : 120 days; APK 1 : 100 days
Season : Rainfed
June - July : K 1; July - Aug : CO 3; Sep - Jan : APK 1
Seeds and sowing : For line planting 10 kg/ha; For sowing 12.5 kg/ha
Field preparation : Plough the field thoroughly using a small iron plough or country
plough to fine tilth.
Fertilizer application : Apply basally FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha; Nitrogen 44 kg/ha
Phosphorus 22 kg/ha
Spacing : For line planting 45 x 10 cm for sowing 10 cm in between plants
Weeding : First weeding is done on the 15th DAS
and the second weeding on 40th DAS
Plant Protection : Generally no major problem of pests and diseases
SMALL MILLETS - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
PARTICULARS Kudiraivali CO 1 Kudiraivali K 2
Parentage Pureline selection from Single plant selection from local
Coimbatore local
Duration (days) 75 90
Pigmentation Green Green
Tillering ability High Profuse
Panicles Loose density subsent Compact - Secondary branches incurved
Grain Character Yellow Dull white
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 1750 1250
Special features No major Non-lodging and
diseases noted drought tolerant
69
SMALL MILLETS - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION (CONTD...)
PARTICULARS Tenai CO 4 Tenai CO 5 Tenai K 2 Tenai K3 CO 6 Tenai
Parentage Selection Hybrid deriva- Reselection Selection Hybrid
from Gujarat vative of from Japanese from SIA 2567 derivative of
local CO1 x A113/2 type CO 5 x ISe 301
Duration (days) 65 - 70 90 - 95 80 82 85-90
Pigmentation Base purple Green Green Green --
throughout
Tillering ability High Moderate to Moderate Moderate High
high
Panicles Small Bold, profusely Compact and Long cylin- Long and
profusely bristled with nonshedding drical panicle drooping
bristled blunt tip
Grain Buff Pink Yellow Bold & Yellow
Character Yellow seeds Small grains
Yield (kg/ha) 600 1200 Rainfed 1700 1620 Rainfed 1565
Irrigated 3800 Straw 3.7 t/ha
Special features Specially Rust resistant Tolerant to Non-lodging, Suitable for

suited to pest and tolerant to irrigated &
mixed and diseases under drought, major rainfed conditi-
multiple field pests and ons good grain
cropping conditions diseases quality rich in
protein, fat and
minerals than
CO 5
PARTICULARS Samai K1 Samai CO 2 Samai Paiyur 1 Samai CO 3
Parentage Reselection Selection Pureline Selection from

from PM 368 Ananthapur germplasm bank
Duration (days) 90 80 - 85 105 - 110 80 - 85
Pigmentation Green Green ...
Tillering ability Moderate Moderate Moderate High
Panicles Loose, Open Well branched Semi compact —

open & Loose Long
Grain Character Buff colour Brown & small Brown Brown
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

Rainfed 1300 700 870 1066
Special features ... ... .... Bold grain Nonlodging
suits for early & late
sowing
70
Small Millets
SMALL MILLETS - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION (CONTD...)
PARTICULARS Varagu K1 Varagu CO 3 Varagu APK 1 Vamban1 Varagu
Parentage Reselection Selection from Selection from Pureline selection
from IPM 600 Georgia var. Pune varagu from a germ-
Culture PSC 5 plasm line Pali.
Duration (days) 100 120 100 95-100
Pigmentation Green Purple stem Green Basal pigmentation
Tillering ability Profuse High Moderate High

Panicles Compact Well exposed Loose & Open Medium
clusters
spikelets
Grain Character Dark brown Brown & Bold withDark brown Brown
hard seed coat
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 1800 1500 - 1800 2400 1683
Special features Shorter than Tolerant to Short duration Resistant to
CO 2 Varagu smut, short non-lodging & sheath blight &
duration non-shattering smut diseases.
suitable for early Tolerant to shoot
and late sown fly pest. Rich
seasons within starch, amylose
stands short protein than CO 3
periods of inter-
mittant drought,
tolerant to downy
mildew, smut, ergot
& stemborer.
PARTICULARS Panivaragu Panivaragu Panivaragu Panivaragu Panivaragu

K1 K2 CO 2 CO 3 CO 4
Parentage Pureline sele- Selection from Selection from Selection from Pureline
ction from PV1685 Manjanaikanur Coimbatore selection from
Kovilpatti local local local collection
local of TNAU
Duration (days) 65 75 70 - 75 80 75
Pigmentation Green Green Green Green Green
throughout throughout
Tillering ability Moderate to High Moderate to Moderate to High
high high high
Panicles Loose & long Loose Dense Loose and Loose density
with more no. subsequent spear shaped subscent
of branches drooping
Grain Character Smoky white Grey Shining yellow Shining yellow Golden
bold yellow
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed Rainfed 1380 3184 1200 - 1500 1500 1500
Irrigated 2010
Special features A very short Non-lodging Non-lodging Tolerant to High tillering
duration type drought tolerant tolerant to head smut wider
drought Non-shattering drought adaptability
and responsive suitable for late stable
to fertilisers sown conditions
71
WHEAT ( Triticum spp. )
District Season Varieties
Coimbatore, Erode, Winter HD 2189 (85 - 90 days)
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri (Nov - Feb) DWR 39 (85 - 90 days)
* Sowing should be done within the first fortnight of November.
II. SEED RATE
For a pure crop 125 kg/ha is needed.
III. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD PREPARATION

Plough twice with an iron plough and two to three times with country plough and prepare the
land to a fine tilth.

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH FUNGICIDES

Treat the seeds with any one of the fungicides, 24 hours before sowing. Carbendazim or Thiram
at 2 g/kg of seeds.
4. FORMING BEDS AND CHANNEL

Form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the availability of water. ii. Use a bund former
to economise cost of production.
i. Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test
recommendation is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 80:40:40 NPK kg/ha.
ii. Apply half of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing and incorporate in the
sowing line.
6. SOWING
Draw the lines 20 cm apart and sow the seeds continuously after application of fertilizers to a
depth of 3 cm. Avoid deep sowing and thinning the seedlings.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
i. Spray Isoproturon 800 g/ha as pre-emergence spraying 3 days after sowing followed by
one hand weeding on 35th day after sowing.
ii. If herbicide is not applied, give two hand weedings on 20th and 35th day after sowing.
8. WATER MANAGEMENT
The crop requires 4 - 6 irrigations depending on the soil type and rainfall. The critical stages for
irrigation are crown root initiation (21 days), late tillering (35 days), late jointing (45 days), flowering
(60 days) and milk stage (75 days). Of which, crown root initiation and flowering are the most critical
stages. Water stagnation should be avoided at the time of germination.
9. TOP DRESSING
Apply remaining half of N at crown root initiation stage (20 - 25 days).
10. HARVESTING
Harvest the crop when the grains become hard and straw becomes dry and brittle. Trash and
winnow the grains. Use mechanical threshers to reduce the cost of threshing and winnowing.
11. YIELD:
2000 kg/ha.
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Pulses
PULSES
REDGRAM ( Cajanus cajan )
District/season Varieties
Adipattam (June - August)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Erode SA 1, CO 4, CO 5,
Coimbatore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem, Namakkal CO 6*, COH 1, COH 2
* For all districts
Pudukottai Vamban 1
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul,
Theni, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, CO 4, CO 5
Thoothukudi, Sivagangai
Purattasipattam (September - November)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, CO 5, COH 1, COH 2
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni
Summer (February - March)
All districts except theThe Nilgiris and Kanyakumari CO 5, COH 1, COH 2
Pudukottai Vamban 1
Wetlands bunds SA 1, CO 3, CO 4, BSR 1
Note: CO 4 redgram can be sown in late August
II. SEED RATE
Quantity of seed required kg/ha
Strains SA 1 CO 3 CO 4 CO 5 CO 6 Vamban 1 COH 1 COH 2
Pure Crop 10 25 25 25 10 20 10 25
Mixed Crop 5.0 12.5 12.5 12.5 5 10 5 ..
SA 1, CO 3, CO 4 and BSR 1 (Bund Planting) 50 g/100 metre
Select good seeds from pest and disease free plants.
III. DESCRIPTION OF REDGRAM VARIETIES
PARTICULARS SA 1 CO 3 CO 4
Parentage Pureline selection Mutant CO 1 Pureline selection
from Thirupattur from gene pool
50% flowering (days) 120 - 130 90 - 95 90 - 95
Duration (days) 180 130 130
Grain Yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 1250 1180 980
Irrigated — 1400 1750
Height (cm) 120 - 150 105 - 110 120
Branches 12-16 11-12 10-12
Plant spread Semi spreading Erect Semi spreading
Colour of standard yellow with faint red Yellow Yellow with purple
petal veins veins
Colour of pod Green with purple Green with purple Green with purple
streaks streaks streaks
Colour of grain Pale reddish brown Reddish brown Light brown
100 seed weight (g) 8.5 7.2 8.5
Pattern of growth NDT DT NDT
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PARTICULARS CO 5 BSR 1 CO 6
Parentage Mutant CO 1 Pureline selection Mutant of SA 1
from Mayiladum- (25Kr gamma
parai, Madurai rays)
50% flowering 70 - 75 100 - 110 120 - 130
(days)
Duration (days) 110 180 170 - 180
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 760 0.75 - 1.0 kg of 893
green pods/plant
Irrigated 1440 .. ..
Height (cm) 90 150 - 200 166
Branches 7-8 7-10 8-12
Plant spread Semi spreading Semi spreading Semi spreading
Colour of yellow with Red at dorsal side Yellow with light
standard petal purple veins purple
Colour of pod Green with Red with diagnal Green with
purple streaks constriction purple streaks
Colour of grain Red brown Reddish brown Reddish brown
100 seed weight(g) 8 12 8.8
Pattern of growth NDT NDT NDT
NDT: Non-Determinate DT : Determinate
Vamban 1 COH 1 COH 2

Parentage (Prabath x NY3C) MS T 21 x ICPL 87109 MS Co 5 x ICPL 83027
x (T21 x ICP 102)
50% flowering (days) 70 65-70 60 to 75
Duration (days) 95 - 100 115-120 120 - 130
Grain yield(Kg/ha) Rainfed - 840 Rainfed - 936 Irrigated - 1050
Irrigated - 1200 Irrigated - 1500
Height (cm) 80 - 90 100-150 70 - 90
Branches 4-5 9 to 12 4 to 6
Plant spread Erect
Colour of standard Yellow Yellow with red to dark Yellow with faint
Petal red veins throughout red veins
Colour of Pod Green and purple Green with purple Green with purple
streaks when young
and brown at maturity.
Colour of grain Medium,square& Light brown Tan brown
brown coloured
100 seed weight(g) 6.7 10.3 9.0 to 9.4
Pattern of growth DT NDT (Non determinate) NDT
IV. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATION

1. PREPARATION OF THE LAND
Prepare the land to fine tilth.
2. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed 24 hours before sowing (or) with
talc formulation of Trichoderma virdie @ 4g/kg of seed (or) Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg
seed. Bio control agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with Biocontrol
agents and then with Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
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Pulses
3. TREATMENT OF THE SEEDS WITH BACTERIAL CULTURE
a) Fungicide treated seeds should be again treated with a bacterial culture. Treat with Rhizobial
culture CC 1. There should be an interval of atleast 24 hours after fungicidal treatment for
giving the bacterial culture treatment. For red lateritic soil Rhizobial culture VPR 1 is effective.
b) Three packets of Rhizobial culture are sufficient for treating seeds required for one ha.
The bacterial culture slurry may be prepared with rice kanji. Dry the bacterial culture
treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
a) Apply fertilizers basally before sowing.
Rainfed : 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5/ha
Irrigated : 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha
b) Soil application of 25 kg DAP/ha and foliar application of 25 kg DAP/ha with 25 kg of
sulphur as gypsum (110 kg / ha) or 2% urea in two sprays at flower commencement and
15 days after may be given.
c) Treat the seeds at 8 - 9% moisture with halogen mixture (containing pure CaOCl, CaCO3
and arappu leaf powder as 5:5:1 ratio @ 3 g/kg and store in 700 gauge polybags to maintain
high germination for more than 10 months.
5. APPLICATION OF NAA
Apply 40 ppm of NAA (40 mg/litre). This may be advantageously mixed with urea and sprayed.
6. SOWING THE SEEDS

Dibble the seeds adopting the following spacing.
Strain Pure crop Mixed crop
SA 1 90 cm x 30 cm 240 cm x 30 cm
CO 2 45 cm x 30 cm ———
CO 3 45 cm x 30 cm ———
CO 4 45 cm x 30 cm ———
CO 5, Vamban 1 45 cm x 20 cm ———
COH 1 45 cm x 20 cm
COH 2 45 cm x 15 cm
CO 6 90 cm x 30 cm 240 cm x 30 cm
Bund Crop 60 cm for SA 1, BSR 1 and
30 cm for others.
* Optimum populations - 1,60,000/plants/ha
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Spray Fluchloralin 1.5 l/ha (or) Pendimethalin 2 l/ha 3 days after sowing mixed with 900 l of
water using Backpack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer using flat fan type of nozzle. Then irrigate
the field. Following this, one hand weeding may be given on 30-35 days after sowing.
Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin at 1 Kg ai ha-1 followed by one hand weeding
is also effective in controlling weeds.
ii) If herbicide is not given, give two hand weedings on 15 and 35 days after sowing.
8. PROTECTION OF THE SEEDLINGS AGAINST INSECT PESTS
If sucking pests are noted, spray Methyldemeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml; or
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 250 ml/ha (250 l spray fluid/ha).
9. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, 3rd day after sowing, bud initiation, 50 % flowering and pod
development stages. Water stagnation should be avoided.
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10. PROTECTING INFLORESCENCE AND PODS FROM POD BORERS
The economic threshold levels for the following insects are;
a. Maruca testulalis spotted borer - 3/plant
b. Exelastes atomosa pod borer - 5/plant
Whenever Helicoverpa is predominant, apply NPV at 500 LE/ha in 0.1% Teepol.Apply any one
of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha, Endosulfan 4% D; Quinalphos 4% D; Carbaryl 5% D or
spray per ha, Endosulfan 35 EC 1.25 lit., Monocrotophos 36 WSC 625 ml. Spraying NSKE 5% twice
followed by triazophos 0.05%
NSKE 5%, Neem oil 2% and phosalone 0.07% are effective in the management of pest complex
and for higher yield.

i) Sterility mosaic: Rogue out the infected plants in the early stages of growth. Spray
monocrotophos 500 ml/ha on noticing the initial symptoms and repeat after a fortnight.
ii) Wilt and root rot:
a. Spot drench around the base of the affected plants as well as healthy plants surrounding
them with carbendazim @ 1 g/litre for wilt and root rot.
b. Soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of well
decomposed FYM/sand at 30 days after sowing.
iii) Varieties VRI 1 and TMV 3 are moderately resistant to cyst nematodes.
Harvest the plants when 80% of the pods are mature. Stack the plants for a few days.
13. INTER-CROPPING
Raising one row of redgram as inter crop for every six rows of groundnut (6:1) is recommended
for Aliyarnagar region during Kharif season.
a) Multistoreyed cropping: For rainfed Vertisols of Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
districts recording more than 300 mm of rainfall during the crop growth period, multistoreyed
cropping system Agathi + Redgram (CO 5) + Cotton (MCU 10) + Blackgram (CO 5) is
highly profitable. (Agathi in I tier with 1 x 1 m spacing - Redgram in II tier with a spacing of
45 x 20 cm - Cotton in the III tier with a spacing of 45 x 15 cm - Blackgram in the IV tier with
the spacing of 30 x 10 cm).
For rainfed Vertisols receiving less than 300 mm of rainfall, Agathi + Sorghum (CO 26) +
Cotton (MCU 10) + Blackgram (CO 5) system is ideal. For both systems, apply 40 kg N
and 20 kg P2O5/ha. (Agathi in I tier with a spacing of 1 x 1 m - sorghum in II tier with a
spacing of 45 x 15 cm - cotton in III tier with the spacing of 45 x 15 cm and Blackgram in IV
tier with 30 x 10 cm).
14. PROTECTING THE SEEDS FROM STORAGE PESTS
a) Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10%.
b) SEED: Admix one kg of activated clay (or) Malathion 5% for every 100 kg of seed. Pack
in polythene lined gunny bags for storage.
15. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
Greengram/Blackgram/Cowpea/Redgram
Zinc: Symptom appears within a month of sowing. The plants are stripped with yellow or pale
green foliage. Veins and mid ribs of the leaves are green although tissue around them becomes
yellow and bronzed.
Iron: Reduced concentration of Chlorophyll in leaves - pale leaf colour may be indistinguishable
from deficiency of nitrogen or other elements.
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Pulses
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SELECTION OF SEED FOR SOWING
Remove all discoloured seeds. Use only highly germinable (90% and above) and normal coloured
seeds retained by the wiremesh sieve, B.S.S. 5 X 5 (aperture width 3.35 mm) for large seeded
varieties and B.S.S. 6 x 6 (2.8 mm) for small seeded varieties.
2. PRE-SOWING TREATMENT
Soak the seeds before sowing for 3 hrs in aqueous solution of ZnSo4 100 ppm (10 g/100 lit of
water) at 1/3 volume of seeds and quickly air dry in shade to their original weight.
3. SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat the seeds with Thiram 75% WDP @ 2 g dissolved in 5 ml of water per kg of seeds.
After air-drying, treat the seeds with the Rhizobial culture before sowing, following the recommended
procedures.
Basal 25 kg N + 50 Kg P2O5/ha
5. SUPPLEMENTARY FOLIAR APPLICATION

Spray 250 litres of aqueous solution containing urea, DAP, muriate of potash and potassium
sulphate at 10.0, 2.6, 1.75 and 1.4 kg respectively with the addition of succinic acid at 40 gm and
teepol at 120 ml per hectare on the 55th and 70th day after sowing. The spray application should be
made only in the afternoon.
6. SOWING
Dibble the seeds at about 4 to 5 cm depth at the side of the ridges.
7. SPACING
A spacing of 40 x 30 cm may be adopted.
8. HARVESTING
Pods should be harvested 40 days after the 50% flowering stage in order to obtain seeds
possessing high germination, vigour and storability.
9. PRE-HARVEST SANITATION SPRAY

3-5 days before harvesting, application of pre-harvest sanitation sprays with endosulfan or
malathion @ 0.07% will minimise bruchid infestation.
NOTE: At this stage, the majority of the pods (80%) will be tan-coloured. Pod moisture content will
be about 17 to 18 per cent.
10. POST HARVEST PROCESSING FOR STORING SEEDS
Dry the pods immediately to about 12 to 13 per cent moisture content and thresh to separate the
seeds in a pre-cleaner. Dry the seeds to 10 per cent moisture content. Size grade using wire mesh
sieve B.S.S. 5 x 5 (width of square aperture 3.35 mm) for large seeded varieties and 6 x 6 (2.8 mm)
for small seeded varieties and reject those that pass through these sieve as well as the discoloured
and broken seeds.
11. STORAGE
The graded seeds should be further dried to 7 to 8 per cent moisture content and treated with
any one of the following chemicals mentioned in the order of preferences.
i. Thiram 75% WP at 200 g dissolved in 500 ml of water per quintal of seeds.
ii. Captan 75% WDP at 200 g dissolved in 500 ml of water per quintal of seeds.
iii. For grain cum seed storage, activated clay, neem oil, groundnut oil, leaf powder of tobacco,
nochi, neem, Albizzia amara (arappu) and fruit rind powder of Sepindus laurifolius (Poochi
kottai) and Acacia concinna (Soapnut powder) also can be used for storage of seeds.
77
iv. For storing seeds in dry places like Coimbatore upto six months, they should be packed in
fresh gada cloth or gunny bags. For storing in humid areas and for long term (1-2 years)
storage they should be packed in moisture-vapour-proof container like polythene bags of
700 guage thickness. These bags should be filled with seeds leaving only sufficient space
to close their opening by perfectly heat-sealing to make it air tight. They should be stitched
and closed. These bags may in turn be covered by gunny bags and closed before stocking
to prevent slipping. Store the bags on racks or wooden pallets in a dry storage room.
Pigeon pea hybrid ICPH 8 produced during Kharif had better seed quality than summer. A
planting ratio of 1:6 (Male:Female) and application of 30:60:20 Kg NPK ha-1 is to be adopted.
Two foliar sprays of DAP 2% one at 50% flowering and the second at 10 days after,
augumented the seed yield and seed quality. The seeds attain physiological maturity 35
days after 50% flowering accompanied by change of pod colour from green to brown. The
hybrid seeds can be processed using 11/64" sieve. The seeds dried to 6% moisture content
and treated either with activated clay (10g Kg ha-1) or Thiram (2g Kg ha-1) and packed in
600 gauge polythene bag prevented bruchid and maintained 80% germination upto 8 months
under ambient condition. Seed parent (MS Prabhat DT) has better storage potential than
the pollinator (ICPL 161) or the hybrid (ICPH 8).
BSR 1 - PERENNIAL REDGRAM

BSR 1 Redgram a long duration variety having a duration of 180 days and can be kept
in fields for more than two years after ratooning. The plants are semi spreading with non-
determinate growth. It has become very popular not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Kerala
and Andhra Pradesh. The seeds are bold, just like peas, and when they are tender the
beans are pinkish green in colour and can be cooked as curry or added to Kurma or Sabji.
When the beans mature they can be used as Dhall.
BSR 1 variety is recommended for growing in kitchen gardens, backyards, farm road
sides, as border crop in sugarcane, banana and betelvine and as a shade crop in turmeric
and as a bund crop in paddy double cropped wetlands.
The best season for sowing this crop is June - July. Small pits are dug 90 cm apart
and the pits are filled with a mixture of well decomposed manure or compost and soil.
Fifteen grams of urea and 30 grams of superphosphate need to be applied in each pit. Two
to three seeds are dibbled per pit and watered. When they grow six inches height one plant
may be retained in each pit.
Watering is to be done as and when needed. The plant grows 150 - 200 cm in height
with 7 - 10 branches. It comes to flowering in about five months. If harvested when the
pods are tender the beans will be fit for making curry. Each plant will yield two to three kg
of green pods at an average seed yield of 750 g to one kg per plant. After the first harvest
the branches are pruned and allowed to grow further.
In another 45 - 60 days the plants produce the second flush. For pure crop, about 3 kg
of seeds may be required.
Y Y Y Y Y
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Pulses
BLACKGRAM ( Vigna mungo )
1.SEASON AND VARIETIES
District/Season Varieties
Adipattam (June-August)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Trichirapalli, CO 4, KM 2, T 9, VBN 1, VBN 2
Perambalur, Karur
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Pudukottai
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem and Namakkal KM 2, T 9, TMV 1, VBN 1, VBN 2
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai
Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi CO 5, KM 2, T 9, VBN 2
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni CO 5, KM 2, VBN 1
Erode, Coimbatore CO 4, CO 5, VBN 1, VBN 2
Puratasipattam (September-November)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal CO 5, KM 2, VBN1, K 1, VBN 2
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram,
Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli.
Erode,Coimbatore,Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur CO 5, VBN 1, VBN 2
Rice fallows (January)
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Trichirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur ADT 2, ADT 3, ADT 4,ADT 5
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi ADT 2, ADT 3, ADT 4,ADT 5, TMV 1
Summer (February-March)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvan-
namalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Dharmapuri
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchi- KM 2, TMV 1, ADT 5
rapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramana-
thapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar CO 5, KM 2, T 9
Tirunelveli, Thothukudi, Salem, Namakkal CO 5, KM 2
Erode, Coimbatore CO 5, CO 4, TMV 1
II. DESCRIPTION OF BLACKGRAM VARIETIES
Particulars CO 4 CO 5 KM 2
Parentage Mutant of CO 1 Pureline selec- Derivative from
tion from Musiri T9 x L.64
50% flowering (days) 35 35 - 40 30 - 35
Maturity duration (days) 70 70 - 75 60 - 65
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 640 740 690
Irrigated 1040 1270 ..
Rice fallows .. .. ..
Height (cm) 30 30 - 35 25 - 35
Clusters 10 to 12 10 to 12 10 to 12
Hairiness of pods Glabrous Hairy Hairy
Colour of grain Black & Dull Black & Dull Black with green
mottlings
100 grain wt (g) 5.7 5.1 4
79
Particulars VBN 1 T9 ADT 2
Parentage KM1xH76-1 Pureline Derivative from
selection T.Veli ADT 1
50% flowering (days) 30 - 35 30 - 35 30 - 35
Maturity duration (days) 60 - 65 65 - 70 70 - 75
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 700 .. ..
Irrigated 850 1000 ..
Rice fallows .. .. 970
Height (cm) 30 - 35 35 - 40 60
Clusters 12 to 13 10 to 12 25 - 30
Hairiness of pods Hairy Glabrous Hairy
Colour of grain Black Black & Dull Black & dull
100 grain wt (g) 4.6 4 4.7
Particulars ADT 3 TMV 1 ADT 4

Parentage Pureline selec- Derivative from 29/ADT2/plant
tion from T.Veli Midhiulundu xKM1 6114
50% flowering (days) 30 - 35 35 - 40 30 - 35
Maturity duration (days) 70 - 75 65 - 70 60 - 65
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated .. 1320 ..
Rice fallows 720 .. 600
Height (cm) 50 40 20 - 25
Clusters 10 to 15 15 - 18 ..
Hairiness of pods Hairy Hairy ..
Colour of grain Black & dull Black & Dull Black
100 grain wt (g) 3.6 5.7 4.99
Particulars ADT 5 K1 VBN 2

Parentage Pureline selec- CO 3 x US 131 Spontaneous mutant
from Kanpur variety from Type 9
50% flowering (days) 32 40 - 45 —
Maturity duration (days) 62 70 - 75 60 to 70
Grain yield (kg/ha) Rainfed - 707 750
Rice fallows 1323
Height (cm) 20 - 25 30 - 35 25 to 35
Clusters 13 - 15 10 to 13 —
Hairiness of pods Hairy Hairy Glabrous
Colour of grain Black Dull black —
100 grain wt (g) 3.6 5.3 gm —
III. SEED RATE

Quantity of seed required kg/ha
STRAIN Pure crop Mixed crop
KM 2, T 9, CO 5, TMV 1, VBN 1, VBN 2 20 10
CO 4, ADT 2, ADT 3, ADT 4, ADT 5, TMV 1

(Rice fallows) 25 ..
CO 4, ADT 2 (Wet land bunds) 50 g/100 m length ..
Optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha
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Pulses
IV. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS
i. Prepare the land to fine tilth and form beds and channels.
ii. Amendments for soil surface crusting: To tide over the soil surface crusting apply lime
at the rate of 2 t/ha along with FYM at 12.5 t/ha or composted coirpith at 12.5 t/ha to get an
additional yield of about 15 - 20%.
2. SEED TREATMENT
a) Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed (or) Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with Rhizobium.
b) Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg seed at least 24 h before sowing.
Note: Seed treatment will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens, root-rot and seedlings
diseases.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH BACTERIAL CULTURE
a) Fungicide treated seeds, should be again treated with a bacterial culture. There should be
an interval of atleast 24 hours between the fungicidal and bacterial culture treatments.
b) Three packets of multistrain rhizobium are sufficient for treating seeds required for one ha.
The bacterial culture slurry may be prepared with rice kanji. Dry the bacterial culture
treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
Note: Pre-monsoon sowing after the seeds treated with paste made of ash (500 g/kg of seeds)
plus 3% gum followed by 5 hrs shade drying is recommended. The rhizobial strain CoC 10 is
very effective.
4. FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Apply fertilizers basally before sowing as follows:
Rainfed - 12.5 g N + 25 kg P2O5/ha
Irrigated - 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha
Rice fallows - spray 2% Diammonium phosphate at flower initiation stage.
5. SOWING OF SEEDS
a) Apply Carbofuran 3 G (30 kg) or Aldicarb 10 G (10 kg)/ha in soil at the time of sowing
against stemfly and sucking pests. Spray Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha a week after
germination and again 10 days after first round. Seed pelleting with Dimethoate at 5 ml/kg
followed by one round of spraying with Endosulfan 0.035%.
Method of pelleting: Dissolve 1 g gum in 20 ml of water. Add 5 ml of Dimethoate. Pellet
seeds and shade dry.
b) Dibble the seeds adopting 30 cm x 10 cm spacing.
c) For rice fallows, broadcast seeds in the standing crop 5 to 10 days before the harvest
uniformly when soil moisture is optimum (i.e.) the seeds should get embedded in the waxy
mire. On wetland bunds, dibble the seeds with 30 cm spacing.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, followed by life irrigation on the 3rd day. Irrigate at intervals of
10 to 15 days depending upon soil and climatic conditions. Flowering and pod formation stages are
critical periods when irrigation is a must. Avoid water stagnation at all stages. Apply KCl at 0.5 per
cent as foliar spray during vegetative stage if there is moisture stress.
7.PROTECTION OF YOUNG PLANTS

If sucking pests are noted, spray Methyldemeton 25 EC 500 ml; or Dimethoate 30 WSC 500 ml
or Phosphamidon 85 EC 250 ml/ha (250 l of spray fluid/ha).
81
8. SPRAYING OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE AND NAA (IN RICE FALLOWS)
a. Spray 2 per cent Diammonium phosphate at the time of first appearance of flowering.
b. Give the second spray 15 days after the first spraying.
c. Spray NAA 40 ppm twice at first appearance of flowers and after a fortnight.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Spray Fluchloralin 1.5 l/ha or Pendimethalin 2.0 l/ha on 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 900 l of water for spraying one
ha. After this, one hand weeding on 30 days after sowing gives weed free environment
throughout the crop period.
ii) If herbicides are not applied give two hand weedings on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
10. PROTECTION OF THE INFLORESCENCE AND PODS FROM INSECT PESTS
Apply any one of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha. Endosulfan 4% D; Quinalphos 1.5% D;
Phosalone 4% D and Carbaryl 5% D or spray per ha Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l or Monocrotophos 36
WSC 500 ml (Spray fluid 500 l/ha).
11. PROTECTION FROM STORAGE PESTS
Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 8%.
Seed: Admix 1 kg of activated Kaolin or Malathion 5% D for every 100 kg. Pack in polythene
lined gunny bags for storage. Neem Seed Kernel Powder 3% effectively controls the infestation of
storage pest, Bruchid beetle.
Apply any one of the following fungicides when the symptom of disease reaches grade 3.
i) Powdery mildew: Carbendazim 250 g or Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha.
ii) Rust: Mancozeb 1 kg or Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha.
iii) Leaf Spot: Carbendazim 250 g/ha.
iv) Tip blight: Carbendazim 250 g/ha.
v) Yellow Mosaic, Leaf Curl and Leaf Crinkle: Pull out and destroy plants infected in the
early stages of growth (Upto 30 days) and spray any one of the following insecticides after
the appearance of the disease.
Monocrotophos 500 ml/ha, Methyl demeton 500 ml/ha and repeat after 15 days, if necessary.
For seed crop, the plants affected by leaf crinkle should be periodically removed upto 45
days after sowing since the leaf crinkle virus is seed borne.
vi) Root rot:
a) Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed (or)
Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
b) Treat the seeds with carbendazim or Thiram @2 g/kg seed atleast 24hours before sowing.
Spot drench Carbendazim 1 g/lit (or) soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens @2.5 kg/ha
mixed with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM/sand at 30 days after sowing.
Seed * and Soil** application of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens
* Seed application @ 4g/Kg - same for both ** Soil application
Apply Neem cake @ 150 kg/ha basally to reduce root rot and also to have nematostatic
acation against cyst nematode.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
1. Sowing of blackgram, greengram and cowpea during 2nd fortnight of July and first week of
October is recommended for red lateritic soils of Pudukottai.
2. For blackgram grown in calcareous soils in Coimbatore region under irrigation, application
of 68 kg P2O5/ha in the form of superphosphate (425 kg/ha) or 44 kg P2O5/ha in the form of
DAP (100 kg/ha) is recommended for higher yield.
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Pulses
GREENGRAM ( Vigna radiata )
District/Season Varieties
Adipattam (June - July)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 4, KM 2, VBN 1, CO5
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukkottai, Madurai,
Dindigul, Theni
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, CO 4, KM 2, VBN 1
Perambalur, Karur
Salem, Namakkal CO 4, KM 2, Paiyur 1, CO 5
Dharmapuri CO 4, KM 2, Paiyur 1, VBN 1, CO 5
Erode, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari CO 4, VBN 1, CO 5
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai CO 4, KM 2, VBN 1, CO 5
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Puratasipattam (September - October)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 4, KM 2, VBN 1, CO 5
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Tirunelveli, CO 4, CO 5, Paiyur 1, VBN 1, K1
Thoothukudi
Erode, Coimbatore CO 4, VBN 1, CO 5
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai CO 4, CO 5, KM 2, Paiyur 1, K1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni CO 4, Paiyur 1, CO 5
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur Paiyur 1, VBN 1, CO 5
Rice fallows (January - February)

Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, ADT 2, ADT 3
Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli,
Thoothukudi
Summer (February - March)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 4, KM 2
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukkottai
Salem, Namakkal,Dharmapuri,Tiruchirapalli, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Perambalur, Karur, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Erode, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Nagapattinam
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, CO 4, KM 2, Paiyur 1
Virudhunagar, Sivagangai
83
II. DESCRIPTION OF GREENGRAM VARIETIES
Particulars Paiyur 1 ADT 2 ADT 3 CO 4
Parentage PS from AB-33X Hybrid deri- Mutant of
DPT 703 ADT 1 vative H70-16/ CO 1
Rajendran/G65
50% flowering (days) 45 - 50 50 36 40 - 45
Duration (days) 85 - 90 70 - 75 66 85
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 742 850 500 910
Irrigated .. .. 500 (Rice fallows) 1550
Plant height (cm) 55 - 60 35 35 - 45 80
Stem, branches etc. Green Green Green Green stem
Branches 3- 4 2-3 2-3 3-4
5 - 6 cluster branches branches
Leaves Broad Medium Medium broad, Broad tripartate
broad petiole long and hairy
Colour of pod Dull green Green with Dark brown Green when tender
purple suture & black on drying
Colour of grain Dull green Very light green Very light green Dull green
100 grain wt (g) 3.5 3.3 2.6 4.1
Particulars KM 2 VBN 1 CO 5 K1
Parentage Hybrid deri- Hybrid deri- Hybrid deri- Co 4 x ML 65
vative of vative of vative of KM2xMG
No.127xS.9 S.8xPIMS 3 50.10 (G)
50% flowering (days) 35 - 40 30 - 35 40 - 43 —
Duration (days) 65 - 70 65 70 - 75 70 - 75
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 767 770 900 670
Irrigated .. .. ..
Plant height (cm) 35 - 45 40 - 45 55.3 70 - 75
Stem, branches etc. Green stem Green, Erect, green Green, slightly
sparsely hairy Pubescent
Branches .. 2 to 3 3 to 4 3 to 4
Leaves Medium Medium Normal Broad,
foliate, ovate trifoliate
sparcely hairy
Colour of pod Dark brown Dark green, Dark brown Green with
and tip sparsely hairy distinct red
covered dry pods light
blackish
Colour of grain Shiny green Green Dull green Dull green
100 grain wt (g) 3 3.6 3.7 3.5
III. SEED RATE

Particulars Quantity of seed required kg/ha
Pure crop Mixed crop
All strains 20 10
Rice fallows - ADT 2 25 ..
Optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha.
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Pulses
i) Prepare the land to get fine tilth and form beds and channels.
ii) Amendments for soil surface crusting: To tide over the soil surface crusting apply lime at
the rate of 2 t/ha along with FYM at 12.5 t/ha or composted coir pith 12.5 t/ha to get an
additional yield of about 15 - 20%.
2. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seed or Trichoderma at 4 g/kg.

a) The seeds should again be treated with bacterial culture. There should be an interval of
atleast 24 hours after fungicidal treatment for giving the bacterial culture treatment. The
strain COG 15 is more effective than CMBS 1 in increasing the yield.
b) Three packets of multi-strain Rhizobium are sufficient for treating seeds required for one
ha. Prepare the bacterial culture slurry with rice kanji. Dry the bacterial culture treated
seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
c) Treat the seeds with carbendazim or thiram 2 g/kg seed 24 hour before sowing (or) with
talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg (or) Pesudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg
seed.
Rainfed - 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5/ha
Irrigated - 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds adopting a spacing of 30 x 10 cm in wet lands. For rice fallows, broadcast
uniformly the seeds in the standing crop, 5 to 10 days before the harvesting when soil moisture is
optimum (i.e.) the seeds should get embedded in the waxy mire. On wetland, bunds dibble the
seeds with 30 cm spacing.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, followed by life irrigation on the third day. Irrigate at intervals
of 10 to 15 days, depending upon soil and climatic conditions. For wetland bunds, pot water daily for
a week after sowing. Flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods when irrigation is a
must. Avoid water stagnation at all stages.
7. PROTECTION OF SEEDLINGS FROM INSECT PESTS

If sucking pests are noted, spray Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml or
8. APPLICATION OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE AND NAA (RICE FALLOWS)

a) Spray 2% Diammmonium phosphate at the time of first appearance of flowers. Give a
second spray 15 days after first spraying.
b) Spray NAA 40 ppm first round at first flowering and a second round after a fortnight. NAA
can be mixed with pesticides or fungicides.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Spray Fluchloralin 1.5 l/ha or Pendimethalin 2.0 l/ha as preemergence spraying 3 days
after sowing followed by one hand weeding on 30 days after sowing.
85
ii) If herbicide is not applied give two hand weedings on 15th and 30th day after sowing.
10. PROTECTING INFLORESCENCE AND PODS FROM POD BORERS
Protect the flower parts and pods from pod borers by applying any one of the following insecticides
at 25 kg/ha; Endosulfan 4% D, Quinalphos 1.5% D; Phosalone 4% D or Carbaryl 5% D, or spray per
ha Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l or Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml (500 l spray fluid/ha).
Application of Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5% twice, starting from 50% flowering stage followed
by one round of Endosulfan 0.07%.

Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10%.
Seed: Admix one kg of Malathion 5% D with activated Kaolin for every 100 kg of seeds. Pack in
polythene lined gunny for storage.

Apply any one of the following fungicides when the symptoms of disease reaches grade 3.
i) Powdery mildew: Spray Carbendazim 250 g/ha or Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha. Repeat
the spraying after 15 days if infection persists. Spray NSKE (5%) or Neem oil (3%) twice at
10 days interval from initial disease appearance.
ii) Rust: Spray Mancozeb 1 kg or Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha.
iii) Leaf spot: Spray Carbendazim 250 g or Mancozeb 1 kg/ha.
iv) Yellow mosaic, leaf curl and leaf crinkle: Pull out and destroy plants exhibiting symptoms
of virus diseases in the early stages of growth (upto 30 days) and spray any one of the
following after the first appearance of the disease.
Monocrotophos 500 ml/ha, Methyldemeton 500 ml/ha if necessary a second time 15 days
later. For seed crop, plants affected by leaf crinkle should be periodically removed upto 45
days after sowing since the virus is seedborne.
v) Root rot: Spot drench Carbendazim 1 g/lit (or) soil application of Psudomonas fluorescens
@ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM/sand at 30 days after sowing.
13. HARVESTING
Harvest the plants when 80 per cent of the pods are mature and stack the plants for a few days
before threshing.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
BLACKGRAM AND GREENGRAM
1. SELECTION OF SEEDS FOR SOWING
Remove all discoloured seeds and use only normal coloured seeds (black coloured in blackgram
and olive green in greengram). As regards size of the seeds those retained by the sieve B.S.S. 7 x
7 (Aperture width 2.36 mm) for large seeded varieties and B.S.S. 8 X 8 (Aperture width 2.00 mm) for
small seeded varieties are to be used.
2. SEED TREATMENT
In greengram and blackgram if the hard seed percentage exceeds more than 10 per cent
commercial H2SO4 may be used for scarification for 2 min. washed and used for sowing and then
treated with fungicides and inoculated with rhizobium.
Soak the greengram seeds for 3 hours in aqueous solution of manganese sulphate 100 ppm/
(0.1 g/lit) at 1/3 volume of seeds and quickly air-dry in shade to their original moisture content. For
blackgram, zinc sulphate may be used as in redgram.
i) Basal 25 kg N : 50 kg P2O5/ha
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Pulses
ii) Supplementary foliar application spray 250 litres of aqueous solution containing the following
per ha.
Chemicals Blackgram Greengram
Urea 7.5 kg 10 kg or 7.5 kg
DAP 1.95 kg 2.6 kg or 1.95 kg
Muriate of Potash 1.313 kg 1.75 kg or 1.313 kg
Potassium sulphate 1.05 kg 50 g
Succinic acid 40 g 50 g
Teepol 125 ml 125 ml
First spray 25th day after sowing 25th day after sowing
Second spray 40th day after sowing 40th day after sowing
4. SOWING
Dibble the seeds at 3 to 4 cm depth at the side of ridges.
5. SPACING
Adopt the following: Blackgram 25 x 15 cm, Greengram 30 x 15 cm.
6. HARVESTING
Pods should be harvested 30 days after the 50 per cent flowering stage has been reached to
obtain seeds possessing high germination, vigour and storability.
Note: At this stage the colour of the majority of the pods (80%) will be black in blackgram and
brown in greengram.
The pod moisture content will be about 17 - 18%. The seed coat of blackgram will be black in
colour and of greengram olive green in colour.
7. POST-HARVEST PROCESSING
Dry the pods immediately to 12 to 13 per cent moisture content and thresh to separate the
seeds in a pre-cleaner. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Model Pulses Thresher may be used.
Dry the seeds to 10 per cent moisture content and size-grade using B.S.S 7 X 7 wire mesh sieve
(Aperture width 2.36 mm) for large seeded varieties and reject those that pass through these sieves
as well as the discoloured and broken seeds.
8. STORAGE
The graded seeds should be further dried to 7 to 8 per cent moisture content and treated with
chemicals mentioned in the order of preferences.
i) Thiram 75% WDP at 75 g plus Carbaryl 50% WP at 7.5 g dissolved in 500 ml of water per
quintal of seeds.
ii) Activated clay @ 1:100 to be dusted dry.
Note: Activated clay should be free from acid and absolutely dry and then only used.
9. STORAGE CONTAINERS
For storing seeds in dry places like Coimbatore upto months, they should be packed in fresh
gada cloth or gunny bags. For storing in humid areas and for long term (1 - 2 years) storage, they
should be packed in vapour proof containers like polythene bags of 700 guage thickness. these
bags should be filled with seeds leaving only sufficient space to close their opening by perfectly heat
sealing to make it air tight. They should not be stitched and closed. Place the heat sealed bag in a
gunny bag and close before stacking to prevent slipping. Store the bags on racks or wooden pallets
in a dry storage room.
87
COWPEA ( Vigna unguiculata )

DISTRICT/SEASON VARIETIES
Adipattam (June-August)
For all districts CO 6, VBN 1, VBN 2
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, CO 3, CO 4
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri CO 3, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 3, CO 4, KM 1
Salem, Namakkal CO 2, CO 3, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur CO 4, KM 1
Pudukottai CO 2, CO 3, CO 4, KM 1
Erode CO 2, CO 4, CO 3, Paiyur 1
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar CO 2, CO 4
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Kanyakumari, CO 4
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam
Purattasipattam (September - November)

For all districts CO 6, VBN 1, VBN 2
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur CO 3
Dharmapuri CO 3, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 3, KM 1, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Salem, Namakkal CO 2, CO 3, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Pudukottai CO 2, CO 4, KM 1
Erode CO 3, CO 4, CO 2
Coimbatore CO 2, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram,
Virudhunagar CO, 2, CO 3
Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , CO 2, CO 4
Kanyakumari, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 3, CO 4, Paiyur 1
Summer irrigated
Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Erode, CO 2, CO 4, VBN 2
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur and Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
88
Pulses
II. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES
Particulars CO 2 CO 3 CO 4 KM 1
Parentage Hybrid Pureline Selection from Hybrid

derivative from AC 152 Russian Giant derivative
(C521 x C49) (JC5xDufasli)
50% flowering(days) 45 35 - 40 40 - 45 30 - 35
Duration (days) 90 80 85 60 - 65
Grain yield(kg/ha)
Rainfed ... ... ... ...
Irrigated 1375 830 961 905
Vegetable 9400 1085 1570 ...
Plant height (cm) 30 - 40 40 - 50 50 28 - 30
Stem, branches Green stem Green stem Clusters are Erect &compact
purple wash at purple wash projected above
at nodes, 3-4 at nodes,3-4 the canopy,3-4
branches branches branches
Leaves Trifoliate, Trifoliate Trifoliate Narrow leaflets
broad and long green leaflets green leaflets parrot green
petioles
II. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES (CONTD...)

Particulars CO 2 CO 3 CO 4 KM 1
Colour of pods Tender Green Green Light green

greenish white
Dry Greyish white Brown with Grey white Straw colour
purple tinge
light brown
Colour of grain Reddish brown Greenish brown White with
with irregular slate colour prominent
patches black hilum
100 grain wt (g) 12.5 10 11.5 7
Particulars Paiyur 1 CO 6 VBN 1 VBN 2
Parentage Selection from MS9804 x Selection from Selection from

VM 16 C152 T-85-F-2020 IT-81-D-1228-10
50% flowering(days) 75 35 35 - 40 40 - 45
Duration (days) 90 65 - 70 55 - 65 75 - 85
Grain yield(kg/ha)
Rainfed 900 671 950 (grain) —
Irrigated ... ...
Vegetable ... ... 10581
89
Particulars Paiyur 1 CO 6 VBN 1 VBN 2
Plant height (cm) 60 - 70 34.5 25 - 30 45 - 60

Stem, branches Erect Green stem
purple wash
at nodes, 3-4
branches
Leaves Dark green Trifoliate,

leaflets entire, green,
possessing tri- purple spot at
angular white the base of
spots leaflet
Colour of pods Green Dark green

pigmented tip
Dry Brown Brown at

maturity
Colour of grain Brick red Light cream White Ivory white, hilum with
tan ring surrounded by
brown band
100 grain wt (g) 9.9 9.9 12 to 15 13 to 15
III. SEED RATE

STRAIN Quantity of seed required kg/ha
Paiyur 1, KM 1, CO 2, CO 3, CO 4 20 10
Optimum plant population 3,50,000/ha.

Prepare the land to fine tilth and form beds and channels.
2. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram 2 g/kg of seed 24 hours before sowing (or) with
talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed (or) Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg
seed.
a) Fungicide-treated seeds, should be again treated with a bacterial culture. There should be
an interval of atleast 24 hours between fungicidal and bacterial culture treatments. The
improved rhizobial strain COC 10 is more effective in increasing the yield.
b) Three packets of multi-strain rhizobium are sufficient for treating seeds required for one ha.
Use rice ‘Kanji’ as binder. Dry the bacterial culture treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes
before sowing.
90
Pulses
c) Seed hardening: Soak cowpea seed in aqueous solution of ZnSO4 at 100 ppm (10 g/100 l
of water) at 1/3 volume of seeds for 4 hours and quickly airdry in shade to original weight.
Apply fertilizers, basally before sowing as follows:
Rainfed: 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5/ha
Irrigated: 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha
Application of 20 kg K2O/ha is beneficial for red lateritic soils in increasing the yield.
5. SOWING
Strain Pure crops Mixed crops

CO 4, KM 1, VBN 1 30 cm X 15 cm 200 cm X 15 cm
CO 3, CO 2, VBN 2 45 cm x 15 cm ..
Paiyur 1 30 cm x 15 cm ..
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by life irrigation on the third day. Irrigate at intervals
of 10 to 15 days depending upon the soil and climatic conditions. For wetland bunds, pot water daily
for a week after sowing. Flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods when irrigation is a
must.
7. PROTECTION OF SEEDLINGS FROM INSECT PESTS:
If sucking pests are noted spray Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml or
8. APPLICATION OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE AND NAA IN RICE FALLOWS
a) Spray 2% Diammonium phosphate at the first appearance of the flowers and the second
spray 15 days after the first spray.
b) Spray Planofix 40 ppm first round at the first appearance of flowering and a second round
after a fortnight.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Fluchloralin may be applied to the irrigated crop at 1.5 l/ha or Pendimethalin 2.0 l/ha as pre-
emergence. Spray 3 days after sowing followed by one hand weeding on 30 days after
sowing.
ii) If herbicide is not applied give two hand weeding on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
10. PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
i) Protection of inflorescence and pods from pod borers: Dust any one of the following
insecticides at 25 kg/ha. Endosulfan 4% D; Quinalphos 1.5% D; Phosalone 4% D; Carbaryl
5% D; or spray per ha Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l or Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml (500 l
spray fluid/ha).
ii) Stem fly: Soil application of Carbofuron 3 G (15 kg/ha) at the time of sowing or spray
Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha a week after germination and second round 10 days after first
round.
iii) Rust : Two sprays of chlorothanil 0.1% or one spray with 0.1% chlorothanil followed by 3%
Neem oil after the appearance of rust disease, effectively controls the disease.
iv) Protection from storage pests:
a) Grain: Dry the seeds till the moisture is brought to 10% and store.
b) Seed: Mix one kg of BHC 10% D or Malathion 5% D or Activated kaolin for every 100
kg of seed and store in polythene lined gunny bags.
v) Root rot: Spot drench Carbendazim 1 g/lit (or) soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens
@2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM/sand at 30 days after sowing.
91
vi) Mosaic virus: Roguing out of cowpea mosaic virus diseased plants in the early stage of
growth upto 30 days and spraying twice at fortnightly intervals with Monocrotophos 500 ml/
ha (or) Methyldemeton 500 ml/ha.
11) HARVESTING
Pull out the plants when 80% of the pods are mature and thresh after drying.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEASON
Winter - September to October
2. SOWING
Remove all discoloured seeds and use highly germinable (more than 90%) seeds retained by
the 12/64" diameter (aperture width 4.6 mm) round perforated sieve for CO 2 and 10/64" diameter
(aperture width 3.96 mm) round perforated sieve for small seeded varieties.
Slurry-treat, 24 hours before sowing, with Captan at 2 gm mixed with 5 ml of water per kg of
seed. Just before sowing, treat with the rhizobium culture.
3. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 45 x 20 cm.
Apply 25:50:0 NPK kg/ha.
5. PLANT PROTECTION
Pull out and destroy plants exhibiting severe symptoms of mosaic in the early stages of growth.
Protect the flower parts and pods from pod borer by applying any one of the following insecticides.
Carbaryl 5% D 25 kg/ha; Phosalone 4% D 25 kg/ha; Endosulfan 4% D 25 kg/ha; Quinalphos
1.5% D 25 kg/ha; Endosulfan (0.07% spray) 1250 ml/ha; Monocrotophos (0.04% spray) 625 ml/ha.
Pinching the tendrils and application of NAA 40 ppm (40 mg/l) may be followed at flower initiation
and at peak flowering stage to promote fruit setting.
6. HARVESTING
Harvest the pods as they turn light straw in colour and the seeds within turn brown or mottled in
colour. At this stage the moisture content of seeds will be about 18 per cent.
Air dry the pods at first for 1-2 days and sun dry until they become brittle and easily break by
genetic flailing with pliable bamboo stick or machine thresh by adjusting the cylinder to avoid splitting
and cracking of seeds. At threshing, the seed moisture content should be about 12%. Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University Model Pulses Thresher may be used.
7. GRADING
Grade the seeds at 10% moisture content using 12/64" diameter (Aperture width 4.60 mm)
round perforated sieve for CO 2 and 10/64" diameter (aperture width 3.96 mm) for small seeded
varieties.
8. DRYING, TREATING AND STORAGE

The graded seeds after the removal of the broken and immature seeds should be dried to 7 to
8 per cent moisture content.
For short-term storage use fresh gada cloth bag or gunny bag and for long term storage use 700
guage thick L.D. Polythene bags. Alternately, activated clay @ 1 kg/100 kg of seeds may be dry
dressed for grain cum seed storage use.
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Pulses
HORSEGRAM ( Macrotyloma uniflorum )
November (Winter season) (Rainfed)
All districts except
The Nilgiris and Kanyakumari CO 1, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2
II. SEED RATE

For a pure crop 20 kg/ha is needed.
III. DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES

Variety CO 1 Paiyur 1 Paiyur 2
Parentage PurelineSelection PurelineSelection Gamma irradiation
from Mudukulathur from Mettur local of CO 1
50% flowering (days) 55 - 60 45 - 50 _
Maturity duration(days) 110 110 100 - 105
Grain yield (Kg/ha)

Rainfed 560 650 870
Height (cm) 30-40 35 - 40 40 - 45
Branches 2-3 2-3
Colour of grain Buff mottled Light brown
100 grain weight (g) 4.6 3.4

Prepare the land to a fine tilth.
Treat the seeds with any one of the following fungicides. Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg
seed.
3. FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION
Apply basally 12.5 t/ha FYM/Compost, 12.5 kg/ha nitrogen, 25 kg/ha phosphorus.
Three packets of Rhizobial culture (multistrain) are sufficient for treating the seeds required for
one ha. Use rice kanji as binder. Dry the bacterial culture treated seeds in shade for 15 - 30 minutes
before sowing.
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds adopting a row spacing of 30 cm. Thin the plants in the row to a spacing of 10
cm between plants.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
Give one weeding and hoeing between the 20th day and 25th day after sowing.
7. PROTECTING FROM VIRUS DISEASE
Rogue out infected plants upto 30 days.
8. HARVESTING:
Harvest the plant when all the pods mature. Thresh the pods and extract seeds.
93
9. SEED STORAGE:
Grain and seed purposes: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10 per cent.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEED RATE
Adopt a seed rate of 20 kg/ha.
2. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seed with Captan 75% WP at 2 g/kg of seed.
3. SPACING
Plant in solid rows along lines formed 30 cm apart.
Apply NPK at 10 : 30 : 30 kg/ha.
5. HARVESTING
Seeds attain physiological maturity when the pods turn yellowish brown in colour. Harvest pods
when 75 - 80% of the pods have matured.
6. SEED YIELD
The mean seed yield will be 750 kg/ha.
7. SEED GRADING
Grade the seed with a sieve having 8/64" round perforation.
8. STORAGE CONTAINER AND STORABILITY

a) Cloth bags - 2 years, b) Polythene bags (700 g) 2 1/2 or 3 years.
NOTE: i) Magnesium chloride is to be sprayed against any chlorotic symptom at 6 g/litre with a
power sprayer 2 - 3 times at 5-day interval.
ii) Timely harvest is essential taking care not to expose the pods to rain or very moist
weather which may change the seed coat colour from light brown to dark brown or light
black.
iii) The discoloured seeds loose viability much faster than the normal seeds in storage.
iv) The hard seededness of 50 - 55% noticed immediately after harvest declined to 4 to 6%
over a period of 2 months.
BENGALGRAM ( Cicer arietinum )

November (Winter season) Rainfed
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur, Dharmapuri, Pudukottai, Erode,
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, CO 2, CO 3, CO 4
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi.
II. SEED RATE

l CO 2 - 45 kg/ha as a pure crop to have an optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha.
l CO 3 - 90 kg/ha.
l CO 4 - 75 kg/ha.
94
Pulses
III. DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES
Variety CO 2 CO 3 CO 4
Parentage Pureline selection Pureline selection ICCC 42 x
from Accn. No. from Maharashtra ICC 12237
GB2-404 collection
50% flowering (days) 40 - 45 35 - 40 _
Duration (days) 90 85 80 - 85
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 980 1000 1150
Height (cm) 25 - 30 25 - 30 35 - 40
Branches 2-4 3-5 3-5
Flower colour Pink & veined Light pink & veined Light pink & veined
Colour of grain Brown Light brown Brown
100 seed weight (g) 14 - 15 30-32 30 - 32

2. SEED TREATMENT
a) Treat the seeds with Carbendezim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed 24hrs before sowing (or)
with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed (or) Pseudomonas fluorescens
@ 10 g/kg seed.
b) Application of 12.5 t FYM and seed treatment with the recommended chemicals or biocontrol
agents will reduce root rot and wilt incidence.
The above seed treatment will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens in the early
stages.
Fungicides-treated seeds should be again treated with bacterial culture. There should be an
interval of atleast 24 hours after fungicidal treatment for giving the bacterial culture treatment. Three
packets of multi strain rhizobial culture is sufficient for treating the seeds required for one ha. Use
rice kanji as a binder. Dry the bacterial culture treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
Combined application Rhizobium strain CO Be 13 with phosphobacterium increased the yield
effectively. Rhizobium CO Be 13 is very effective than COC 10.
Apply fertilizers basally before sowing as follows
Rainfed crop : 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5/ha Irrigated : 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5/ha
5. SOWING
The seeds soaked in 1% KH2PO4 solution for 4 hrs and dried in shade before sowing. Dibble the
seeds by adopting the spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Spray Fluchloralin 1.5 l/ha or Pendimethalin 2.5 l/ha as pre-emergence spray on 3rd day
after sowing followed by one hand weeding on 25 - 30 days after sowing.
ii) If herbicide is not applied give two hand weedings on 15th and 30th day after sowing.
95
7. PROTECTION OF FLOWERS AND PODS
Apply any one of the following at 25 kg/ha , Phosalone 4% D, Quinalphos 1.5% D; Carbaryl 5%
D; NPV 250 larval equivalent/ha; NSKE 5% 25 kg or spray per ha, Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l or
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml (500 l spray fluid/ha). Spray Endosulfan 0.07% in combination with
Neem oil 0.01% for effective control of Helicoverpa. Three sprays of NPV along with 10% aqueous
leaf extract of Vitex negundo to control Helicoverpa larvae. ETL for Helicoverpa armigera is, two
early instar larvae/10 plants. Apply B.t.k. @1.5 l/ha for effective control of Helicoverpa armigera
8. MANAGEMENT OF BENGALGRAM WILT

The seeds may be treated with Pseudomonas fluorescens culture at the rate of 4g/kg of seed
and sown. Soil application with P. fluorescens peat culture at the rate of 2.5 kg/ha is also
recommended. The peat culture may be mixed with organic manure or sand and applied along with
the rows at the time of sowing and at 30 and 60 days after sowing. Treat the seeds with P.fluorescens
talc formulation @ 10g/kg.
Root rot: For Biological control of root rot by the combined application of Trichoderma viride +
Pseudomonas fluorescens (4 g/ha) is effective.
Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce the moisture level to 10%.
Seed: Admix 1 kg of Malathion 5% D or Activated Kaolin for every 100 kg of seed. PACK IN
POLYTHENE LINED GUNNY BAG FOR STORAGE.
10. INTERCROPPING IN BENGALGRAM

Bengalgram in paired row planting with one or two rows of Coriander as intercrop would give the
highest return. Wheat can also be intercropped in deep black cotton soil in Coimbatore, Erode,
Salem, Namakkal and Dharmapuri districts.
11. HARVESTING
Harvest the plants when all the pods are mature. Thresh the pods and extract seeds.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
Sieve size: Use seeds retained by 12/64" (4.8 mm) or 11/64" (4.4 mm) diameter round perforated
sieve for large and medium seeded varieties.
Pre-sowing treatment: Soak the seeds in 1% aqueous solution of KH2PO4 for 3-4 hrs at 1/3rd
volume of seeds and quickly air dry in shade.
Seed treatment: Slurry treat the seeds with Captan or Thiram 75% WDP at 2 g mixed with 5
ml of water per kg of seeds. Then treat the seeds with rhizobial culture.
[When root rot sets in 45 days, remove all the affected plants and spray the remaining plants
with aqueous solution of urea (2%), jaggery (2%) and Carbendezim (0.1%) immediately and again
10 days after.]
Spacing: 30 x 10 cm
Fertilizer: NPK @ 10:10:10 kg/ha.
Harvesting: Harvest at physiological maturity of 35 - 40 days after anthesis when 70 - 80%
pods present creamy colour appearance.
Grading: 13/64" round perforated sieve.
Storage: Slurry treat the seeds with Captan 75% WP (or) Bavistin (or) Thiram 75% WDP at 2
g mixed with 5 ml water per kg seeds. For grain cum storage technology, activated clay @ 1:100 (W/
W) may be used at 7% moisture content of seeds (700 gauge polythene bag) and 9% moisture
content (gunnybag/cloth bags).
96
Avarai
GARDEN LAB LAB (AVARAI)
( Lab lab purpureus var typicus )
Adipattam (Jul - Aug)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, CO 3, CO 4, CO 5, CO 13
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar
Sivagangai CO 9, CO 6, CO 8, CO 13
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Salem, Namakkal,
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, CO 10, CO 11, CO 12, CO 13
Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Kanyakumari, Erode
Purattasipattam (Sep - Nov)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, CO 6, CO 7, CO 8, CO 13
Karur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram.
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal CO 9, CO 10, CO 11, CO 13
Pudukottai, Erode, Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul,
Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, CO 12, CO 13
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi ,
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam.
Summer (April)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 6, CO 7, CO 8
Cuddalore, Villupuram.
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, CO 9, CO 10,
Nagapattinam.
Kanyakumari, Pudukottai, Erode, Coimbatore, Madurai, CO 11, CO 12
Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar,
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Sivagangai
II. DESCRIPTION OF AVARAI VARIETIES

Particulars CO 3 CO 4 CO 5 CO 6 CO 7
Parentage Pureline Pureline Pureline Derivative of Derivative of
selection from selection from selection DL 3176 x CO5 DL3196xCO5
Coimbatore Coimbatore from Ganjam
1st flowering 120 120 120 45 45
(days)
Duration 240 240 240 120 120
Irrigated
Pod yield(kg/ha) 10300 13500 6000 4500 4000
Habit Climber Climber Climber Erect, Bushy Erect, Bushy
Height (cm) ... ... ... 70 - 90 70 - 90
Colour of
Flowers Purple Purple White Light purple White
Pod Green with Deep purple Pale green Green Greenish white
purple margin
Shape of pod Broad & flat Flat Tubular and Tubular and Tubular
curved curved
Grain Black Black Chocolate Black Chocolate
100 seed wt(g) ... ... ... 24.5 25.9
97
DESCRIPTION OF AVARAI VARAITIES (CONTD...)
Particulars CO 8 CO 9 CO 10
Parentage Derivative of Spontaneous Mutant of CO 6
CO 5 x DL 3196 mutant of MS 98678
1st flowering (days) 45 45 45
Duration 120 120 120
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated 4750 7500 7200
Habit Erect, bushy Erect, bushy Erect, bushy
Height (cm) 50 - 70 70 - 80 60 - 70
Colour of flowers White White Purple
Colour of pod Greenish white Light green Greenish white
Shape of pod Tubular & curved Flat Tubular & curved
Colour of grain Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate
brown black
100 seed wt(g) 24.4 32.5 22.5
Particulars CO 11 CO 12 CO 13
Parentage Pedigree selection Pedigree selection Derivative of CO 9
from (CO9 x White from CO 9 x CO 4 x Flori field
Anaikathu)
1st flowering (days) 40 40
Duration 95 - 100 100 - 110 110 - 120
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated 9900 9700 10000
Habit Erect, bushy Erect, bushy Dwarf, bushy and
tendency to form tendrils
Height (cm) 60 - 70 60 - 70 50 - 75
Colour of flowers Purple Purple White
Colour of pod Green flat Deep purple Whitish green
Shape of pod Broad with Broad, flat Flat and long
purple margin
Colour of grain Purple Black Brown
100 seed wt(g) 35.9 38.4 35.2
III. SEED RATE

CO 3, CO 4, CO 5, CO 6, CO 7, CO 8 4 -
CO 9 20 12.5
CO 10 25 12.5
CO 11, CO 12 20 10.0
CO 13 25 -

Prepare the land to fine tilth. Form beds and channels for bushy types and form pits of one
cubic foot for pandal types.
98
Avarai
a) Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed.
b) Treat the seeds atleast 24 hours before sowing.
Fungicide treated seeds should be again treated with bacterial culture. There should be an
interval of atleast 24 hours between fungicidal and bacterial culture treatments. Three packets of
multistrain bacterial culture are sufficient for treating seeds required for one ha. The bacterial culture
slurry may be prepared with rice kanji. Dry the inoculated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before
sowing.
For pandal varieties, 115 g each in Ammonium Sulphate and superphosphate per pit may be
applied basally.
5. SOWING
Strain
CO 3, CO 4, CO 5 : 90 cm X 90 cm
CO 6, CO 7, CO 8, CO 9, CO 10, CO 11, CO 12 : 45 cm X 15 cm
CO 13 : 45 cm X 30 cm
6. PROTECTING THE SEEDLINGS FROM INSECT PESTS

If sucking pests are noted spray Methyl-demeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml or
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Give one weeding between 20th and 25th day of sowing and again weed on the 45th day.
8. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by life irrigation on the 3rd day and later, at intervals
of 15 to 20 days according to soil and climatic conditions. Flowering and pod formation stages are
the critical periods when irrigation is most essential.
9. PROTECTING INFLORESCENCE AND PODS FROM POD BORER

Dust any one of the following at 25 kg/ha: Endosulfan 4% D; Phosalone 4% D, Carbaryl 5% D,
Quinalphos 1.5% D or spray Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml or Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml/ha
(Spray fluid 500 l/ha). Apply NPV 125 LE + Teepol 0.1% + Endosulfan 0.07% (High volume spray).
Neem formulations viz., TNAU Neem (0.03% EC) and Nimbecidine (0.03% EC) effectively control
the pod borer.
10. CONTROL OF ANTHRACNOSE AND DIE-BACK

Spray Mancozeb one kg/ha or Carbendazim 250 g/ha soon after the appearance of the disease
and if necessary, a fortnight later.

a) Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10%.
b) Seed: Admix one kg of activated Kaolin or Malathion 5% for every 100 kg of seeds. Pack
12. PRUNING TECHNIQUE
A spacing of about 10 feet between lines and four feet between plants is adopted. Pits are dug
and two to three seeds are sown in the middle of the pit. One healthy seedling is allowed to grow and
the rest removed. The vine is propped with a stick. When the vine reaches the pandal, the terminal
99
bud is nipped. Allow the branches to trail over the pandal. Each branch may be pruned at three feet
length so that the pandal is covered with vines. Branches arising on the main vine below the pandal
are removed. When flowering starts, prune the tip of the branches bearing inflorescence having
three nodes from the productive axil. Continue this procedure throughout the reproductive phase.
13. HARVESTING
Pick the pods when they are completely dry. Thresh the pods and clean the beans. Pick the
tender pods once in a week.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
LAB LAB - CO 9
1. SEASON
March - April; September - October.
2. SOWING
Remove all discoloured seeds and use highly germinable (more than 90%) seeds retained by
the 18/64" (aperture width 7.28 mm) diameter round perforated sieve. Slurry treat seeds, 24 hours
before sowing, with Captan at 2 gm mixed in 5 ml of water per kg of seeds. Before sowing mix the
seed with rhizobium culture as per the recommended procedure and sow.
3. SPACING
Apply 25:50 kg N P/ha.
5. PLANT PROTECTION
Pull out and destroy plants exhibiting severe symptoms of mosaic in the early stages of growth.
Protect the flower parts and pods from borer by applying any one of the following insecticides.
Carbaryl 5% D 25 kg/ha; Phosalone 4% D 25 kg/ha; Endosulfan 4% D 24 kg/ha; Quinolphos
1.5% D 25 kg/ha; Endosulfan (0.07% spray) 1250 ml/ha; Monocrotophos (0.4% spray) 625 ml/ha.
6. HARVESTING
A pre-harvest sanitation spray with 0.07% Malathion or Endosulfan may be taken up before
harvesting the pods to minimise egg laying by bruchid. Harvest the pods as they turn straw coloured.
Discard the terminal pods, as they invariably contain immature and diseased seeds. The seed
moisture content at this stage will be about 15 per cent and the green colour of the seed coat will turn
to chocolate brown colour. Dry the pods to render them just brittle and flail them with pliable bamboo
stick to separate the seeds.
7. GRADING
Grade the seeds at about 10% moisture content using 18/64" diameter (aperture width 7.28
mm) round perforated sieve.

The graded seeds after the removal of the broken and immature seeds should be dried to 7 to
8 per cent moisture content. Slurry treat either with
(i) Captan at 2 g + Carbaryl 50% WP at 200 mg/kg of seed or
(ii) Activated clay at 1:100. The seeds after treatment should be packed in moisture-vapour
proof container.
The treated seed can be packed in fresh gada cloth bags for short term storage and for long
term purpose 700 gauge thick L.D. Polythene bag may be used.
100
Mochai
FIELD LAB-LAB (MOCHAI)

( Lab lab purpureus Var lignosus )
All districts except The Nilgiris

June - July CO 1
All through the year CO 2
II. SEED RATE

CO 1 20 10.O
CO 2 25 12.5
III. DESCRIPTION OF MOCHAI VARIETIES

Particulars CO 1 CO 2
Parentage Pureline selection Derivative of CO 8 X CO 1

50% flowering (days) 75 - 90 35 - 45
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 1600 900
Irrigated .. 1400
Habit Medium Erect and bushy Erect and bushy determinate
(indeterminate) photo sensitive photo insensitive
Height (cms) 60 - 70 60
Colour of flowers Purple Purple
Colour of pod Green Green
Shape of pod Flat Flat
Colour of grain Black Black
100 seed weight (g) 24.4 20.0
101

Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seed. Seed treatment should be done
atleast 24 hours before sowing. This will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens.

Fungicide treated seeds should be again treated with bacterial culture. There should be an
interval of atleast 24 hours between fungicidal and bacterial culture treatments. Three packets of
bacterial culture (Multistrain) are sufficient for treating seeds required for one hectare. The bacterial
culture may be prepared with rice kanji. Dry the inoculated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before
sowing.
Apply fertilizers, basally before sowing as follows
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds, adopting the following spacing.
Strain Pure crop Mixed crop
CO 1 90 cm x 30 cm 200 cm x 30 cm
CO 2 45 cm x 15 cm 200 cm x 15 cm
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by life irrigation on the 3rd day and later, at intervals
of 15 to 20 days according to soil and climatic conditions. Flowering and pod formation stages are
the critical periods when irrigation is most essential.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Give one weeding and hoeing between 20th and 25th day after sowing and a second one, if
required on 30 - 35 days after sowing.
8. PROTECTING THE SEEDLINGS FROM INSECT PESTS

If sucking pests are noted, spray Methyl-demeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml or
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 250 ml/ha.
9. PROTECTING INFLORESCENCE AND PODS FROM POD BORER

Apply any one of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha Endosulfan 4% D; Phosalone 4% D;
Quinolphos 1.5 D; Carbaryl 5% D or spray Endosulfan 35 EC 1.00 l/ha. Apply NPV 125 LE + Teepol
0.1% + Endosulfan 0.07% (High volume spray).

a) Grain: Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10%.
b) Seed: Admix one kg of activated kaolin or Malathion 5% D for every 100 kg of seed. Pack
11. CONTROL OF Anthracnose AND DIE BACK
Spray Mancozeb one kg or Carbendazim 250 g/ha soon after the appearance of the disease
and if necessary a fortnight later.
12. HARVESTING
Dry pod may be collected for grain purposes. Green mature pods may be collected and extracted
for vegetable purpose.
102
Soyabean
SOYABEAN ( Glycine max )
Adipattam (June - July)
Purattasipattam (Sep. - Oct.) CO 1 (Irrigated), CO 2
Masipattam (February - March)
Rice fallows ADT 1, CO 1, CO 2*
* Under protected irrigation.
II. SEED RATE
CO 1 - 80 kg/ha. Optimum plant population 6,66,000/ha.
CO 2 (irrigated) Pure crop : 60-70 Kg/ha; Inter crop : 25 Kg/ha
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Variety CO 1 ADT 1 CO 2
Parentage Re-selection from a Pureline selection UGM 21 x JS 335
Thailand variety from ‘Hill’
50% flowering 37 days — 30-40 days
Duration (days) 85 85 - 90 75 - 80
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 1080 — 1340
Irrigated 1640 —
Rice fallows — 1270
Height (cm) 58 65 - 70 30 - 40
Branches 6 3-5
Flower colour Pink Violet coloured Pink to purple
standard petal
Colour of grain Cream Cream Cream to yellow
100 seed weight (g) 12.5 10.0 13 - 14

Prepare the land to get fine tilth and form beds and channels.
a) Treat the seed with Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seed.
b) Treat the seeds atleast 24 hours before sowing.
c) Treat the seeds required for ha with three packets of Rhizobium japonicum strain (61A 76
and G-3), Phosphobacterium using rice ‘kanji’ as binder.
d) Newly identified Rhizobium isolate CRS 3 is superior to the recommended CRS 1.
e) Coat the seeds with ZnSO4 @ 300 mg/kg using 10% maida solution as adhesive (250 ml/
kg) or gruel and arappu leaf powder (250 g/kg) as carrier to increase the field stand.
Apply 20 kg N and 80 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per ha 40 kg of S as gypsum (220 kg/ha) per ha
as basal dressing. Give 40 kg P2O5 as foliar spray (2% P) on 40 DAS.
Salicylic acid at 100 ppm (50 g/500 l/ha) as foliar spray on 30th and 45th day to increase the
yield.
103
4. SOWING
Dibble the seeds at a depth of 2 - 3 cm adopting a spacing of 30 x 5 cm. In Erode district,
Soybean + Castor (60 cm apart) cropping system gives high net return.
5. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing. Give life irrigation on the 3rd day. Further irrigations at
intervals of 7 - 10 and 10 - 15 days during summer and winter season respectively may be given
depending on soil and weather conditions. Soyabean is very sensitive to excess moisture and the
crop is affected if water stagnates in the fields. The crop should not suffer due to water stress from
flowering to maturity. To alleviate moisture stress spray of either Kaolin 3% or liquid paraffin at 1%
on the foliage. In Erode district Soybean + castor with irrigation at 0.60 IW/CPE ratio (i.e.) once in 10
to 12 days is recommended to realise maximum benefits.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Fluchloralin may be applied to the irrigated crop at 2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha after
sowing, followed by one hand weeding on 30 days after sowing.
ii) If herbicide spray is not given two hand weedings on 20 and 35 days after sowing may be
given.
iii) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin at 1.0 kg ai/ha or Alachlor 2.0 kg ai/ha may be
used in Soybean wherever labour availability for timely weeding is restricted.
i) Phosphorus: Leaves show brown spots after flowering. Root development is poor.
ii) Boron: Young leaves show interveinal chlorosis, with downward curling of tips and crinkling
in older leaves, Tips die back. Flowering prevented. Roots are stunted.
iii) Zinc: Foliage restricted. Leaves show browning followed by interveinal chlorotic mottling.
Marginal scorching, leaves apices downward.
a) 25 kg ZnSO4 + 12.5 t FYM/ha in the case of zinc deficient soil.
b) For Manganese deficient soils apply 25 kg MnSO4 + 12.5 t FYM/ha as basal. If basal
application is not done 1.0% MnSO4 spraying on 20 - 30 and 40 days.
8. CROP PROTECTION
Caterpillars: Spray Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml/ha.
Whitefly: Spray any one of the following insecticides @ 500 ml/ha, Methyldemeton 25 EC,
Phosphamidon 85 WSC, Dimethoate 30 EC.
Leaf Miner: Apply Quinalphos 1.5% D 25 kg/ha on 15th and 25th day after sowing.
Geluricid beetle: Spray methyl demeton 500 ml/ha to control the damage.
Note: Do not use Carbaryl as Soyabean is sensitive.
Virus disease (Yellow mosaic and bud blight): Rogue out infected plants upto 30 days.
Spray twice on 15th and 30th after sowing with Monocrotophos 500 ml/ha or Methyldemeton 500 ml/
ha.
Rust: Spray Triadimefon (or) Propiconazole (or) Hexaconazole @ 0.1% at flowering stage or
at the onset of disease.
8. YIELD MAXIMISATION
Season: Adipattam - Third week of June for Western Zone.
Masipattam - Third week of February.
Adopt a plant spacing of 30 cm x 5 cm (6.66 lakh plants/ha). Apply NPK at 60:120:40 kg/ha as
basal with combined foliar spray of 2% DAP and 0.5% ZnSO4 at flowering stage in addition to other
recommended practices.
104
Soyabean
9. HARVESTING
Yellowing of leaves and shedding indicate the maturity of the crop. Cut the entire plant when
most of the pods have turned yellow.
10. SEED STORAGE

a) Dry the pods adequately in sun and thresh with sticks when seeds are to be used for grain
purpose.
b) For seed purpose, hand threshing is preferable.
c) Seeds dried at 8% moisture, treated with Thiram @ 2 g/kg and packed in 300 gauge thick
polylined gunny bag or ordinary gunny bag to maintain 70% germination for 8 months.
SOYABEAN IN RICE FALLOWS

Soyabean can be sown in rice fallows from middle of January to middle of March. Seeds can be
dibbled at 75 kg/ha.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
1. Optimum time of sowing Soyabean CO 1 - 2nd fortnight of June in Kharif at Bhavanisagar.
2. Intercropping of Soyabean CO 1 in Sugarcane is recommended for North Western Zone.
3. Intercropping of Soyabean in coconut gardens of more than 10 years is recommended.
4. Soyabean varieties UGM21, UGM 37 and ADT 1 are recommended for sowing in rice
fallows of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam district.
5. Vermipelleting (50 g/kg) and adopting spacing of 30 x 10 cm and two foliar sprays of 2%
DAP during flowering is recommended to achieve higher yield.
RAINFED SOYABEAN
1. VARIETIES
CO 1, ADT 1
2. SEASON
The crop can be grown in South-West and North-East monsoon seasons. The middle of July is
the optimum time of sowing for rainfed Soyabean in North Western Zone.
i) Apply NPK as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation
is not available adopt blanket recommendation of 20:40:20 NPK kg/ha if adequate moisture
is available.
ii) Apply entire dose of N, P and K as basal.
4. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants in the row.
Population : 3.3 lakh plants/ha.
5. SEED TREATMENT WITH THE FUNGICIDES

a) Treat the seeds with Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seeds, atleast 24 hours before sowing.
b) Treat the seeds required for ha. with three pockets of Rhizobium japonicum strain using
rice kanji as binder.
6. SOWING
Dibble or drill the seeds.
105
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) If sufficient moisture is available, spray Fluchloralin at 1.0 kg/ha as pre emergence within 3
days after sowing.
ii) If herbicide spray is not given, two hand weeding on 20 and 35th day after sowing.
V. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEASON
First fortnight of July and Winter - September and October.
2. SOWING
Remove all discoloured seed and use highly germinable (more than 90 per cent seeds retained
by the 14/64" (aperture width 5.72 mm) dia meter round perforated sieve. Mix the seeds with 5%
moist sand and keep it for 16 hrs. Sieve off the sand. Slurry-treat with Captan 75% WP at 2 g mixed
in 5 ml of water per kg of seed and air-dry. Before sowing, mix the seed with Rhizobium culture as
per the recommended procedure.
3. SEED RATE
Adopt a seed rate of 35 - 40 kg/ha.
Basal 40:160:80 NPK in kg/ha. Top dressing (at first flowering) 40 kg N/ha.
5. SPACING
6. PLANT PROTECTION
To control white fly, spray any one of the following: Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha;
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 500 ml/ha; Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha.
7. HARVESTING
Harvest 60 days after flowering when 75 per cent of the pods turn yellow and a few pods turn
brown in colour. Moisture content of seeds at this stage will be about 20 per cent. Cut the stems and
dry in shade for 1 - 2 days after stacking the plants in an upright position in small heaps to ensure
ventilation and then dry in sun.
Threshing should be done when pods become brittle and break upon pressing for when the
plants are gently beaten on a wooden plank. At this stage the seed moisture content will be about 15
per cent. If machine threshed, the speed of the cylinder must be as low as possible to keep the
breakage of seeds to the minimum.
8. GRADING
Grade the seeds at about 10% moisture content using 14/64" diameter (aperture width 5.72
mm) round perforated sieve.

The graded seeds after the removal of the broken and green seeds should be dried to 7 to 8 per
cent moisture content.
Dry dust with Captan at 2 g/kg of seeds (or) Carbendazim at 2 g /kg of seeds.
For period upto 8 months use cloth bag for storage. For a period upto 18 months L.D. Polythene
bag of 700 gauge thickness may be used.
106
Sword Bean
SWORD BEAN ( Canavalia gladiata)
Sword bean SBS 1 is an introduction and is one of the vegetables with photo-insensitivity. It
matures in 110 - 120 days. It can be grown throughout the year and gives good response to irrigation.
Tender pods are ready for harvest from 75 days after sowing. As a pure crop it gives an average
grain yield of 1356 kg/ha and green pod yield of 7500 kg/ha. This can also be grown as border crop,
intercrop and a shade crop.
I. SEASON
June - July (Rainfed), September - October (Rabi), February - March (Summer).
II. DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY - SBS 1

Plant habit Dwarf, erect, bushy
Pigmentation Green
Branches (No) 4-6
Inflorescence Axillary raceme
Flower Bold, light purple
Pods Long, pendulous, green, flat and fleshy (for vegetable use).
Becomes very hard on maturity.
100 seed weight (g) 131.6
Seed colour Milky white
Days to 50% bloom 45 - 50
Salient features Early duration (110 - 120 days)
Vegetable cum grain crop
Free from beany odour
Highly nutritious and delicious (25.9% protein)
No major pests and diseases
III. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS

1. Seed rate (kg/ha) 110 - 120 (pure crop)
2. Fertilizers (kg/ha) 25 N 50 P2O5
3. Spacing 45 x 30 cm (irrigated); 30 x 20 cm (rainfed)
;;;
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OILSEEDS
GROUNDNUT ( Arachis hypogaea )
A. Rainfed
1. Chithiraipattam (Apr - May)

Pollachi, Theni and TMV 2, TMV 7, JL 24, CO 2,
Tenkasi VRI 2, VRI 3, ALR 2, VRI 4
2. Early Adipattam (Jun - Jul)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, TMV 2, TMV 7, TMV 10, VRI 3, VRI 4
Tiruvannamalai and Cuddalore,
Villupuram
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, CO 2, JL 24, VRI 2, VRI 3, VRI 4

Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur,
Nagapattinam,
Erode, Coimbatore CO 2, JL 24, VRI 2, VRI 3, VRI 4, BSR 1
3. Late Adipattam (Jul - Aug)

Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Sivagangai TMV 2, TMV 7,TMV 10, CO 1, CO 2,
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, JL 24, VRI 2, VRI 3, BSR 1, VRI 4
Salem, Namakkal, Kanyakumari,
Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai
4. Aippasipattam (Oct)
Kanyakumari, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, TMV 7, TMV 2, CO 2, JL 24,
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur and VRI 2, VRI 3, BSR 1, VRI 4
Cuddalore, Villupuram.
B. Irrigated
1. Summer (Apr - Jul)
All districts
TMV 2, TMV 7, CO 1, CO 2,
VRI 2, VRI 3, BSR 1, VRI 4
2. Margazhipattam (Dec - Jan)
All districts except Erode & Coimbatore TMV 2, TMV 7, CO 1, CO 2
VRI 2, VRI 3, VRI 4
Erode, Coimbatore BSR 1, VRI 4
3. Masipattam (Feb - Mar)

(New Delta areas of Thanjavur, TMV 2, TMV 7, CO 2, JL 24,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam) VRI 2, VRI 3, BSR 1, VRI 4
108
Oilseeds
II. PARTICULARS OF GROUNDNUT VARIETIES
Particulars TMV 2 TMV 7 TMV 10 CO 1 CO 2
Parentage Mass selection Pureline Spontaneous Ah 6279 Mutant from
from Gudiatham selection from mutant from x TMV3 POL 1
Tennessee Argentina
Duration (days) 100 - 105 100 - 105 120 - 130 100 - 105 100 - 105
Average yield of 1250 1400 1650 1675 1650
pods kg/ha
Shelling % 76 74 77 74 76
100 seed wt(g) 36 36 43 34 41
Oil content % 49.4 49.6 54.4 50.4 51.4
Special features Cosmopolitan Seed dor- Yield, oil, Field dor- Bold 1 - 2
mancy for shelling high mancy 10 to seeded, basal
10 days 15 days setting suitable
for rainfed and
irrigated
Growth habit Bunch Bunch Semi-spreadingBunch Bunch
Leaf colour Green Green Dark green Light green Green
Seed colour Light rose Light rose Red blotched Rose Rose
with white
Particulars JL 24 ALR 2
Parentage Mass selection ICGV 86011
from Taiwan (DH 320 x USA 2)
x NCAC 2232
Duration(days) 95 - 105 105
Average yield 1650 1740

of pods (kg/ha)
Shelling % 75 70
100 Seed wt. (g) 46 38
Oil content % 50.1 52
Special features Suitable for Suitable for

rainfed and rainfed, tolerant to
irrigated rust, Dormancy
for 15 days,
Plants remain
green even
after maturity
Growth habit Bunch Bunch
Leaf colour Green Dark green
Seed colour Light rose Rose
109
II. PARTICULARS OF GROUNDNUT VARIETIES (CONTD...)
Particulars VRI 2 VRI 3 VRI 4 BSR 1
Parentage JL24 x CO2 J11 x Robou VG 5 x ICGV 44 x
33 - 1 Nc Ac 17090 (Robut 83-1 x
NCAC 2821)
Duration(days) 100 - 105 90 105 - 110 100-105
Average yield of 1791 1668 Rainfed 1660
pods (kg/ha) 2060 1882 Irrigated 2171 2845
Shelling % 74.8 73 72 70
100 Seed weight (g) 49.9 35 40.8 38.5
Oil content % 48 48 47 44.5
Special features Pods bold/ Suitable for High sugar (10.9%) Suitable for irrigated
clustered at rainfed and and protein (21.25%) Dormancy for 21
base, dormancy irrigated Tolerant to rust, days
for a week Medium sized
kernels
Growth habit Spanish bunch Bunch Bunch Bunch

Leaf colour Ashy green Light green Dark green Dark green
Seed colour Light rose Light rose Tan Light rose

i) Plough with tractor using a disc followed by harrow once or twice with iron plough or 3 - 4
times with country plough till all the clods are broken and a fine tilth is obtained.
ii) Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow
depth with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval first in one direction and then in the direction
perpendicular to the previous one once in three years. Apply 12.5 t/ha FYM or composted
coir pith besides chiselling.
iii) Amendments for soil surface crusting: a) To tide over the surface crusting apply lime @ 2
t/ha along with FYM or composted coir pith @ 12.5 t/ha. b) When coir pith at 12.5 t/ha is
converted into compost by inoculating with Pleurotus and applied, it serves as a good
source of nutrient.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow the blanket
recommendation.
N P K Sulphur sludge
Rainfed 10 10 45 kg/ha ...
Irrigated 17 34 54 kg/ha 60 kg/ha
Simple nomograms of Fertiliser prescriptions based on soil tests have been developed for
dominant groundnut growing soils of Tamil Nadu for adoption.
3. FORMING BEDS
i) Form beds of size 10 m2 to 20 m2 depending upon the availability of water, slope of the land
and type of soil.
ii) Wherever tractor is engaged, bed former may be used.
4. APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
Mix 12.5 kg/ha of micronutrient mixture developed by Department of Agriculture with enough
dry sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg/ha. Broadcast evenly on the soil surface immediately after
sowing. Do not incorporate the micronutrient mixture to the soil.
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Oilseeds
5. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Zinc deficiency: Light yellow stripes along with veins of leaf blade under acute condition-veinally
chlorosis and cessation of growth of terminal bud. Apply 25 kg ZnSO4/ha (basal) for zinc deficient soils.
If soil analysis shows less than 1.3 pm of zinc, soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4 is recommended.
For the standing crop, less than 39.4 ppm of zinc in leaves, foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSo4 is recommended.
Iron deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis - Depression on growth of aerial parts and roots. Stunted
growth. For correction of iron deficiency spray 1% FeSO4 on 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing.
Boron deficiency: Growth of young leaves restricted giving a rosette effect. The pod
development is affected resulting in the production of ‘pop’ pods. Apply Borax 10 kg + Gypsum 200
kg/ha at 45th day after sowing for Boron deficient soil.
Sulphur deficiency: Stunted growth, uniformly chlorotic plants, thin stemmed and spindle
appearance.
6. SEED RATE
Use 140 kg/ha of kernels for the rainfed crop and 125 kg for irrigated crop. Increase the seed
rate by 10% in the case of bold seeded varieties like JL 24,CO 2 & TMV 10.
7. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. Wherever groundnut ring
mosaic (bud necrosis) is prevalent, adopt a spacing of 15 x 15 cm.
8. QUALITY OF KERNELS
Select sound, mature and good quality kernels. Use hand decorticator for shelling and discard
insect shrivelled, insect damaged, disease affected, broken kernels.
9. SEED TREATMENT
i) Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed (or) Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
ii) Treat the seeds with Trichoderma @ 4g/kg. This can be done just before sowing. It is
compatible with biofertilizers. SUCH SEEDS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH
FUNGICIDES. (or)
iii) Treat the seeds with Thiram or Mancozeb at 4 g/kg of seed or Carboxin or Carbendazim at
2 g/kg of seed.
iv) Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g)/ha of Rhizobial culture TNAU14 developed at TNAU
using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not carried out apply 10 packets/ha
(2000 g) with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing.
Seed treatment will protect the young seedlings from root-rot and collar rot infection.
10. SOWING
i) Dry: a) Use Kovai seed drill/gorru to sow the seeds in lines. b) Put one seed in each hole.
Protect the seeds from crows and squirrels. c) Sow during June for higher yield.
ii) Irrigated: Dibble the seeds at 4 cm depth along with fertilizer. Sowing may be taken up in
July (60 DAS) to avoid the early appearance of late leaf spot.
iii) Seed Management Technique: A new seed management technique has been developed
to separate the dead seeds from the seed lot before sowing for the maintenance of plant
population.
a) The seed graded using 18/64" round perforated sieve may be hardened by soaking in
50% of volume solution of 0.5% Calcium chloride, for 6 hours.
111
b) Then spread the seeds over the moist gunny bags and cover with the moist gunny for
20 - 24 hours.
c) After 20 - 24 hours, the kernels with visible expression of radicle emergence (just
sprouted) are to be separated dried under shade.
d) The process has to be repeated for 2 - 3 times at 2 hours interval and all the viable
seeds which expressed radicle emergence are to be further separated and dried
under shade.
e) The viable seeds thus separated should be dried under shade immediately and could
be used for immediate sowing.
f) The seeds could also be stored for 7 - 10 days by drying to original moisture content
after separation.(When such viable seeds are used for sowing, the field emergence
will be about 95% and the final field population could be maintained to more than 90%
with the resultant increased yield of about 15%. This technique involves three stages
namely, absorption, separation of dead seeds and pre-emergence sowing of viable
seeds.
11. INTERCROPPING
Rainfed:
i) Raise one row of cowpea for every 5 rows of groundnut wherever red hairy caterpillar is
endemic to minimise plant protection.
ii) Raise intercrops like redgram, blackgram, sunflower, gingelly or other pulses.
iii) Cumbu can be raised as intercrop
iv) Groundnut + Gingelly or Groundnut + Blackgram in the ratio of 4:1 or Groundnut + Cowpea
at 6:1 ratio and Groundnut + Sunflower at 6:2 ratio may be raised.
12. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-sowing: Fluchloralin at 2.0 l/ha may be applied and incorporated.
ii) Pre-emergence: Fluchloralin 2.0 l/ha applied through flat fan nozzle with 900 l of water/ha
followed by irrigation. After 35 - 40 days one hand weeding may be given.
iii) Pre emergence application of metalachlor (1.0 Kg ai/ha) plus one hand weeding on 30
days after sowing in more profitable.
iv) In case no herbicide is applied two hand hoeings and weedings are given 20 and 40th day
after sowing.
13. GAP FILLING
Fill up gaps before 10th day of sowing if optimum moisture is available.
14. PEST MANAGEMENT

Apply anyone of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha to control leaf miner and other insect
pests. Phosalone 4% D; Endosulfan 4% D; Carbaryl 10% D; Fenitrothion 2% D or spray Endosulfan
35 EC 750 ml/ha; Dichlorvos 76 WSC 625 ml/ha; Monocrotophos 36 WSC 750 ml/ha; Phosphamidon
85 WSC 375 ml/ha; Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml/ha; Phosalone 35 EC 750 ml/ha; Quinalphos 25
EC 750 ml/ha and Phenthoate 50 EC 750 ml/ha in 375 l of water.
a) ETL 1 larva per metre row (leaf miner)
b) Intercrop groundnut and cumbu at 4:1 ratio.
For leaf miner control, set up light traps between 8 and 11 p.m at ground level.
Application of NPV @ 250 LE/ha along with the adjuvant jaggery 2.5 kg/ha and Teepol 250 ml/
ha either one or two application depending on the incidence of early instars at 10 days interval
reduce the larval population of Spodoptera litura
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Oilseeds
i) Rust: Spray the crop with any one of the fungicides when the disease intensity crosses
grade 3. Mancozeb 1 kg/ha or Chlorothalonil 1 kg/ha, Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha or
Tridemorph 500 ml/ha. If necessary, repeat the spray 15 days later.
ii) Leaf spot: Apply any one of the fungicides to the crop when the disease intensity crossed
grade 3. Carbendazim 500 g/ha. or Mancozeb 1 kg/ha; or Chlorothalonil 1 kg/ha. If
necessary, give the second round 15 days later.
iii) Combined infection of rust and tikka: Spray with any one of the fungicides when the
disease intensity crosses grade 3. Carbendazim 250 g/ha + Mancozeb 1 kg/ha or
Chlorothalonil 1 kg/ha. If necessary, give second round 15 days later.
iv) Whenever insects and diseases occur simultaneously apply any one of the sprayable
insecticides along with any one of the sprayable fungicides given above.
v) NPV of Spodoptera litura is compatible with Carbendazim or Mancozeb.
Root rot : Spot drench Carbendezim @ 1g/l (or) soil application of P.fluorescens @ 2.5kg/
ha with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM/Sand at 30 days after sowing.
15 A. NEMATODE - POD SCAB NEMATODE CONTROL
Application of gypsum 200 kg/ha, 45 days after sowing or phorate 1 kg ai/ha effectively controls
the pod scab nematode.
16. EARTHING UP:

Accomplish earthing during second hand weeding/late hand weeding (in herbicide application).
NOTE: i) Earthing up provides medium for the peg. ii) Use the improved hoe with long handle which
can be worked more efficiently in a standing position. iii) do not disturb the soil after the 45th
day of sowing as it will affect pod formation adversely.
17. APPLICATION OF GYPSUM (CALCIUM SULPHATE)
i) Apply gypsum @ 400 kg/ha by the side of the plants on the 40th to 45th day of sowing for
irrigated crop and on 40th to 70th day for rainfed crop depending upon soil moisture.
ii) Apply gypsum, hoe and incorporate it in the soil and then earth up.
iii) Avoid gypsum in calciferous soils.
iv) Gypsum is effective in soils deficient in calcium and sulphur.
NOTE: Application of gypsum encourages pod formation and better filling up of the pods.
If irrigation is desired to supply based on climatic conditions, schedule the irrigation at 0.40 and
0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively. Regulate irrigation
according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Pre-flowering phase 1 to 25 days
Flowering phase 26 to 60 days
Maturity phase 61 to 105 days
Regulate irrigation based on physiological growth phases. Pegging, flowering and pod
development phases are critical for irrigation during which period adequate soil moisture is essential.
Give irrigation as follows:
i) Sowing or pre-sowing
ii) Life irrigation, 4 - 5 days after sowing if sowing irrigation given to break the
surface crust.
iii) 20 days after sowing
iv) At flowering give two irrigations
v) At pegging stage give one or two irrigations
113
vi) In pod development stage, 2 - 3 irrigations depending on the soil type
Note: 0.5% potassium chloride spray during flowering and pod development stages will aid to
mitigate the ill effects of water stress. Sprinkler irrigation will save water to the tune of about
30%. Borderstrip irrigation is recommended in command areas in light textured soils.
Composted coir pith increases moisture availability and better drainage in heavy textured
soil.
19. HARVESTING
i) Observe the crop, considering its average duration. Drying and falling of older leaves and
yellowing of the top leaves indicate maturity.
ii) Pull out a few plants at random and shell the pods. If the inside of the shells is brownish
black and not white, then the crop has matured.
iii) Irrigate prior to harvest, if the soil is dry, as this will facilitate for easy harvesting. If there is
enough moisture in the soil, there is no need for irrigation for harvesting.
iv) If water is not available for irrigating the field prior to harvest, work a mould board plough or
work a country plough, so that the plants are uprooted. Engage labour to search pods left
out in the soil, if necessary.
NOTE: Do not keep the pulled out plants in heaps, when they are wet especially the bunch varieties,
as the pods will start sprouting.
v) Strip off the pods from the plants. Groundnut stripper developed by TNAU may be used.
vi) Dry the pods in the sun for 4 or 5 days. Repeat drying for 2 or 3 days more after an interval
of 2 or 3 days to ensure complete drying. When temperature is very high, avoid direct sun
drying. Collect the pods in gunnies and store on the ground over a layer of sand to avoid
any moisture coming in contact with dry pods.
The technology package of irrigating groundnut at 0.60 IW/CPE ratio, improved variety CO 2,
use of biofertilizer, pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin at 2 l/ha , application of gypsum at 400
kg/ha, use of micronutrient mixture at 12.5 kg/ha and timely plant protection measures gave higher
net returns.
IV. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

1) RED HAIRY CATERPILLAR
a) Dig out and destroy the pupae from the fields bunds and shady spots prior to summer
rains.
b) Set up 3 to 4 light traps and bonfires immediately after receipt of rains, after sowing in the
rainfed season to attract and kill the moths and also to know brood emergence.
c) Collect and destroy gregarious, early instar larvae on lace-like leaves of intercrops such as
redgram and cowpea.
d) Collect and destroy egg masses in the cropped area.
e) Apply any one of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha (for young caterpillars). Quinalphos
1.5% D; Phosalone 4% D; Endosulfan 4% D; Carbaryl 10% D or spray Endosulfan 35 EC
750 ml/ha; Fenitrothion 50 EC 750 ml/ha; Quinalphos 25 EC 750 ml/ha; Dichlorvos 76
WSC 625 ml/ha; Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml/ha; Ethion 50 EC 500 ml/ha; Phosalone 35
EC 750 ml/ha in 375 l of water. Or use nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) at 250 larval
equivalents per ha as detailed below.
Get nucleus culture of NPV either from TNAU, Regional Research Station, Paiyur or Coimbatore
or Madurai campuses of TNAU, for multiplication and field use as indicated below.
Collect medium sized larvae of Amsacta albistriga from the field and starve them over night.
Make a pure suspension of virus with the nucleus culture, in water. Dip Calotropis leaves in virus
suspension, shade dry and feed them to starved larvae 1 or 2 days. From third day, normal, untreated
leaves can be fed to these larvae. From 5th day, the treated larvae will start dying. Virus infected
114
Oilseeds
larvae can be diagnosed by their pinkish ventral surface, their head hanging downwards with white
body contents oozing out through ruptured body wall in the late stage. Collect the dying larvae, keep
in fresh potable water for a few days, grind the larvae and filter through several layers of fine cloth
and collect filtrate (Crude virus suspension). Use virus suspension obtained from 750 medium sized
larvae for spraying one hectare along with a sticker 250 ml or Triton in 350 l of water. Use potable
water for spraying and spray in the evenings.
2. POD BORER (Earwig)

i) Apply Malathion 5% D 25 kg/ha or Endosulfan 4% D 25 kg/ha to the soil prior to sowing in
areas where the earwig is endemic.
ii) Repeat soil application of any one of the above dust formulations on the 40th day of sowing
and incorporate in the soil during the earthing up.
3. Millipede
Apply Methyl parathion 2D @ 25 kg/ha during gypsum application and earthing up.
4. Spodoptera
i) Grow castor as border or intercrop in groundnut fields to serve as indicator or trap crop.
ii) Monitor the emergence of adult moths by setting up light and pheromone traps.
iii) Collect egg masses and destroy.
iv) Collect the gregarious larvae and destroy them as soon as the early symptoms of lace-like
leaves appear on castor, cowpea and groundnut.
v) Apply anyone of the following insecticides per ha to control the early instar (1st to 3rd instar
larvae) Carbaryl 10 D 25 kg; Fenitrothion 50 EC 750 ml; Carbaryl 50 WP 2.0 kg; Carbaryl
+ Molasses 40 LV 2.0 l; Quinalphos 25 EC 750 ml; Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml; Phenthoate 50
EC 1250 ml; Dichlorvos 76 WSC 750 ml; Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l.
vi) Spray any one of the following insecticides per ha to control the 4th to 6th instar larvae.
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.0 l; Dichlorvos 76 SC 1.0 l; Phenthoate 50 EC 2.0 l; Fenitrothion 50
EC 625 ml + Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1.25 l in 1000 l of water.
vii) Spray both the upper and lower surface of leaves and also the soil and bunds.
viii) Avoid migration of larvae by digging a trench 30 cm deep and 25 cm wide with perpendicular
sides around the infested fields.
ix) Prepare a bait with the following materials to cover one ha. Rice bran 12.5 kg; Molasses or
brown sugar 2.5 kg or Carbaryl 50 WP 1.25 kg. Mix the ingredients to obtain a homogeneous
mixture, sprinkle water gradually and bring the bait to a dough consistency. Distribute the
above bait on the soil, around the field and inside in the evening hours immediately after
preparation.
x) Apply nuclear polyhedrosis virus for the control of Spodoptera. Methods of mass culturing
and application are the same as for Amsacta NPV use castor leaves for larvae. Combined
use of NPV of S.litura and H.armigera on groundnut indicated that single application of
NPV of each pest at 250 LE/ha with Crude sugar 2.5 kg/ha is as effective as that of
Chlorpyriphos at 200 g a.i/ha at 7 days interval in reducing the larval population.
5. LEAF HOPPER
Intercrop lab lab with groundnut 1:4 ratio.
6. GROUNDNUT RING MOSAIC (BUD NECROSIS)

i) Adopt a close spacing of 15 x 15 cm.
ii) Remove infected plants upto 6 weeks after sowing and spray Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500
ml/ha, 30 days after sowing either alone or in combination with antiviral principles (AVP)
from sorghum or coconut leaves.
115
Antiviral principles (AVP) are extracted as follows :
Sorghum or coconut leaves may be collected, dried, cut into small bits and powdered. To
one kg of leaf powder two litres of water is added and heated to 60°C for one hour. It is then
filtered through muslin cloth and diluted to 10 litres and sprayed. To cover one ha 500 litre of
fluid will be required. Two sprays at 10 and 20 days after sowing will be needed.
7. ROOT ROT
Spot drench Carbendazim 0.5 g/l or PCNB 1 g/l or soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens
@ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM / sand at 30 days after sowing.
SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEASONS
June - July; December - January; Boron deficient soil produces single compartment seeds;
Calcium deficiency causes production of darkened plumules. These soils need special attention.
2. SPACING
3. SEEDS AND SOWING

Obtain seed from healthy pods. Shrivelled and disfigured seeds should be discarded. Use
seeds retained by 18/64" (7.28 mm) round perforated sieve and remove broken seeds. Treat the
kernels with Rhizobium culture and dust with Thiram 75% WDP at 200 g/100 kg before sowing.
4. PRE-SOWING SEED HARDENING

The graded seeds can be hardened by soaking in 0.5% CaCl2 (50% seed volume) for 6 hrs.
After 6 hrs soaking and seeds should be spread over moist gunny bag and covered with another
moist gunny bag for 24 hours. After 24 hrs the seeds with sprouted radicle (just visible expression of
radicle) should be separated and dried under shade. It should be repeated for 2 - 3 times, with 2 hrs
interval and all the viable seeds with expressed radicle emergence should be separated and dried
under shade. The viable and dead seeds are separated by the process which ensured planting
value.
Basal - FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha; N/P/K (kg/ha) 40:40:60; Borax 10 kg/ha; Micronutrient mix -
12.5 kg/ha (apply micronutrient mixture on the surface after sowing).
6. HARVESTING
Harvest pods on 110th day after sowing when the colour of the inner side of the pod shell turns
black. The pod moisture will be 35 - 40%. Strip the pods and dry to 10 - 12 per cent moisture.
Mechanically injured pods should be rejected. Remove all discoloured pods.
7. DRYING
Pods can be dried under sun between 8 am and 4 pm with a stirring once in 2 hours.
8. DECORTICATION
Pods can be dried to 16 per cent moisture content and decorticated. The kernels should be
dried to 7 to 8 per cent moisture.
9. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the kernels with Thiram 75% WDP at 200 g/100 kg before sowing/storing pods with 6.7
per cent kernel moisture treated with Thiram can also be stored. Store the pods in closed plastic
container of gunny bags with Calcium chloride at 250 g/30 kg of pods.
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GINGELLY ( Sesamum indicum )
A) Rainfed
Adipattam (Jun - Jul)
All districts CO 1, TMV 3, TMV 5, VRI 1
Karthigaipattam (Oct - Nov)
All districts CO 1, TMV 3, TMV 5, SVPR 1, VRI 1
Summer season - Masipattam
Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore CO 1, TMV 3, TMV 4, TMV 6, Paiyur 1, VRI 1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, SVPR 1

Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai ,
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi,
Virudhunagar
B) Irrigated - Masipattam (Feb - Mar)

Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchirapalli, TMV 3, TMV 4, TMV 6, CO 1, VRI 1
Perambalur, Karur, Madurai, Dindigul,
Theni,Thanjavur,Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam
C) Rice fallows
Coastal situations VRI 1
II. PARTICULARS OF GINGELLY STRAINS

Particulars CO 1 TMV 3 TMV 4 TMV 5
Parentage (TMV3xSl 1878) South Arcot Pureline from Pureline from

x Sl 1878 local x Malabar Sattur local Srivaikuntam
variety variety
Duration (Days) 85 - 90 80 - 85 85 - 90 80 - 85
Yield kg/ha
Irrigated 750 - 790 625 - 750 700 - 950 ..
Rainfed 450 - 650 400 - 650 .. 450 - 650
Oil content(%) 51 51 50 51
Habit Erect with branching Bushy with Bushy with Erect with
and short internodes profuse profuse moderate
on the main stem branching branching branching
Capsules 4 loculed, closely 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed
set on the stem
Seeds Intense dark brown Darkbrown Brown Brown
almost black
117
Particulars TMV 6 Paiyur 1 SVPR 1 VRI 1

Parentage Pureline selection SI 2511 x Selection from Pureline seletion
from Andhra Pradesh SI 2314 Western Ghat from Tirukattu-
variety White palli local
Duration (Days) 85 - 90 90 75 - 80 70 - 75
Yield kg/ha
Irrigated 700 - 875 644 807 650 - 900
Rainfed .. .. 607 450 - 650
Oil content(%) 54 50 53.8 51
Habit Erect with moderate Bushy Erect and Moderate Moderate
branching branching branching
Capsules 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed
Seeds Brown Black White Brown
a) Plough the field with tractor plough twice or thrice with a mould board plough or five times
with a country plough.
b) Break the clods in between the ploughings and bring the soil to a fine tilth to facilitate quick
germination as the seeds are small.
c) Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow
depth with chisel plough at 0.5 m interval first in one direction and then in the direction
perpendicular to the previous one once in three years. Apply 12.5 t FYM/composted coir
pith besides chiselling.
d) For irrigated gingelly, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending upon the availability and
inflow of water and the slope of the land. Level the beds perfectly without any depressions
to prevent water stagnation, which will affect the germination adversely.
e) In rice fallows the field is ploughed once with optimum moisture and seed is sown
immediately and covered with one more ploughing.
i) Spread FYM or composted coir pith or compost @ 12.5 t/ha evenly on the unploughed
land and plough it in.
ii) If the manure is not applied before commencement of ploughing, spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM
or compost evenly on the field before the last ploughing and incorporate in the soil.
iii) Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation. If soil tests are not available, follow
the blanket recommendations. Rainfed: Apply 23:13:13 kg NPK/ha or 17:13:13 kg NPK/
ha + 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g). Irrigated: Apply 35:23:23 kg NPK/ha or 21:23:23
kg NPK/ha + 3 packets of Azospirillum.
iv) Apply full dose of N, P and K basally. Add 5 kg of Manganese sulphate per hectare. Apply
50% of the recommended P2O5 and K2O with full recommended dose of N to irrigated
gingelly, raised after groundnut fertilized with 100% of recommended NPK.
v) Open furrows to a depth of 5 cm and 30 cm apart and place the fertilizer mixture along the
furrows and cover to a depth of 3 cm with soil before sowing.
vi) If furrow application is not done, broadcast the fertilizer mixture evenly on the beds before
sowing.
3. APPLICATION OF Azospirillum
25% of the N can be substituted by 3 packets (600 g) of Azospirillum by seed treatment and 10
packets (2000 g) of Azospirillum /ha as soil application.
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Oilseeds
Azospirillum and biocontrol agent Trichoderma viride (4g/Kg) are compatible for seed treatment
and hence can be applied as a single treatment.
a) Manganese deficiency: Leaves develop interveinal chlorosis, chlorotic tissue, later develop
light brown or husk coloured necrotic lesions.
b) Zinc deficiency: Middle leaves develop chlorosis in the interveinal areas and necrosis
along the apical leaf margins. Mix 5 kg/ha of Zinc sulphate with 45 kg of soil and broadcast
evenly in the beds after sowing.
Note: Do not incorporate the micronutrient in the soil.
5. SEED RATE
6. SPACING
a) Give a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants. b) For rice fallows, seeds
are broadcasted and thinned to maintain 11 plants/m2.
7. QUALITY OF SEEDS
Select mature, good quality seeds free from pest and fungal damage.
8. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seed with Trichoderma @ 4g/kg. This can be done just before sowing. It is compatible
with biofertilizers. SUCH SEEDS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH FUNGICIDES or treat the
seed with Thiram 4 g or Carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seed before sowing.
9. SOWING
a) Sowing the seeds preferably in lines.
b) Mix the seeds with 4 times its volume of dry sand and drop the mixture evenly along the
furrows in which fertilizers are applied.
c) Sow the seeds to a depth of 3 cm and cover with soil.
d) The optimum time of sowing for VRI 1 sesame is 2nd fortnight of February to first fortnight
of March under Summer irrigated conditions.
i) Irrigate at sowing and give life irrigation 7 days after sowing depending on the soil and
climatic condition and allow excess water to percolate.
ii) Give one pre-flowering irrigation (25 days): One at flowering and one or two at pod setting.
An irrigation at flowering period is critical.
NOTE: The critical stage, for moisture requirement is the flowering phase i.e, between 35th to 45th
days of sowing. During the maturity phase, moisture status should be low. If more water is
given during this phase, maturity of seeds is affected and filling up of the capsules will be
poor. Therefore, stop irrigation after 65 days of sowing.
11. THINNING
Thin out the seedlings to a spacing of 15 cm between the plants on the 15th day of sowing and
30 cm on 30th day of sowing.
12. PESTS AND DISEASES

1) Pests:
a) Apply any one of the following insecticides per ha on the 25th, 35th and 50th day of sowing,
if needed, to control shoot webber/pod borer/gall midge. Dust 25 kg of Endosulfan 4 D;
Phosalone 4 D; Quinalphos 1.5 D; Malathion 5 D/ha or spray Phosalone 35 EC 1000 ml;
Quinalphos 25 EC 1000 ml; Dichlorvos 76 SC 500 ml; Monocrotophos 36 WSC 625 ml;
Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml; Carbaryl 50 WP 1000 g in 500 l of water. Two rounds of spray
of neem oil 2% effectively controlled shoot webber and pod borer.
119
b) Use alternate insecticides each time and avoid the usage of same insecticide every time.
c) Spraying Endosulfan 0.07% when the populatin exceeded two larvae per sq.m or 10%
damage of shoot borer gives effective control.
d) Neem Seed Kernel Extract (5%) is equally effective as that of Endosulfan 35 EC (1.6 l/ha)
for the control of Sesamum shoot webber.
2) Diseases :
a) Powdery mildew: Apply any one of the following fungicides when the disease reaches
grade 3 at 15 day interval. Sulphur dust 25 kg/ha; Wettable sulphur 2.5 kg/ha.
b) Alternaria blight and Cercospora leaf spot: Mancozeb 1 kg/ha
c) Phyllody: Remove and destroy infected plants. Intercropping with Sesamum + redgram
(6:1) reduces the incidence of phyllody and root rot.
d) Root Rot: Spot drench Carbendazim 1 g/l or soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens
@ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg of well decomposed FYM / sand at 30 days after sowing.
Soil application of Neem cake (150 kg/ha) combined with Trichoderma viride seed treatment
(4kg/ha) effectively reduces root rot.
3) Storage pests:
a) Dust on gunny - Malathion 5 D; or Phosalone 4 D or Carbaryl 10 D.
b) Mix 1.0 kg of activated clay with 100 kg of seeds after adequate drying of seeds.
13. WEED MANAGEMENT
Weed and hoe on the 15th and 35th day of sowing. Apply Alachlor at 1.25 ai/ha on 20th day
after sowing and irrigate the crop immediately.
14. HARVESTING
a) Decide when to harvest
i) Observe the crop, considering the average duration of the crop.
ii) Twenty five per cent of the leaves from the bottom are shed and the top leaves loose their
colour and turn yellow at maturity.
iii) The colour of the stem turns yellow.
iv) The colour of the capsules turns yellow upto the middle.
v) Harvest before the bottom capsules turn brown.
vi) Examine the 10th capsule from the bottom by opening. If the seeds turn black, harvest
may be taken up for the black seeded varieties.
vii) If harvest is delayed, the capsules will dehisce resulting in yield reduction.
b) Harvest
i) Pull out the plants from the bottom.
ii) Stack in the open, one over the other in a circle with the stems pointing out and the top
portion pointing inside.
iii) Cover the top with straw, so that humidity and temperature increase.
iv) Cure like this for 3 days, shake the plants. About 75 per cent of the seeds will fall off.
vii) Dry the plants for one more day and again shake the plants. All the mature seeds will fall
off.
viii) Winnow the seeds and dry in the sun for 3 days. Stir once in 3 hours to give uniform drying.
ix) Collect the seeds and store in gunnies.
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IV. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SEASON
April - May.
2. SEEDS AND SOWING

Use seeds retained by 4/64" diameter (1.6 mm) round perforated sieve.
3. SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Thiram at 2 g dissolved in 5 ml of water/kg of seed.
4. SPACING
30 x 30 cm.
5. FERTILIZER
i) 50:25:25 kg NPK /ha, ii) Manganese sulphate 5 kg/ha
6. FOLIAR APPLICATION
DAP at 1% at the time of first flowering and again 10 days after first spray.
7. HARVEST AND STORAGE

Harvest when 75 - 80% of the pods start yellowing and bottom 1 or 2 pods have dehisced. At
this stage, the pod moisture content will be 50 - 60% and seed moisture content will be 25 - 30% and
seeds would have attained chocolate brown colour. Stack the stalks vertically and allow them to air
dry protecting from moisture; shake the stalks to separate the seeds.
8. SIEVE
Use sieve with 4/64" (1.6 mm) diameter round perforations.
9. DRYING
Dry the seeds to 7 - 8% moisture content and treat the seeds with Captan or Thiram @ 2 g per
kg of seed. Treated seeds can be stored for periods upto 9 months in gada cloth bag.
10. MID-STORAGE CORRECTION

Stored seeds of gingelly showing declining trend in germination should be removed from storage
and pre-cleaned. The seeds should be soaked for two hours in double the volume of Disodium
phosphate solution (3.60 g/100 lit of water). If the salt is not available, potable salt free water alone
can be used. The floaters should be removed. The soaked seeds should be spread over a clean
gunny bag and air dried, dressed with Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg of seeds and stored.
;;;;;
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CASTOR ( Ricinus communis )
SEASON VARIETIES
i) Rainfed (Jun - Jul) TMV 4, SA 1, SA 2, TMV 5, TMV 6, TMVCH 1
ii) Gardenland (border) TMV 4
II. DESCRIPTION OF CASTOR STRAINS
Particulars TMV 4 SA 1 SA 2 CO 1
Parentage Developed from a TMV 1 X RC 1094 Spontaneous Pureline
200% pistillate (USA) mutant from selection
plant of SA 2 TMV 1 local from Annamalai
Duration (months) 3 1/2 5 4 1/2 Perennial
Average yield(kg/ha)
Pure crop 750 1000 1200 2.5 kg/tree/yr
Mixed crop ... 500 600 ...
Oil percentage 50 53.8 51 57
Special features
Stem colour Rose Rose Rose Pinkish green
Bloom (Waxy Single Single Single No bloom
coat)
Receme/ Small, lengthy Medium lengthy Small, semi- Bold sparse,
capsule receme semi receme semi- compact, non- settings non
compact, non- compact, non- dehiscent dehiscent
dehiscent dehiscent
Stability Pure crop, mixed Mixed crop Pure and mixed Bund crop and
crop, border crop fit for raising
crop with short in vacant areas
duration crop
Particulars TMV 5 TMV 6 TMVCH1

Parentage SA 2 X S248/2 VP 1 x RC 962 LRES 17 x TMV 5
Duration (months) 4 160 160 - 170
Average yield(kg/ha)
Pure crop 1100 928 1180
Mixed crop ... 568 471
Oil percentage 50 51.9 51.7
Special features
Stem colour Rose Red Red/rose
Bloom (Waxy coat) Treble Double Treble
Receme/ Spiny, non-dehiscent, Medium length Semi compact
capsule resistant to leafhopper spiny capsules Spiny capsules
Stability Pure and mixed Pure and mixed crop Pure and mixed crop
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III. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
1. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD
Plough two-three times with country or mould board plough.
Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost evenly on the main field before last ploughing and incorporate
in the soil by working a country plough.
NOTE: a) Do not leave FYM or compost exposed to sunlight as nutrients will be lost.
b) Apply NPK fertilizers basally as per soil test recommendations as far as possible.
c) If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation of
30:15:15 kg/ha NPK.
3. SEED RATE
4. SPACING
Adopt the following spacing for short and long duration strains.
Long Duration Spacing Short Duration Spacing
SA 1 90 X 90 cm SA 2 60 X 45 cm
TMR 6 90 X 60 cm TMV 4, TMV 5 60 X 30 cm
5. SELECTION OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS
Select well filled and shiny seeds and discard broken, damaged and ill filled seeds.
6. PRE TREATMENT OF SEEDS

a) Treat the seeds with Thiram or Carbendazim 2 g/kg of seed. b) Treat the seeds 24 hours
prior to sowing.
7. SOWING
a) Sow the seeds adopting the recommended spacing. b) Place the seeds at depth 4 - 6 cm. c)
Put one seed in each hole.

Gap fill on the 10th day of sowing. Soak the seeds in water for 20 hours.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoe and hand weed on 20th day of sowing and remove the weeds and repeat on 40th day of
sowing, if necessary.
10. INTERCROPPING
Raise one row of castor for every six rows of groundnut. In the case of late receipt of monsoon
blackgram + castor at 6:1 ratio is recommended.
11. APPLICATION OF INSECTICIDE

Apply Endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha to control semi-looper and other pests. Apply neem seed kernel
extract 3% + neem seed oil 2% for the control of castor semi-looper.

Observe the crop considering the average duration of the variety. i) One or more capsules
show signs of drying. ii) Cut the matured receme without damaging the secondaries. iii) Dry the
capsule in the sun without heaping it in the shade. iv) Use castor sheller and separate the seeds or
beat the dried capsule with wooden planks, winnow and collect the seeds.
13. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

Spray any one of the following insecticides per ha, thrice from flowering at three weeks interval
to control capsule borer and semi-looper. Malathion 50 EC 2.0 l, Fenthion 100 EC 1.0 l and Carbaryl
50 WP 2.0 kg in 1000 l of water.
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SAFFLOWER ( Carthamus tinctorius )
SEASON VARIETIES
Rainfed crop (November) K1, CO 1

K1 CO 1
Yield (kg/ha) Rainfed 700 800
Percentage of oil 30 to 3130 to 33
Plant character Spiny Non-spiny
III. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

a) Plough with tractor 2-3 times with a mould board plough or 5 times with a country plough.
b) Break the clods in between the ploughings and bring the soil to a fine tilth.
a) Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or composted coir pith per ha evenly and incorporate in the
soil. b) If the manure is not applied before commencement of ploughing, spread the manure evenly
before the last ploughing and incorporate in the soil.
NOTE: Do not leave the organic manure exposed to sunlight as nutrients will be lost.
3. FORMING LINES
Form lines with a marker, 45 cm apart.
Apply N at 20 kg/ha basally.
5. SEED RATE
6. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants.
7. SELECTION OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS

Select mature good quality seeds, free from pest damage and fungal attack.
8. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

a) Treat with Carbendazim or Thiram at 4 g/kg of seed in a polythene bag and ensure a uniform
coating of the fungicide over the seed. b) Treat the seeds 24 hours prior to sowing.
NOTE: Seed treatment will protect the young seedlings from root rot disease in the early stage.
9. SOWING
a. Sow the seeds in line at a depth of 2 to 3 cm and cover with soil. b. Sow using gorru or
country plough.
NOTE: First week of November is the best sowing time.
10. THINNING OUT SEEDLINGS
Thin out the seedlings to a spacing of 15 cm between plants on the 15th day of sowing.
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11. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoe and weed on 25th and 40th day of sowing.
12. HARVESTING
i) Observe the crop considering the average duration of the crop. ii) The leaves and entire plant
loose their colour and turn brown at maturity. iii) Cut the plants at the bottom. iv) Keep the plants in
the threshing floor and beat the plants (heads) with sticks till the mature seeds are separated. v)
Winnow the seed and dry in the sun. vi) Collect the store the seeds in gunnies.
13. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

Pests: Spodoptera, Helicoverpa and Perigoea (Capsule borers): Spray any of the following
insecticides per ha to control capsule borers. Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l; Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.0 l;
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1.0 l; Phenthoate 50 EC 1.0 l; Fenitrothion 50 EC 1.0 l in 500 l of water.
SUNFLOWER ( Helianthus annuus )

SEASON/DISTRICT VARIETIES
Rainfed
Adipattam (June-July)
Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, K 1, EC 68415, K 2, CO 1,
Tirunelveli, Dindigul
Dharmapuri, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur CO 2, CO 3, CO 4
Karthigaipattam (Oct - Nov)

Cuddalore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, K 1, K 2, Morden, CO 1, CO2, CO 3, CO 4
Sivagangai , Ramanathapuram, Madurai,
Dindigul, Theni, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur,
Karur, Tirunelveli
Irrigated (April - May)

Coimbatore, Erode K 1, K 2, EC 68415, Morden,
MSFH 1, CO 3
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, CO 3 (except Dharmapuri)
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur
(December - January)
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode K 1, K 2, EC 68415, Morden,
Coimbatore MSFH 1,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli, CO 1, BSH 1, CO 3, CO 4
Thoothukudi CO 3 (except for Dharmapuri and
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni)
Kharif : 1st June is the optimum time of sowing

for BSH 1
Rabi : 15th December is the optimum time of

sowing for BSH 1, MSFH 1
125
II. DESCRIPTION OF SUNFLOWER VARIETIES
Particulars CO 1 MORDEN K2 K1 BSH 1
Parentage Selection from Selection from Spontaneous Introduction 234A x

Cernianka 66 Cernianka 66 mutant from from RHA 274
EC 101495 EC 68414
(Cernianka
culture)
Duration (days) 65 75 70 85 85
Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 800 900 750 1000 1250
Irrigated 900 1000 1000 1250 1500
%-age of oil 37 36 38 37 37
Ray floret Light Light Lemon Light Light
yellow yellow yellow yellow yellow
Height (cm) 70 90 75 120 120
Seed size Medium, Medium, Small, shiny Medium, Medium,
Seed Colour ` dark grey black with faint black with black
grey marking grey edge
1000 seed 45 44 43 45 45
weight (g)
Spacing (cm) 30 x 15 30 x 10 30 x 15 30 x 30 to 30 x 10
60 x 30
Particulars EC 68415 CO 2 MSFH 1 CO 3 CO 4

Parentage Introdn. from Derivative from Now known Mutant from Extract from
Russia intermated CO 2 the cross
progeny of 7 Dwarf x Surge
single crosses
of exotic origin
Duration (days) 90 87 90 88 80 - 85
Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 1000 900 — 1250 1600
Irrigated 1250 1400 1500 1600 1750
(%)age of oil 37 37.4 39 39.7
Ray floret Light Light Light Light yellow —

yellow yellow yellow
Height (cm) 130 135 170 145 - 175 145 - 175
Seed size & Medium, Medium dark Medium Oval linear Presence of
Colour black grey to black and dark grey stripes in the
black linear seed coat
1000 seed
weight (g) 46 45 45 50 to 60 56
Spacing (cm) 30 x 30 30 x 30 60 x 30 30 x 30 30 x 30
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Oilseeds
Plough once with tractor or twice with iron-plough or three to four times with country-plough till
all the clods are broken and a fine tilth is obtained.
i) Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the field before the
last ploughing and incorporate in the soil by working a country plough.
ii) Apply NPK fertilizers basally as per soil test recommendations. If soil test recommendations
are not available, follow the blanket recommendation of 40:20:20 kg NPK/ha for both irrigated
and rainfed crops.
iii) Azospirillum: Soil application - Mix 10 packets (2000 g)/ha of inoculant with 25 kg FYM and
25 kg soil and apply before sowing.
a. Mix 12.5 kg/ha of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture. Tamil
Nadu with enough sand to make total quantity of 50 kg/ha.
b. Apply the mixture over the furrows and top two thirds of the ridges before sowing.
c. Do not incorporate the mixture in the soil.
i) To overcome manganese deficiency, foliar spray of 0.5% MnSO4 on 30, 40 and 50th
day.
ii) For zinc deficiency, apply 25 kg/ha ZnSO4 as basal, or 0.5% ZnSO4 spray on 30, 40
and 50th day.
4. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS
a. Form ridges and furrows 6 m long.
b. Form the ridges 60 cm apart for BSH 1 and MSFH 1 and 30 cm apart for K 2 and others.
c. Use bund-former or ridge plough to economise and
d. Form irrigation channels across and ridges according to the topography of the field.
5. SEED RATE
Use 15 kg per ha for varieties except CO 1 the seed rate is 30 kg/ha. Select good quality seeds.
6. SEED TREATMENT
Soaking seeds in 2% ZnSO4 for 12 hrs and shade drying recommended, for rainfed sowing.
i) Treat the seed with Trichoderma @4g/kg. This can be done just before sowing. It is
compatible with biofertilizers. SUCH SEEDS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH
FUNGICIDES.
ii) Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seed.
iii) Treat the seeds 24 hours prior to sowing.
iv) Azospirillum: Use 3 packets (600 g)/ha of inoculant for treating seeds using rice kanji as
binder. Dry the treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes and sow immediately.
v) Moist hydration for 24 hours in moist gunny bags followed by drying and seed dressing
with Thiram @ 2g/kg to enhance field emergence.
vi) Seeds dried to 8 - 9% moisture content, treated with Thiram @ 2g/kg and packed in polylined
(300 guage) cloth bag can store upto 9 months with 70% germination.
7. SOWING
i) Place the seeds at a depth of 3 cm along the furrows in which the fertilizer mixture is placed
and cover with soil. Put two seeds per hole.
ii) Irrigate the crop according to the different growth stages. Regulate irrigation according to
the following growth phase.
127
Pre-sowing irrigation; Life irrigation; 20th day after sowing; Early bud development;
Flowering-2 irrigations and Seed development-2 irrigations; Flowering period is critical.
8. GAP FILLING AND THINNING
Thin out seedlings leaving only one healthy and vigorous seedling in each hole on the 10th day
of sowing.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Apply Fluchloralin at 2.0 l/ha before sowing and incorporate or apply as pre-emergence
spray on 3 days after sowing followed by irrigation or apply Pendimethalin as pre-emergence
spray 3 days after sowing. The spray of these herbicides has to be accomplished with
Back Pack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 900 l water/ha as
spray fluid.
All the herbicide application is to be followed by one late hand weeding 30 - 35 days after
sowing.
ii) Hoe and hand weed on the 15th and 30th day of sowing and remove the weeds. Allow the
weeds to dry for 2 - 3 days in the case of irrigated and then give irrigation.
Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by an irrigation on 4 - 5th day and later at intervals of
7 to 8 days according to soil and climatic conditions, seeding, flowering and seed development stage
(ie) two weeks before and after flowering.
11. SPRAYING NAA

i) Spray the hormone Napthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) at 20 ppm concentration (280 g NAA in
625 litres of water per ha) on the 30th and 60th day of sowing.
ii) Use a high volume sprayer and give a thorough coverage of the entire plant.
iii) Do not use brackish water.
12. PEST MANAGEMENT
a. Spray anyone of the following insecticides per ha on the 30th day to control leaf caterpillars
and leaf weevils. Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml; Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml; Phosalone 35 EC
1000 ml; Phenthoate 50 EC 500 ml.
Do not spray insecticides on the same day when NAA is sprayed.
b. Hand pick the Helicoverpa larvae and destroy.
c. Dust Endosulfan 4 D or Phosalone 4 D at 25 kg/ha or spray Phosalone 35 EC 1000 ml or
Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml for the control of Helicoverpa and thrips on capitulum.
d. Insecticidal application at the time of bee visit is toxic to honey bees. So, apply the
insecticides after 4 pm when the bee activity is minimum.
13. DISEASE MANAGEMENT - HEADROT
a. Spray Mancozeb 1 kg/ha in case of intermittent rainfall at the head stage, directing the
spray to cover the capitulum.
b. Repeat fungicidal application after 10 days if humid weather continues.
c. Alternaria leaf spot and wilt: Spraying Mancozeb 1 kg/ha.
d. Charcoal rot: Spot drench Carbendazim 1 g/lit of water.
14. IMPROVING SEED SET BY MECHANICAL MEANS
a. During the mid flowering phase, improve pollination by:
i. Mild rubbing of the capitulum with the hand covered with soft cloth or
ii. Rubbing two flowers face to face gently.
b. The mid-flowering phase are: 58 to 60 days of planting for long duration varieties.
i. 45 to 48 days of planting for short duration varieties.
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c. Do this operation in the morning hours between 9.0 and 11.00 am when pollen shedding is
high.
d. Keeping bee hives at the rate of 5/ha improves seed setting.
15. JUDGE WHEN TO HARVEST
Observe the bracts on the backside of the capitula. When they turn yellow, the heads harden
and the crop is ready for harvest.
Bird damage: Use of reflective ribbons scares the birds effectively and thus prevents loss of
grain.
16. HARVESTING
i. Cut the capitula (flower heads) only
ii. Thresh and clean
a. Immediately after harvest, dry the heads in the sun for 3 days.
b. Spread the heads in thin layer and give turning once in 3 hours.
NOTE: Do not heap or store the heads before drying properly as mould fungi will develop and spoil
the grain quality.
c. Thresh using a mechanical thresher, or beat with a stick and separate the grains.
d. Winnow and clean the seeds
e. Dry the seeds again in the sun for another two days
f. Store in gunny bags
IV. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. SOWING
April - August. Use seeds retained by 12/64" (4.7 mm) diameter, round perforated sieve or BSS
5 x 5 wire mesh sieve for EC 101495, for other varieties, use 9/64" (3.5 mm) diameter, round perforated
sieve or BSS 5 x 5 wire mesh sieve and winnow to eliminate chaffy, light and broken seeds.
If the seeds are fresh (1 to 5 month old) germination will be low due to dormancy. Hence, they
should be soaked in aqueous solution of Etherel at 300 ppm for eight hours in air tight plastic container
or in aqueous solution of Potassium nitrate at 0.5 per cent concentration for 16 hrs in open plastic
container. Wash and air dry the seeds. Slurry treat with Captan 75% WDP at 2 g dissolved in 5 ml
of water per kg of seed before sowing.
2. SPACING
3. MANURING
Apply N P K 60:45:45 kg/ha. Foliar application with 0.25% micronutrients at 4th melanin growth
stage is recommended for increased seed setting.
4. HARVESTING
Harvest when the drooping peduncular receptacle turns lemon or pale yellow in colour and at
this stage the seed moisture content will be 25 per cent and the seeds will be black in colour. Cut and
dry the heads immediately until the seeds contain 15 - 16 per cent moisture and then separate the
seeds with a mechanical thresher or manual labour and pre-clean.
5. GRADING
Use a sieve with 9/64" (3.6 mm) diameter round, perforated or BSS 7 x 7 wire mesh sieve.
Remove broken seeds.
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6. STORAGE
For short period upto 6 months, dry the seeds to 7 - 8% moisture content and store in a cloth
bag. For long period beyond 10 months, dry the seeds 5 - 6% moisture content and store in H.D.
Polythene, 700 gauge, thick bag.
NOTE: Heat-seal the bag.

Sunflower hybrid seeds dried to 8% moisture content and stored in cloth and 100 gauge polythene
bag upto 9 months with germination percentage of more than 72.
Soaking sunflower achenes in very dilute solution of Sodium dihydrogen phosphate (10-4 M) for
2 hours followed by drying back to original moisture content (8%) effectively controls the deterioration
process in all sunflower hybrids particularly in low vigour CMS parental lines.
7. SEED TREATMENTS
Treat with Captan 75% WP at 4 g in 5 ml of water/kg of seeds.
8. HYBRID SUNFLOWER BSH 1

For the production of Sunflower hybrid Seed (BSH 1), a planting ratio of (4:1) four lines of female
parents and one line of male parent is recommended. Hand pollination at flowering to increase the
seed set percentage and yield potential is recommended.
The best time for production is May to August for perfect synchronisation. Application of 90:90:40
Kg NPK/ha is optimum to get higher yield.
Hydration-dehydration treatment of 5 months old seeds using Disodium phosphate (10-4 M)
prolonged the shelf life upto one year.
For KBSH 1 and LMMRSH 3 hybrid the optimum planting ratios are 1:8 and 1:6 respectively.
9.HYBRID SUNFLOWER BSH 3

For Seed production of hybrid sunflower BSH 3, a planting ratio of 1:6 is optimum.
For KBSH 1 the optimum planting ratio is 1:4. In this variety, the male parent lags behind the
female parent by 7 days under Coimbatore conditions and hence the male parent can be sown seven
days ahead of female parent for synchrony of flowering.
COCONUT ( Cocos nucifera )

1. SOIL
Red sandy loam, laterite and alluvial soils are suitable. Only heavy soil, lacking drainage facilities
is unsuitable.
2. PLANTING SEASONS
June-July, December - January.
3. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 25' x 25' with 175 plants/ha. For planting in field border as a single row, 20'
spacing between plants may be adopted.
4. PLANTING
Pit size should be 3' x 3' x 3'. In the pits, Lindane 10% dust may be sprinkled to prevent white
ant damage. The pit should be filled to a height of one foot with FYM, red earth and sand mixed in
equal proportions. At the centre, the seedling should be planted after removing all the roots. The soil
around the nut should be pressed well and the seedling should be provided with shade by using
plaited coconut leaves or palmyra leaves.
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5. WATER MANAGEMENT
In the first year, irrigate on alternate days and from the second year, till the time of maturity,
irrigation should be given twice a week and afterwards once in 10 days. During summer months and
also whenever there is no rain, irrigation is a must, depending upon soil moisture.
Coconut requires about 100 l/day/tree through drip irrigation for matured plantation. The coconut
husks at about 30 cm depth around the coconut trees at a radius of 1 m and covering it up with earth
will conserve soil moisture in light textured soil. Use of coir waste as soil mulch around the tree to a
thickness of about 3 cm is also advantageous to conserve soil moisture especially under scarcity
condition. Drip irrigation is the best method of irrigation for coconut. Pitcher irrigation under severe
water scarce condition (4 pitcher/tree) may be followed.
Supply of water through drip system
100% Eo level and slow release fertilizer with NP tablet (1.2 kg once in 3 years) with addition of
super phosphate (0.950 kg), muriate of potash (2.0 kg) every year/palm enhances the nut yield.
6. MANURING
For a five year old palm, apply 50 kg compost or FYM or green leaves, 1.3 kg urea (560 g/N),
2 kg super phosphate (320 g P2O5) and 2 kg muriate of potash (1200 g K2O) should be applied in
1.8m circular basin, incorporated in soil and the basin irrigated. Fertilizers may be applied in two
doses, once in June - July and the second in Dec. to Jan.
Basal application of FYM (10 Kg) + top dressing of Nacl (1 Kg) 3 months after planting nuts
4.5m2 or FYM + composted coir pith (10 Kg) both as basal application is effective for the good growth
of seedlings of East Coast Tall Variety.
For 2, 3 and 4 years old seedlings, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 doses of the above fertilizer schedule should be
applied. Any one of the green manure crops like sunnhemp, wild indigo, calapagonium or daincha
may be sown and ploughed in situ at the time of flowering as a substitute to compost applied in
trenches. Manuring should be done when there is moisture in the field. Fertilizers can also be
supplied by another method which is as follows.
The root activity is maximum around a radius of 1.5 m to 2 m from the base of the tree. Application
of fertilizer to the entire area around the palm is recommended and the fertilizer is forked in. Sufficient
moisture should be present when manuring.
7. INTER-CULTURAL OPERATION
The inter-space in the coconut garden has to be ploughed twice in a year in June-July and
December - January. Intercultural operation is essential.
i. to keep weed population under check.
ii. to ensure the utilisation of the applied plant nutrients by the coconut trees.
iii. to facilitate proper aeration to the roots of coconut and
iv. to induce fresh root growth
Application of 0.5 Kg N, 0.5 Kg P205 and 0.75 Kg K20/palm (Urea 1.1 Kg, single super phosphate
3.1 Kg, muriate of potash 1.2 Kg/palm/year) is found economical for East coast Tall variety
8. INTER CROPPING
During the first five years, groundnut, sesamum, sunflower, tapioca and turmeric can be grown
as inter crops. In the shade of the well grown up plantation, cocoa, pineapple, banana and forage
crops like desmodium and desmanthus can be raised.
In multistoreyed cropping system Banana and Pineapple combination with coconut gives higher
net returns per unit area.
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9. PESTS AND DISEASES
i) Rhinoceros beetle
i. Remove and burn all dead coconut trees in the garden (which are likely to serve as good
breeding ground) to maintain good sanitation.
ii. Collect and destroy the various bio-stages of the beetle from the manure pits (breeding
ground of the pest) whenever manure is lifted from the pits.
iii. Incorporate the entomopathogen i.e, fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae) in manure pits to
check the perpetuation of the pest.
iv. Soak castor cake at 1 kg in 5 l of water in small mud pots and keep them in the coconut
gardens to attract and kill the adults.
v. Treat the longitudinally split tender coconut stem and green petiole of fronds with fresh
toddy and keep them in the garden to attract and trap the beetles.
vi. Examine the crowns of tree at every harvest and hook out and kill the adults.
vii. For seedlings, apply 3 nos. of naphthalene balls/palm weighing 3.5 g each) at the base of
interspace in leaf sheath in the 3 inner most leaves of the crown once in 45 days.
viii. Set up light traps following the first rains in summer and monsoon period to attract and kill
the adult beetles.
ix. Field release of Baculovirus inoculated adult rhinoceros beetle reduces the leaf and crown
damage caused by this beetle.
x. Mixture of either neem seed powder + sand (1:2) @150 g per palm or Neem Seed Kernel
powder + Sand (1:2) @150 g per palm applied in the base of the 3 inner most leaves in the
crown effectively controlled rhinoceros beetle damage.
ii) Black headed caterpillar
i. The incidence of the pest is noticed from the moth of November to May and from August to
November after rainfall. The coconut trees of all ages are attacked.
Among the larval parasites, the bethylid Parasierola nephantidis is the most effective in
controlling the pest. The optimum level of release is 1:8 of host-parasite ratio. The parasite
should be released @3000/ha under the coconut trees when the pest is in the 2nd or 3rd
instar larval stage. Parasite release trap may be used to release the parasite at the site of
feeding. Parasites should not be released in the crown region since they will be killed by
predators like spiders and reduvid bugs.
ii. Remove and burn all affected leaves/leaflets.
iii. Release the larval (Bethylids, Braconid and Ichneumonid) and pupal (Eulophid) parasites
and predators periodically from January, to check the build up of the pest during summer.
iv. Spray Malathion 50 EC 0.05% to cover the undersurface of the leaves thoroughly in case
of severe epidemic outbreak of the pest in young palms.
v. Harvest all mature nuts, and drill a downward slanting hole and inject 5.0 ml of
Monocrotophos 36 WSC into the stem at about 1.5 m above the ground level and plug with
clay mixed with Copper oxychloride. Monocrotophos (5 ml) may also be mixed in water
(20 ml) and injected into the stem or a cotton wick soaked in Monocrotophos (after absorption
of 5 ml) and inserted into the hole and plugged. Plucking tender coconuts or harvesting the
nuts should be strictly avoided for forty days after treatment.
vi) Root feeding for the control of coconut Black headed caterpillar: Select a fresh and live
root, cut sharply at an angle and insert the root in the insecticidal solution containing
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 10 ml + water 10 ml in a 7 x 10 cm polythene bag. Secure the bag
tightly to the root with a cotton thread. Twentyfour hours later, check whether there is
absorption. If there is no absorption select another root. These methods should not be
resorted to as a routine practice and it is suggested only for cases of severe epidemic
outbreak of the pest and when the survival of the tree is threatened.
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iii) Red palm weevil
i. Remove and burn all wilting or damaged palms in coconut gardens to prevent further
perpetuation of the pest.
ii. Avoid injuries on stems of palms as the wounds may serve as oviposition sites for the
weevil. Fill all holes in the stem with cement.
iii. Avoid the cutting of green leaves. If needed, they should be cut about 120 cm away from
the stem.
iv. Fill the crown and the top most three leaves axil with a mixture of fine sand and Chlordane
5 D (1:1 by volume) once in three months to prevent the attack of rhinocerous beetle
damage in which the red palm weevil lays eggs.
v. Plug all holes and inject Pyrocone E or Carbaryl at 1% or 10 ml of Monocrotophos or 5 ml
of Monocrotophos + 5 ml of Dichlorvos into the stem by drilling a hole above the points of
attack.
vi. Setting up of attractant traps (mud pots) containing sugarcane molasses 2½ kg/toddy 2½
litres + acetic acid 5 ml + yeast 5 g + longitudinally split tender coconut stem/logs of green
petiole of leaves of 30 numbers in one acre to trap adult red palm weevils in large numbers.
vii) Root feeding: As under Black headed caterpillar
viii) Insert one or two tablets of Aluminium phosphide inside the tunneled trunk and plug all the
holes with clay or cement mixed with phytolon to kill the insect by fumigant action.
iv) Termites
i. Locate termite mounds in or near the coconut nursery or garden and destroy.
ii. Spray Neem oil 5% once on the base and upto 2 m height of the trunk for effective control.
iii. Spray Copper Sulphate 1% then Cashew nut shell oil 80% followed by Copper Sulphate
1% then neem oil 5% and copper sulphate 1%, then NSKE 20% to preserve planted coconut
leaves from the termite attack.
v) Scale insect
Pluck mature nuts and spray Monocrotophos 0.036%. Do not harvest nuts for 1 1/2 months
after spraying.
vi) Mealy bugs:
Remove leaflets harbouring these insects and destroy them and spray Malathion at 0.1% or
Dimethoate 0.03% or Methyldemeton 0.025% or Phosphamidon 0.05% or Monocrotophos 0.04% or
Methomyl 0.25%.
Application of neem oil 3% was effective in controlling mealy bug.
vii) Leaf caterpillars, nut caterpillar and nut coreid bug:
Collect and destroy the immature stages of the insects wherever possible and spray
Carbaryl 0.1%.
A combined treatment of root feeding of Monocrotophos at 5 ml + 5 ml water, spraying of 0.01%
Monocrotophos followed by the release of Parasitoids at every 15 days interval of time effectively
control leaf eating caterpillars.
viii) Scolytid bark borer beetles:
This makes minute, numerous holes and makes the palms wilt. This can be controlled by (i)
stem injection through a stove wick soaked in 0.2% Fenthion or 0.2% Dichlorvos and plugging the
hole and repeating the treatment using the same wick and hole a month after .
ix) Palm civet:
Poison baiting with ripe banana fruit sandwiched with 0.5 g Carbofuran 3 G granules.
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x) Rat:
Tree banding with inverted iron cores or Prosophis thorns. Baiting with Bromodialone 0.005%
at 10 g/tree at crown region twice at an interval of 12 days.
xi) Thanjavur wilt:
Aureofungin-sol 2 g + one g Copper sulphate or 2 ml of Tridemorph dissolved in 100 ml water
may be applied as root feeding. The active absorbing root of pencil thickness be selected and a
slanting cut is made. The solution is taken in a polythene bag or bottle and the cut end of the root is
dipped in the solution. Forty litres of 1% Bordeaux mixture should be applied as soil drench around
the trunk in a radius of 1.5 metre. Neem cake (5 kg/tree can be applied along with fertilizers and
Azotobactor (200 g/tree).
For early diagnosis of Thanjavur Wilt, an EDTA test utilising the root samples has been developed
and based on the O.D. values the disease intensity can be detected.
Disease intensity Optical Density Value
Mild 0.18 - 0.22
Moderate 0.24 - 0.59
Severe > 0.59
Healthy palm 0.02 - 0.10
The test is simple and cost effective.
- Intercrop banana to reduce the severity of Thanjavur Wilt.
The causative organism of Thanjavur wilt has been identified as Ganoderma lucidum.
Application of phosphobacteria mixed in 10 Kg of FYM is effective in the management of Thanjavur
wilt. Five Kg of Neem cake is to be applied in the basins of the diseased tree. After one month, one
packet of phosphobacteria (200 g) mixed with 10 Kg of FYM is to be applied. This may be done
preferably between September and January months and trees should be given regular irrigation.
xii) Bud rot:
The infected tissues from the crown region should be removed and protected with Bordeaux
paste. Bordeaux mixture at 1% may be sprayed so as to reach the crown region as pre-monsoon
spray.
xiii) Stem bleeding disease:
The bark of the trunk should be removed in the bleeding area and Bordeaux paste should be
applied in this area.
a. Preparation of 1% Bordeaux mixture: A quantity of 400 g of copper sulphate should be
dissolved in 20 litres of water and 400 g of lime in another 20 litres of water separately. The
copper sulphate solution should be added to the lime solution constantly stirring the mixture.
Earthen or wooden vessels alone should be used and metallic containers should not be
used. To find out whether the mixture is in correct proportion, a polished knife should be
dipped in the mixture for one minute and taken out. If there is reddish brown deposit of
copper, additional quantity of lime should be added till there is no deposit in the knife.
b. Preparation of Bordeaux paste: Take 200 g of Copper sulphate and dissolve it in one
litre of water and 200 g of lime in one litre of water separately. Both are mixed simultaneously
in a third vessel and the resultant mixture can be used as a paste.
xiv) Pencil point disease:
Because of micronutrient deficiency, the stem will taper towards its tip with lesser number of
leaves. The leaf size will be greatly reduced and the leaves will be pale and yellow in colour. Along
with the recommended fertilizer dose, 225 g each of Borax, Zinc sulphate, Manganese sulphate,
Ferrous sulphate, Copper sulphate and 10 g of Ammonium molybdate may be dissolved in 10 l of
water and poured in the basin of 1.5 m radius.
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SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN COCONUT
1. Rejuvenation of existing garden:
The low yield in vast majority of gardens is due to thick population, lack of manuring and irrigation.
These gardens could be improved if the following measures are taken.
i. Thinning of thickly populated gardens: In the farmer’s holdings, 41 per cent of the trees
give a yield of less than 20 nuts/palm/year. By cutting and removal of these trees, the yield
could be increased by 1750 nuts/ha. Besides, there is saving in the cost of cultivation and
increase in net profit to the tune of Rs.2000/ha. After removal of low yielding trees, the
populations should be maintained at 175 - 200 palms/ha.
ii. Ensuring adequate manuring and irrigation: Research results have shown that the
yield of coconut palms could be increased by 23 nuts/palms/year by applying the manurial
schedule of 50 kg of FYM or green leaf plus NPK at 560, 320, 1200 g/palm. When irrigation
at 10 days interval is also given during summer months in addition to manuring, the yield
increase was 44 nuts/palm and when all these were combined (manuring + irrigation +
cultural practices), the yield increase was 67 nuts/tree over control.
2. Button shedding:
Shedding of buttons and premature nuts may be due to any one of the following reasons:
i. Excess acidity or alkalinity
ii. Lack of drainage
iii. Severe drought
iv. Genetic causes
v. Lack of nutrients
vi. Lack of pollination
vii. Hormone deficiency
viii. Pests
ix. Diseases
The following remedial measures are suggested.
a) Rectification of soil pH:
Excess acidity or alkalinity of soil may cause button shedding. If the soil pH is less than 5.5, it
is an indication of excess acidity. This could be rectified by adding lime. Increase in alkalinity is
indicated by soil pH higher than 8.0. This situation could be rectified by adding gypsum.
b) Providing adequate drainage facilities:
Lack of drainage results in the roots of coconut trees getting suffocated for want of aeration.
Shedding of buttons occur under such condition. Drainage channels have to be dug along the
contours to drain the excess water during rainy season.
c) Burial of coconut husk or coir waste:
Severe drought condition and lack of irrigation during summer result in button shedding. To
rectify the situation coconut husks may be buried @ 100 husks with concave surface facing upwards
or 25 kg of coir waste in semi circular trenches, dug to one foot width and two feet depth at 1.5 metres
radius. This may be applied at the bottom and the usual manures and fertilizers applied above this
layer when there is moisture in the soil. The monsoon rains are preserved by the soaking of the
coconut husk or coir waste as the case may be. Besides decomposition, of these materials provide
addition of potash to the coconut.
d) Genetic causes:
In some trees button shedding may persist even after ensuring adequate crop pest and disease
management. This is an indication of inherent defect of the mother palm from which the seed material
was obtained. This underlines the need for proper choice of superior mother palm for harvesting
seed coconut to ensure uniformly good yielding trees.
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e) Lack of nutrition:
Button shedding occurs due to inadequate or lack of manuring. The recommended dose of
manurial schedules and proper time of application are important to minimise the button shedding.
Apply extra 2 kg of K2O with 200 g of Borax/palm over and above the usual dosage of fertilizer to
correct the barren nuts in coconut.
f) Lack of pollination:
Button shedding also occurs due to lack of pollination. Setting up of bee hives at 15 units per ha
may increase the cross pollination in the garden. Further the additional income obtained through
honey, increases the net profit per unit area.
g) Hormone deficiency:
The fertilised female flowers shed in some cases. By spraying 2 - 4 D at 30 ppm, the setting
percentage could be increased to 32.5 per cent as against 25 per cent in the control. The chemical
2 - 4 D may be mixed at 30 mg per litre of water and sprayed one month after opening of the spathe
using micro sprayer.
h) Pests:
Button shedding may happen due to the attack of bug. Spraying of systemic insecticides like
Methyldemeton 0.025% or Dimethoate 0.03% may reduce the occurrence.
i) Diseases: Button shedding also occurs due to disease incidence such as Thanjavur wilt.
Adoption of control measures suggested for the disease reduces not only spread of the disease but
also prevents shedding of buttons.
COCONUT NURSERY MANAGEMENT

The seed for collecting seed materials from high yielding coconut palms can hardly be over
emphasised in a perennial crop like coconut.
The following points may be remembered.
1. Select seed gardens which contains large proportion of high yielding trees with uniformity
in yielding ability.
2. High yielding mother palms giving not less than 100 nuts/palm/annum should be chosen
for collecting seednuts. Alternate bearers should be avoided. The age of the palm chosen
be middle age i.e, from 25 to 40 years. Even trees with 15 years age can be selected, if it
is high yielding and has stabilised yield.
3. A good regular bearing mother palm produces on an average one leaf and an inflorescence
in its axil every month. So, there will be twelve bunches of varying stages of maturity at any
one time.
4. Harvest seed coconuts during the months of March - August to ensure good quality
seedlings.
5. The seednuts should be round in shape and when tapped by finger should produce metallic
sound. Fully ripe nuts develop twelve months after fertilisation.
6. Harvest the bunches intended for seednut by lowering them to the ground using a rope to
avoid injury to seednuts.
7. Seed nuts may be preserved in sand in shade for a month preceded by a week of shade
drying. Not more than four layers of seednut may be stacked in storage. Sprinkle water, if
there is excess temperature due to summer. Seednuts may be dipped in Lindane solution
before planting. Four hundred grams of Lindane wettable powder may be dissolved in 100
litres of water for this purpose.
8. Plant seednuts in raised sand bed adopting a spacing of 1' x 1'. Five rows of nuts may be
planted in each bed accommodating 25 to 50 nuts per row.
9. Irrigate the nursery beds every alternate day.
10. Provide shade to the nursery by raising Sesbania or Leucaena on the sides of beds.
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11. The seednuts start germination 6 - 8 weeks after planting and germination continues upto
six months. Select seedlings that germinate before 4 months after planting.
12. Select seedlings 9 to 12 months after planting. Seedlings which have germinated earlier,
having good girth at collar and early splitting of leaflets should be selected for planting. Do
not select the so called Kakkamukku Pillai i.e, seednuts which have just germinated.
VHC 2
Coconut VHC 2 is suitable for Tamil Nadu which has the charecters of low buckling, high oil
content and yield.
Parentage East coast Tall x Malaysian dwarf yellow (MDY)
Height 8.5 M (16 years old)
Morphological characters Medium tall, thick trunk, semi circular to circular, large crown
Time taken to 43 months
flowering
Yield 97 nuts/tree/year
Nuts Medium to big, oblong, green to light yellowish green in colour.
VPM 3
Coconut VPM 3 is suitable for both rainfed and irrigated plantations of Tamil Nadu.
Parentage Andaman Ordinary
Height 7.8 to 8 m (25 years of bearing)
Morphological character Tall, Circular trunk, round crown
Time taken for flowering 63 months
Yield 92 nuts/palm/year
Nuts Oblong, enlarged at the base, green with orange tinge and large nuts
Oil content 70.0%
MANAGEMENT OF THANJAVUR
WILT OF COCONUT
The management practices for the disease will be effective, only if they are adopted in the early
stage of the disease ie., as soon as bleeding symptoms are noticed.
In sandy soil, organic matter status of the soil has to be improved. For this, green manure crops
may be raised and ploughed in situ or well decomposed farm yard manure at 50 kg per palm has to
be applied every year. Only if organic manures are applied, the fungicides will be effective.
Bordeaux mixture (1%) drenching should not be done in summer months especially during
March, April, May. When Bordeaux mixture drenching and root feeding of Calixin or Aureofungin-sol
+ Copper sulphate are done, the palms should be irrigated only after 4 or 5 days. For Bordeaux
mixture drenching the soil should be completely dry. Then only 40 litres solution will be required to
drench at least 4 or 5" depth of soil. Latest method of application for Aureofungin-sol is root feeding
(2g Aureofungin sol + 1 g copper sulphate in 100 ml of water) and not stem injection. Neem cake (5
kg) also should be applied to diseased trees every year. Neem cake application should not be
combined with Bordeaux mixture drenching. There should be at least one month interval
between neem cake application and Bordeaux mixture drenching.
If the above precautions are carefully followed and the integrated control measure of organic
manure application, cultural practices (Summer irrigation) and fungicides application are adopted
Thanjavur wilt in coconut can be kept under check.
IPM Technology for Red palm weevil: The dead palm has to be disposed off and the stump
burnt. The garden should be kept clean. Root feeding of Monocrotophos @ 10 ml + 10 ml of water/
palm given with due precaution, viz., i) Harvest and nuts before root feeding and subsequent harvests
done 45 days after root feeding and ii) irrigation has to be given to root fed palms only after a week
(or) Apply 1 - 2 Aluminium phosphide tablets in the bore holes and plug it immediately with moist
cement and fytolan.
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OILPALM
1. INTRODUCTION
Oil palm requires evenly distributed annual rainfall of 2000 mm without a defined dry season
since it is continuously growing and yielding all through the year. In areas with dry spell, a deep soil
with high water holding capacity and a shallow water table can however, satisfy the water requirement
of the palm. Though the crop can withstand 3 to 4 months of dry period, continued moisture stress
affects the yield adversely, unless augmented with copious irrigation.
Temperature can be a limiting factor for oil palm production as it influences inflorescence
production, initiation of flower primordia, sex differentiation, anthesis, floral abortion and growth rate
of palm. Prolonged cooler temperature with less than 19oC reduces the growth rate and leaf
production considerably in oil palm. More number of male inflorescences are produced under low
minimum temperatures. Best oil palm yields are obtained in places where a maximum average
temperature of 29-33oC and minimum average temperature of 22-24oC are available. Higher diurnal
temperature variation causes floral abortion in regions with a dry season.
The crop requires 1800-2000 sunlight hours annually for producing good yield. The oil palm
growth and yield will be drastically reduced when solar radiation levels fall below 300-Langleys (cal/
cm2/day). Constant sunlight of atleast 5 hours per day is required for better oil palm yield.
Though oil palm is considered as a humid tropical crop, it can tolerate, a wide range of pedo-
ecological conditions. It is found to grow well on a variety of soils. However, moist, deep and well
drained medium textured soils rich in humus content are considered ideal. Gravelly and sandy soils,
particularly the coastal sands are not ideal for oil palm cultivation. Heavy clay soils with poor drainage
properties may pose problems of aeration during rainy seasons.
2. NURSERY AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Direct planting of the germinated seedlings into the main-field is not advocated mainly due to the
anticipated damage of seedlings by rodents and also due to the expected uneven stand in the field.
Therefore, a nursery is raised by planting germinated sprouts initially in a pre-nursery bed or in
polybags in a primary nursery and transplanting them at five leaf stage to a secondary nursery of
large sized polybags. Raising seedlings in large polybags without a pre-nursery stage is also being
practiced.
The potting mixture is made by mixing top soil, sand and well decomposed cattle manure in
equal proportions. Smaller polybags of 250 guage and 23 x 13 cm size, preferably black are used for
raising primary nurseries. These bags are filled with the potting mixture leaving one cm at the top of
the bag. A healthy germinated sprout is placed at the centre at 2.5 cm depth. While placing the
sprout, care must be taken to keep the plumule of the sprout facing upwards and the radicle downwards
in the soil. It is better to plant sprouts soon after the differentiation of radicle and plumule. Mulching
is beneficial for better growth in the nursery. Mulching with palm shell, finely divided bunch refuse,
saw dust, groundnut husk or other fibrous material has been found to conserve moisture, prevent
compaction of soil and provide certain amount of nutrition to the growing seedlings. Shading is also
found beneficial at early stage especially when they are raised under higher temperature conditions
in certain parts of India. Adequate supply of water is to be ensured to these seedlings by installing
permanent irrigation facility. The seedlings are to be watered daily. Application of a fertilizer mixture
containing one part of ammonium sulphate, one part of super phosphate, one part of muriate of
potash and two parts of magnesium sulphate is recommended at 15 g at one month stage, 45 g at
three months stage and 60 g at six months stage per seedling. This has to be applied 6 - 8 cm away
from seedlings during the first application, 10-12 cm away during second and 15-20 cm away during
the third application in primary nursery. Surface soil is slightly scratched at the time of fertilizer
application.
3. SINGLE STAGE POLY BAG NURSERY AND SECONDARY NURSERY

The germinated seeds can be directly planted into large black polybags with the advantage of
avoiding the pre-nursery stage. Experimental trials conducted in Malaysia have shown that planting
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Oilseeds
of germinated seeds directly into large polybags gives more vigorous larger seedlings than those
obtained by raising pre-nurseries. At present the single stage polybag nursery is recommended in
India. Since the plants are to remain in these polybags for more than one year, good quality polybags
of 500 gauge and 40 x 45 cm size are to be used. On the lower half of the bag, perforations are made
at an interval of 7.5 cm for drainage. A bag can carry 15 - 18 kg of nursery soil depending on the type
of soil mixture used.
Germinated seeds are planted in the same way as described under primary nursery. It is
important to provide shade until seedlings attain two leaf stage. This can be done by staking palm
leaflets in each bag so as to cover the bag like an umbrella over the developing seedlings. Though
the single stage nursery is more labour intensive, it is compensated by the reduction in the overall
time for transplanting by about two months. Where two stage nursery system is practiced, eight
week old pre-nursery seedling (five leaf stage) from smaller bag with its ball of soil is transplanted as
such into the larger polybag.
The water requirement for different stages of growth of seedlings are as follows: 0 - 2 months at
4 mm/day, 2 - 4 months at 5 mm/day, 4 - 6 months at 7 mm/day and 6 - 8 months at 10 mm/day. It
is better to supply if feasible the daily requirement in two halves to prevent overflow and wastage
caused by one time application. Application of 9 - 18 lit. of water per seedling per week according to
the stage of growth and soil type.
Shading the nursery is not an usual practice and is not recommended except under high
temperature conditions. Hand weeding is recommended at monthly intervals both in polybags and
the intervening ground.
4. FIELD PLANTING
It is necessary to prepare the land for oil palm plantings at least 3 months before transplanting
the seedlings to the main field. In the case of forest land chosen for oil palm plantation, the major
activities involved are, felling of existing vegetation and piling up and burning of the residue. In soils
with low permeability, drainage channels are to be constructed to prevent water stagnation in upper
layer of soil. On steep slopes, circular platforms are cut with a diameter of 3 - 4 m and a slope back
to the hill side of 7 - 8o. However, in very steep slopes of over 20o, terracing is required. Clearing
paths are constructed in the centre of every other avenue.
5. AGE OF SEEDLINGS AT TRANSPLANTING

In places with no distinct dry season, it is advisable to plant well grown seedlings of 10 - 16
months old. In Malaysia, polybag seedlings of 13 months or more gave significantly higher yields in
the first three bearing ages than those transplanted at younger ages. From trials conducted in other
oil palm growing countries, it was observed that seedlings of 12 - 14 months of age are the ideal ones
for transplanting to main field. At this stage, a well developed tenera seedling will have a height of 1-
1.3 m from base and will have more than 13 functional leaves. These seedlings were found to
maintain higher leaf production, bear earlier, produce heavy bunches, give higher fruit/bunch ratio
and a higher oil to mesocarp in the first year of harvest.
6. SELECTION OF SEEDLINGS
All deformed, diseased and elongated seedlings are to be discarded. Differences in the height
of healthy seedlings ranging from 90 to 159 cm tend to even up after 14 months of transplanting to
maintain in Malaysia.
7. TIME OF TRANSPLANTING
Transplanting to the main field has to be done during the onset of rainy season so that the
seedlings can establish under favorable conditions. Most suitable time for transplanting seedlings
into main field in India is with the onset of monsoon by which time the seedlings are to be atleast 12
- 14 months in the nursery. Accordingly, raising nursery has to be planned well in advance for timely
supply of the seedlings.
In very impermeable soils and where there is chance for the seedlings to suffer severely during
rainy season, proper drainage has to be ensured. In Kuttanad region of Kerala, oil palm is being
139
successfully grown on raised bunds or terraces which are surrounded by standing water during the
rainy season.
8. SPACING AND METHOD OF PLANTING

The optimum planting density for oil palm is the density of population that gives maximum
production from unit area. When density is less than the optimum level, though individual palm yield
increases to a certain extent, the total production per unit area will be lesser.
Population above optimum level will take also lead to reduced production of individual palms
due to competition for water, nutrients and sunlight thus reducing the total yield per unit area. Yield
of individual palms are adversely affected due to increased density of planting causing mutual shading
of leaves. Although closer spaced palms gave higher yields initially, as the palms grow, mutual
shading affects the yields adversely.
Under more favourable conditions a population of 127 - 135 palms per hectare was found to be
optimum whereas under less favourable conditions as in India, higher densities of 138 - 150 palms
per hectare are recommended.
Dense shade affects sex ratio in oil palm. Close planting induces more male inflorescence. A
very regular planting arrangement with largest possible number of similarly spaced surrounding palms
is desirable and triangular spacing fulfills this requirement best. Triangular system of planting with 9
x 9 x 9 m spacing accommodates 143 palms/ha.
For efficient utilization of solar energy the rows are to be oriented in the North-South direction.
Equilateral triangular system of planting with 9 m spacing between palms will allow each plant to
occupy the centre of a hexagon thus allowing better use of the area.
9. TRANSPORTING SEEDLINGS AND PREPARING PITS

While transporting seedlings to the planting site one hand is placed at the bottom of the bag
while holding the plant collar with the other one. Leather gloves can be used to avoid injury with
spines of the leaves.
Pits of 60 cm are taken prior to planting and filled with surrounding top soil and allowed to settle.
In the refilled and root zone soil, a depression sufficient to cover the ball of earth is made at the time
of planting.
After removing the bag by cutting edges, the plant is carefully placed in the depression with the
ball of earth. The surface of the ball of earth must be at the soil level as planting below or above the
soil level is not congenial for the later development of the seedlings. The space in between the ball
of earth and the hole is filled and compacted.
Protecting the seedling by placing wire net around the base of the seedling at the time of planting
is practiced in areas where wild bear or rodents are prevalent. Rock phosphate is applied at 200 g
per planting pit. Nitrogen is not usually applied in the planting pits as the application of fertilizers may
damage the root system and affect survival of the plants if there is a dry period soon after planting.
Nitrogen and potassium are usually applied 4 - 6 weeks after planting. In Mg deficient soils, magnesium
is applied at 100 g as anhydrous MgSO4 or 200 g epsum salt per seedling.
10. REPLACEMENT AND GAP FILLING

Field inspection is carried out one to two months after planting to gap fill dead plants. Replanting
is carried out during the onset of next monsoon. These palms are to be given special care so that
they can catch up with the rest of the plantations. Early production of more female inflorescences in
the initial 30 months, is an indication of high yielders and all those that fail to produce female bunches
will remain as poor yielders. However, replacements are found to be affected to some extent by the
vigorous growth of the neighbouring palms which will shade the replanted palms.
Pest Management:
In India, since the import of germplasm is in the form of seeds/sprouts, possibilities for introduction
of the pest species from other countries are limited. But many of the pest species of related palm
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Oilseeds
species such as coconut and areca palm, have got adapted to oil palm. Among the 49 species of
insects infesting adult oilpalms, 14 species are known pests of coconut and 19 species are known
pests of areca palms. Insect pests of oilpalm in India are more or less same as those reported from
Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries.
Pest of adult palms
The rhinoceros beetle:
The rhinoceros beetle is primarily a serious pest of coconut palm, and in recent years has
attained the pest status in oilpalm also. The adult beetle which bores through into the spear leaves,
resulting in snapping of the fronds at the feeding sites. In oil palm plantations failed female
inflorescences, dead palm trunks, persistent leaf axils and empty bunch heaps, act as breeding sites
for the pest.
The red palm weevil:
Infestation by the red palm weevil Chynchophorus ferrungineus was noticed in majority of oil
palm plantations resulting in the death of the palms. Damage is due to the feeding activity of the
grubs, usually 12-87 per palm, which bore through and feed on the softer tissues of stem and meristem.
Palms infested by R.ferrugineus show gradual wilting and drying of outer whorl of fronds. In some
cases roofing of spear was also noticed.
Biological control
In nature, the rhinoceros beetle is suppressed by entomophogens like Baculovirus oryctus virus
and Metarhizium anisopliae. Release of Baculovirus oryctes minimise the pest incidence.
Cultural control:
i) Field sanitation and elimination of breeding sites like dead palm trunks, empty bunch heaps
etc., within the plantations are essential for the management of both red palm weevil and
rhinoceros beetle.
ii) When the infestation by rhinoceros beetle is very high, especially in young plantations,
Hand picking of the adult beetles using hooks is very effective.
iii) For red palm weevils, use of attractants incorporating fermented sugarcane juice, acetic
acid, yeast etc., to collect and kill the adult weevils is recommended.
Chemical control:
i) For rhinoceros beetles, placing 3-4 napthalene balls in the youngest spear axils at weekly
intervals is recommended.
ii) For palms with advanced stage of infestation by red palm weevil, stem injection of 5-8 ml of
monocrotophos is advised.
Fruit bunch covering against avian pests
Covering the bunches with different materials such as noirenets, reed baskets, plaited coconut
leaf baskets and senile oil palm leaf are effective in preventing the fruit damage. But senile oil palm
leaf covering is more practical and economical as the material is readily available and involves only
the labour charges and cost of rope bits.
Rodent control:
Among rats, the burrowing type is more serious which tunnel into the bole of the seedlings.
Different baits such as acute poison baits (Zinc phosphide, Aluminium phosphide etc.) anticoagulants
(warfarin, fumarin, bromadiolone) and traps such as iron like traps, snap traps, deathfall trap, boro
trap etc. may be used as an integrated approach to minimise the rodent damage to the crop.
3.Disease:
Oil palm, a new crop to the country is reported to be affected by a number of diseases and
disorders. Among these bud rot causes, considerable economic losses.
Bud rot:
Higher disease incidence is noticed in young plantations. Rotting initiates at the basal portion of
the spear closure to the meristem and extends to the whole spear. The spear could be easily pulled
141
off. Cleaning the affected tissues and drenching the crown with carbendazim 0.1 percent cures the
disease. The leaves emerging immediately after the application of fungicides are shorter and
successively emerging ones are normal.
Leaf spots:
Leaf spots caused by Curvularia noticed on the inner whirl and young leaves. The fungal spots
enlarge with a yellow ring around spots. As these spots enlarge the leaf will be scorched.
Pestalotipsis fungal spots are irregular with grey to brown centre. Numerous black dots, the
acervuli of the fungus, are seen on the lesions.
Management: 1. Affected leaves must be cut and burnt. 2. Spray Mancozeb @ 0.2%.
Collante
Collante is a symptom associated with inadequate soil moisture conditions, planting of seedlings
in the field during dry weather also induces collante symptoms in the affected seedlings, the leaves
fail to unfurl properly with a constriction developing in the central portion of the leaf. The rains
become prominent and the leaves rigid. In extreme cases the leaf remains as a woody spike without
separation of leaf lets. The symptoms are not seen in fresh leaves, when adequate watering is done.
Insect pollination in oil palm:
The oil palm, hitherto though to be wind pollinated, has been now proved to be an a insect
pollinated species. From West Africa, the original home of oil palm, eight species of pollinating
weevils were reported. Occurence of Eldeidobius kamerunicus in the oil palm plantations of Kerala
was introduced during 1985 from where it was introduced and got established in little Andamans
during 1986.
The weevils are dark brown in colour. Adult weevils feed on the anther filament. Eggs are
deposited inside the male flowers and larva feeds on the spent flowers. Life-cycle is completed
within 11 to 13 days. Males live longer than females. The activity of the insects is in accordance with
the receptivity of the male and female inflorescences. It was roughly estimated that 40 palms in a
grove might be the minimum to sustain a sufficiently high continuous population of pollinators to
pollinate. All are receptive female inflorescences. The weevils carry maximum pollen during the
third day of antheses. Antennae, rostrum, thorax, legs etc. are the main sites of pollen land.
E.kamerunicus has a fairly good searching ability. It can survive in dry as well as in wet seasons.
Introduction of weevil in India increased the fruit let from 36.8 percent to 56.1 percent resulting
in 40 per cent increase in F/B ratio. The maximum attainable pollination potential was as much as to
cent percent with 57 percent increase in FFN weight.
For introduction, male flowers cut from palms which have the weevils are transferred to a plantation
where one wishes to introduce. In order to make sure that they are not carrying any plant pathogens
to other area/countries, we have to breed them under laboratory conditions for seven or eight
generations before introduction.
11. ABLATION
The bunches produced initially will be very small and have low oil content. Removal of such
inflorescences is called ablation or castration. Removal of all inflorescences during the initial three
years is found to improve vegetative growth of young palms so that regular harvesting can commence
after three and half years of planting. Ablation is done at monthly interval by pulling out the young
inflorescence using gloves or with the help of devices such as narrow bladed chisels. Ablation
improves drought resistance capacity of young palms by improving shoot and root growth especially
in low production areas where dry condition exists.
12. PRUNING OF LEAVES

In oil palm two leaves are produced per month. Therefore, it becomes necessary to prune
excess leaves so as to gain access to bunches for harvest. Severe pruning will adversely affect both
growth and yield of palm, cause abortion of female flowers and also reduce the size of the leaves. It
was suggested that palms aged 4 - 7 years should retain 6 - 7 leaves per spiral (48 - 56), those aged
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Oilseeds
8 - 14 years 5 - 6 leaves per spiral (40 - 49) and those above 15 years should have 4 - 5 leaves per
spiral (32 - 40). Leaf pruning is carried out in India using chisels so that leaf base that is retained on
the palm is as short as possible or otherwise it may catch loose fruits, allow growth of epiphytes and
the leaf axils form a potential site for pathogens. The leaf petioles are removed by giving a clear cut
at a sufficient distance from the base of the petiole using a sharp chisel for young palms and with the
long sickle in taller palms.
Pruning is preferably carried out at the end of the rainy season. It is also better to carry it out
during the low crop season when labourers are also available. Pruning is confined to only lower
senile leaves during initial harvests but when canopy closes in later years, leaves are cut so as to
retain two whorls of fronds below the ripe bunch.
13. WEED CONTROL

The basin area of oil palm is kept free of weed growth through ring weeding. It is more important
for young palms, roots of which are to be kept free from competition from weed. Depending on the
extent of weed growth and rainfall, hand weeding is carried out even upto four times in a year during
early years of the plantation which is progressively reduced to two rounds a year.
Herbicide application has become common in recent years. Care must be taken in the choice of
herbicide and its application to prevent the damage of young palms. It is recommended to preferably
apply contact herbicides rather than translocated herbicides. Translocated herbicides like Paraquat
which is inactivated when contacted with soil are also used. Herbicides such as 2, 4-D, 2, 4-5-T,
halogenated aliphatic acids Dalapon and TCA are found to produce abnormalities in oil palm seedlings
and are to be avoided. Herbicide mixtures of 2 kg a.i. of Paraquat with 3 - 4 kg Atrazine Monuron and
Diuron per ha sprayed/ground applied twice a year has been found to give control of weeds in young
palms in Nigeria.
14. MAINTENANCE OF PATHS

In young plantation, the maintenance of paths is important for inspection and in later years for
harvesting. This is carried out by timely weed control as done in the case of ring weeding.
15. WATER REQUIREMENT

Continuous soil moisture availability encourages vigorous growth and increased yield of oil
palm. Adequate supply of water, good soil depth and water holding capacity contribute to water
availability. In oil palm as water deficiency increases, stomata will remain closed and the development
and opening of spear will be inhibited. Water deficiency adversely affects flower initiation, sex
differentiation and therefore, results in low sex ratio due to production of more male inflorescences.
It is established that oil palm needs 120 - 150 mm of water to meet its monthly evapo-transpiration
needs. In areas where perennial water source is available, basin irrigation is possible. But where the
terrain is undulating and water is scarce during summer months, drip irrigation is recommended to
keep four drippers per palm in the weeded palm circle to supply atleast 90 litres of water per palm per
day during summer months which will vary according to the ETP values in a locality.
16. FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT

Based on the fertilizer experiments conducted under rainfed conditions in India, the following
fertilizer schedule is recommended for oil palm until specific results are derived from multilocational
fertilizer trials.
Fertilizer recommendation for oilpalm
Age Nutrients (gram/palm/year)
N P K
First year 400 200 400
Second year 800 400 800
Third year 1200 600 1200
onwards
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17. METHOD OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION
The fertilizers are preferably applied in two equal split doses during May - June and September
- October by uniformly spreading them within a 2 metre circle around the base of the palm and
forking to incorporate them into the soil. Supply of sufficient quantity of green leaves or compost is
advantageous especially where the soil is poor in organic matter content. Mg deficiency can be
corrected through the application of 500 g of MgSO4 /palm/year.
Urea is found to be the most economic nitrogen source if losses by volatilization and leaching
are minimised. Rock phosphate and muriate of potash are the best source for phosphorus and
potassium respectively. During the initial years fertilizers may be applied within the area covered by
the crown canopy. In the case of older palms, fertilizers are applied depending on the concentration
of roots and are usually applied in the weeded circle. Appropriate soil conservation methods such as
growing cover crops and platform cutting (on sloppy lands) enhance the efficiency of fertilizers by
preventing losses through run off.
18. NUTRIENTS - FUNCTIONS AND DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

The effect of major nutrients on growth and yield of oil palm has been studied in most of the oil
palm growing countries in Asia and Africa.
a) Nitrogen: In oil palm, characteristic yellowing symptoms are developed under N deficiency
conditions. Nitrogen is found to be essential for rapid growth and fruiting of the palm. It increases the
leaf production rate, leaf area, net assimilation rate, number of bunches and bunch weight. Excessive
application of nitrogen increases the production of male inflorescence and decreases female
inflorescence thereby reducing the sex ratio.
b) Phosphorus: In oil palm seedlings, P deficiency causes the older leaves to become dull and
assume a pale olive green colour while in adult palms high incidence of premature desiccation of
older leaves occurs. Phosphorus application increases the bunch production rate, bunch weight,
number of female inflorescences and thereby the sex ratio. However, lack of response to P due to P
fixation in soils is very common in the tropics. Eventhough the main effect of phosphorus on the
productivity of the palm has not been significant in most studies, it gives a positive interaction with
nitrogen and potassium.
c) Potassium: When potassium is deficient, growth as well as yield is retarded and it is
translocated from mature leaves to growing points. Under severe deficiency, the mature leaves
become chlorotic and necrotic. Confluent orange spotting is the main K deficiency condition in oil
palm in which chlorotic spots, changing from pale green through yellow to orange, develop and
enlarge both between and across the leaflet, veins and fuse to form compound lesions of a bright
orange colour. Necrosis within spots is common, but irregular. Mid crown yellowing is another
prominent K deficiency condition of the palm in which leaves around the 10th position on the phyllotaxy
become pale in colour followed by terminal and marginal necrosis. A narrow band along the midrib
usually remains green. There is a tendency for later formed leaves to become short and the palm
has an unthrifty appearance with much premature withering.
Potassium removal is large compared to the normal exchangeable K content in most top soils.
It is mostly required for the production of more number of bunches, maximum number of female
inflorescences, increased bunch weight and also for increasing the total dry matter production and
yield.
d) Magnesium: In adult oil palm and in seedlings in the field, severe Mg deficiency symptoms
are most striking and have been named as ‘orange frond’. While the lower most leaves are dead,
those above them show a gradation of colouring from bright orange on the lower leaves to faint
yellow on leaves of young and intermediate age. The youngest leaves do not show any discolouration.
The most typical Mg-deficiency symptom is the shading effect in which the shaded portion of the
leaflet will be dark green while the exposed portion of the same leaflet is chlorotic. Heavy rates of K
applications induce Mg-deficiency, particularly on poor acid soils.
Among the secondary nutrients, calcium and sulphur, and probably chlorine, may not pose
much problems to oilpalm cultivation in the country.
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Oilseeds
e) Micronutrients: Micronutrient elements, iron, manganese, copper and zinc are not generally
found limiting in the nutrition of oil palm on acid soil conditions. Boron deficiency is occasionally
found on young palms in the field showing a reduction of leaf area in certain leaves producing incipient
‘little leaf’, advanced ‘little leaf’ with extreme reduction of leaf area and bunching and reduction in the
number of leaflets and ‘fish-bone’ leaf. The ‘fish-bone’ leaves are abnormally stiff with leaflets reduced
to projections. Leaf malformations including ‘hook leaf’ and corrugated leaflets are some other
associated symptoms. Soil application of 50 - 200 g borax decahydrate, per palm, depending on
age, and severity of symptoms is practiced for correcting the malady.
19. HARVESTING
Proper and timely harvesting of fruit bunches is an important operation which determines the
quality of oil to a great extent. The yield is expressed as fresh fruit bunches (FFB) in kg per hectare
per year or as oil per hectare per year. The bunches usually ripen in six months after anthesis.
Unripe fruits contain high water and carbohydrate and very little oil. As the fruit ripens oil content
increase to 80 - 85% in mesocarp. Over ripe fruit contains more free fatty acids (FFA) due to
decomposition and thus increases the acidity. Usually the ripe fruits, attached to the bunches contain
0.2 to 0.9% FFA and when it comes out of extraction plant the FFA content is above 3%.
Ripeness of the fruit is determined by the degree of detachment of the fruit from bunches,
change in colour and change in texture of the fruit. Ripening of fruits start from top downwards,
nigrescens fruits turning reddish orange and the virescens (green) to reddish brown. Fruits also get
detached from tip downward in 11 - 20 days time. Ripeness is faster in young palms than in older
palms for the bunches of equal weight.
The criteria used in determining the degree of ripeness based on the fruit detachment are as
follows:
a) fallen fruits: 10 detached or easily removable fruits for young palms and 5 for adult palms,
b) number of fruits detached after the bunch is cut; 5 or more fruits/kg of bunch weight,
c) quantity of detachment per bunch; fruit detachment on 25% of visible surface of bunch.
These criteria could be applied with flexibility.
20. FREQUENCY OF HARVESTING

Harvesting rounds should be made as frequent as possible to avoid over ripening of bunches.
A bunch which is almost ripe but not ready for harvest for a particular harvesting round should not be
over-ripe by next round. In lean period of production, harvesting can be made less frequent and it
should be more frequent in peak periods. Harvesting rounds of 7 - 14 days are generally practiced.
Other factors determining frequency are, extraction capacity of the mill, transportation facilities, labour
availability and skill of the workers. In India, harvesting is usually carried out with a chisel of 6 - 9 cm
wide attached to a wooden pole or light hollow aluminium pipe, Bunches are cut without damaging
the petiole the leaf that supports it. Use of narrow chisel is usually carried out till the palm reaches
two meters above the ground. For taller palms upto 4 meters, a wider chisel of 14 cm is used. The
curved knife is attached to a long bamboo or aluminium pole with screws or steel wires to harvest
from taller palms. In uneven stands, an adjustable, telescopic type of pole is in use.
21. ECONOMICS
A detailed account of the economics of oilpalm cultivation in India has been furnished. The data
furnished therein is modified using current labour charges and oil price and the details on various
investments and returns from one hectare adult plantation is furnished in the Table 1, 2. This excludes
the cost of land as we expect government owned land, leased land, or already owned property will be
used for oilpalm cultivation. From the fourth year, the yield of bunches increases upto tenth year,
and a stabilized bearing is attained thereafter. The investment during first year under irrigation will be
almost three times of that under rainfed conditions mainly on account of the initial expenditure required
to install the drip irrigation system. With irrigation the annual returns will exceed the annual expenses
from the first harvest itself, i.e, during the fourth year after planting. By the end of sixth year the total
145
returns will be more than total investments including all the expenditure for installing pumpset and the
drip irrigation system. A minimum of 22 FFB per hectare can be expected from the tenth year
onwards.
1. Labour cost of calculated at Rs.40/- per day.
2. Yield of 15 t under rainfed and 22 t under irrigated condition are the actual average yield
obtained at Central Plantations Crops Research Institute, Palode, Kerala from 10th year
onwards. This can go up to 30 t/ha with high yielding genotypes and added management
practices as is estimated from the initial growth of palms in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
3. Capital investment such as cost of land, cost of pumpset and irrigation system, etc., has
not been included.
4. Intercropping is also possible in oil palm plantations with annual crops during the initial 5
years and again after 10 years. Profitability from intercropping has not been taken into
account.
TABLE 1 - COST OF PRODUCTION AND EXTRACTION CHARGES (Rs.) PER HECTARE
Rainfed Irrigated
Labour cost 150 x Rs.40/- 6,000 8,000 **

Fertilizer cost 2,000 2,000
Plant protection cost 200 200
Total cost of production 8,200 10,200
Oil extraction charges 7,000 8,000
Total expenditure 15,200 18,200
** 200 x 40
TABLE 2 - INCOME FROM ONE HECTARE OF OIL PALM PLANTATION - PURE CROP -
AFTER YIELD STABILIZATION (10th Year onwards)
Rainfed-average yield Irrigated-average yield Irrigated anticipated

obtained at Palode obtained at Palode inputs yield with high yielding
genotype and added
Produce Quantity Amount Quantity Amount Quantity Amount
and rate (Rs.) and rate (Rs.) and rate (Rs.)
FFB Yield/ha 15 t 22 t 25 t
3t 4.4 t 5t
Oil 20% (Rs.) 20000 60000 20000 88000 20000 100000
Kernel 300 kg 10,500 440 kg 15,400 500 kg 17,500

Oil @ Rs.35/kg @ Rs.35/kg @ Rs.35/kg
Fronds 24 fronds 420 24 fronds x 420 24 fronds x 420

(firewood) x 140 @ 140 @ Rs.3/- 140 @ Rs.3/
Rs.3/24 24 fronds 24 fronds
TOTAL
INCOME 70,920 1,03,820 1,17,920
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Oilseeds
NIGER
Season:
Adipattam : June - July
Purattasipattam : Sep - Oct
Areas of adoption : Hosur and Denkanikotta taluks of Dharmapuri district and hilly
regions of Shevroy, Kolli hills and Jawad hills.
Variety : Paiyur 1
Description of Varieties
Parentage : Mass selection from composite II
Duration (days) : 80
Yield (kg/ha) : 259
Oil content (%) : 44.6
Plant height (cm) : 80 - 85
Branches : Profuse
Seed : Bold
Colour of seed : Brown
50% flowering (days) : 50
MUSTARD
Leaf webber: Spraying either endosulfan 35 EC 0.7% or Quinalphos 25 EC 0.5% to reduce the
incidence of leaf webber.
;;;;;
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COTTON
District/Season Varieties/Hybrids
Irrigated (Main)
Winter irrigated (Aug - Sep)
Coimbatore, Erode, MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, MCU 11
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni Suvin, Jayalaxmi*, TCHB 213*
HB 224*, Savitha
Dharmapuri MCU 5, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*
TCHB 213*, HB 224*, Savitha
Salem, Namakkal MCU 5, MCU 9, MCU 11, Suvin
Jayalaxmi*, HB 224*, TCHB 213*, Savitha
Cuddalore, Villupuram MCU 5, MCU 9, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*,
HB 224*, TCHB 213*, Savitha
Summer - Irrigated (Feb - Mar)
Erode MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*
HB 224*,LRA5166, TCHB 213*, SVPR 2
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, MCU 11, Jayalaxmi*,
HB 224*, LRA 5106, TCHB 213*, SVPR 1, SVPR 2
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, MCU 5, MCU 9, Jayalaxmi*
Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi TCHB 213*, SVPR 1, SVPR 2
Short duration (Jan - Feb)
Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirapalli, MCU 7
Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore,
Villupuram
Medium Duration (Jan - Feb)
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, LRA 5166
Nagapattinam, Erode
Rainfed (Sep - Oct)
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni MCU 10, LRA 5166, K10, K 11
Dindigul Paiyur 1
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, MCU 10, LRA 5166, K 11, KC 2
Sivagangai
Tirunelveli, Thothukudi , K 9, K 10, Paiyur 1, KC 2
Dharmapuri MCU 10, LRA 5166, Paiyur 1
Rice Fallow
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam,
parts of Trichirapalli, Perambalur, ADT 1, MCU 7, SVPR 2
Karur, Cuddalore, and Villupuram
*Hybrid
148
Cotton
II. PARTICULARS OF COTTON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS
Varieties/ Parentage Season Irrigated/ Mean yield Special features
Hybrids Rainfed of seed
(kg/ha)
MCU 5 Multiple cross Aug-Jan Irrigated 1850 Extra long staple (29 mm
MHL) 70s, ginning 34%
MCU 7 X ray irradiation of Jan-Feb to Irrigated 1330 Medium staple of (23.7 mm
x L 1143 EE May-June (Rice fallows) MHL) 40s, early maturing
(Summer) with 33.2% ginning outturn.
Tolerant to Black arm.
MCU 9 MCU 8 x MCU 5 Aug-Jan Irrigated 2100 Extra long staple, 70s.,
hybrid derivative (Winter) Combines yield ginning
outturn (34.9%) and 30.5
mm MHL
MCU 10 Gamma irradiation Sep-Oct to Rainfed 750 Medium staple, 40s,
of MCU 4 Jan-Feb resistant to bacterial blight,
field tolerant to rhizoctonia
and alternaria. High ginning
outturn of 37%, 25 mm MHL.
MCU 11 MCU 5 x Egyptian Aug-Sept. Irrigated 2200 Early, increased ginning
hirsutum Hybrid outturn (3.2%) over MCU 5,
derivative increased seed cotton yield.
Extra long staple.
LRA 5166 Laxmi x Reba Sep-Oct to Rainfed 725 Medium staple (29 mm),
B.50 x AC 122 Jan - Feb 40s, ginning 36.2%
K9 H4x0896 hybrid Sep-Oct to Rainfed 570 Medium staple (25 mm
derivative Jan - Feb MHL), rainfed Karunganni,
36.8% ginning outturn
K 10 K 9 x 11876 hybrid Sep-Oct to Rainfed 726 Early (140 days), medium
derivative Jan - Feb staple, rainfed Karunganni,
38% ginning outturn,
23.8 mm MHL
K 11 (0794-1-Dx11876)x Oct - Mar Rainfed 1100 Better fibre properties with
(0794-D x 11450) lesser pest incidence than
Multiple Hybrid K 10
derivative
Suvin Hybrid derivative Aug-Feb Irrigated 1020 Extra long staple
from the cross cotton with 28% ginning
Sujatha x outturn and 32 mm MHL,
St. Vincent spins 100s
Jayalaxmi Interspecific hybrid Aug-Feb Irrigated 2880 High yielding hybrid with
of DS 28 36.5, ginning outturn with
G. hirsutum x 32.3 mm fibre length,
SB 425 (VF) tolerant to red leaf blight and
G.barbadense black arm, earlier by 10
days than Varalaxmi.
149
II. PARTICULARS OF COTTON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS (CONTD...)
(kg/ha)
TCHB 213 Interspecific Hybrid Aug-Feb Irrigated 2215 High yielding,early maturing,
of TCH 1218 Tolerant to leaf
(G.hirsutum) spot diseases
and TCB 209
(G.barbadense)
SVPR 1 MCU 7 x AC 129/2 Feb - July Summer 15-16 Qtl. 1. Suited for summer irri-
Irrigated of kapas/ha gated and tankfed rice fallows
of Virudhu nagar, Madurai,
Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli
districts.
2. A medium staple cotton
superior to MCU 7, yielding
additional lint yield of 150 -
180 kg/ha, maturing in 135
days.
Paiyur 1 MCU 10 x SRT 1 Sep-Oct. Winter 1173 Resistant to bacterial blight

Rainfed and Alternaria leaf spot.
Suitable for late sowing in
winter rainfed tracts of Dhar-
mapuri, Salem, Namakkal,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni
districts. 145 - 150 days
duration.
Savitha T7 x M 12 Aug-Feb Irrigated 1800 It is an intra hirsutum hybrid

(Intra hirsutum suited toWinter irrigated
hybrid) tract of Tamilnadu. (Coimba-
tore, Erode, Salem, Namak-
kal, Dharmapuri, Madurai,
Dindigul, Theni districts). It
has a ginning outturn of 34%
and fibre length of 30 mm and
can spin 60’s count.
HB 224 It is an interspecific Aug-Feb Irrigated 2000 It is an interspecific hybrid

hybrid involving cotton involvingG.hirsutum x
G.hirsutum G.barbadense species.
x G.barbadense It is suited to Winter irrigated
species tract of Tamil Nadu
(Coimba-tore, Erode, Salem,
Namakkal, Dharmapuri and
Dindigul districts). It has a
ginning outturn of 31.2% and
fibre length of 32.4 mm and
can spin 80’s count.
150
Cotton
II. PARTICULARS OF COTTON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS (CONTD...)
(kg/ha)
ADT 1 It is a selection Jan-Feb Irrigated 1263 It is a short duration variety

from Tomcot 37H with 125 days duration and it
is suited to rice fallow tract of
Tamil Nadu (Thanjavur, Tiru-
varur, Nagapattinam, parts of
Trichirapalli, Perambalur,
Karur and Cuddalore, Villu-
puram districts. It has given
15% higher yield than MCU 7
& it is 10 days earlier than
MCU 7. It is a medium staple
variety and can spin 30’s
count.
SVPR 2 TSDT 22 Feb - Mar Irrigated 1658 Ginning out turn of 36.4%,
x JR 36 summer medium staple (25.1 mm),
Irrigated can spin 40's suited to
summer irrigated and tankfed
rice fallow tracts of Tamil
Nadu.
KC 2 MCU 10 x KC 1 Sep - Oct Rainfed 772 Ginning out turn of 37.5%,
medium staple cotton - 24.4
mm, Rainfed black cotton soil
of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
and Virudhunagar.
III. PREPARATION OF FIELD FOR IRRIGATED COTTON CROP

i) Prepare the field to get a fine tilth.
ii) In garden lands, where ragi is the preceding crop and where ragi stubbles are still in the
field, do not plough.
iii) Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow
depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval, first in one direction and then in the direction
perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure or
composted coir pith/ha besides chiselling to get an additional yield of about 30% over
control.
iv) If intercropping of Greengram/Soyabean is proposed, prepare the main field, so as to provide
ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing.
Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.
3. APPLICATION OF Azospirillum
Seed treatment with Azospirillum at 3 packets (600 g) per hectare and 2 kg of Azospirillum/ha
mixed with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil and applied on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen
besides increasing yield.
151
4. FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
i) Form ridges and furrows 10 m long appropriate spacing depending upon the variety.
ii) Use ridge plough or bund former to form ridges so as to economise on cost of cultivation.
iii) In fields with ragi stubbles, just dibble cotton seeds at the specified spacings.
v) Adopt the following spacing between ridges for different varieties/hybrids.
Varieties/Hybrids Spacing between ridges (In
cm)
MCU 5, MCU 9, MCU 5 VT, MCU 11, SVPR 1, LRA 5166 75
Jayalaxmi 60
TCHB 213, HB 224 120
Suvin 90
MCU 10 45
NOTE: Adopt higher spacing rows in fertile soils by 15 to 30 cm.
5. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
i) Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations.
ii) If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation for the
different varieties.
Varieties/Hybrids Quantity of fertilizers in Kg/Ha
N P 2O 5 K20
MCU 7 60 30 30
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, MCU 11,Suvin 80 40 40
Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213, HB 224 120 60 60
iii) If a heavily fertilised ragi crop precedes cotton crop, reduce the N recommendation by 25
per cent.
iv) If basal application could not be done, apply on the 25th day after sowing.
v) Apply 50 per cent of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally for the normal crop. For
Jayalaxmi, apply 1/3 nitrogen and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally. In this case it would
be on 17 - 20 days.
vi) Apply the fertilizers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge, and
incorporate.
vii) Application of Azospirillum saves 25% N requirement. Hence apply 45 to 90 kg ‘N’/ha
depending on the variety/hybrid.
Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu
with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg for one ha.
Nitrogen deficiency: Yellowing and drying or firing of lower leaves. Plants light green-lower
leaves yellow.
Phosphorus deficiency: Leaves dark green - Plants dwarfed - maturity delayed.
Potassium deficiency: Leaves show yellowish - white mottling - changing to light yellowish
green - yellow spots occur between veins, the centre of these die and numerous brown specks occur
at tips and margins between veins - tips and margin curl downward - leaves finally become reddish
brown.
Calcium deficiency: Petioles bend and collapse - in seedlings there is collapse and death of
primary nodule, terminal buds and portion of hypocotyl.
Zinc deficiency: General bronzing of the first three leaves pronounced interveinal chlorosis.
The leaves become thick and brittle with their margin turn upward - shortened internodes - bushy
appearance.
152
Cotton
Sulphur deficiency:
The leaf blades become uniformly yellow or chlorotic - Old leaves as well as new leaves turn
yellow.
a) In the case of Zinc deficient soils ZnSO4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice
after 40th DAS.
b) When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4, Urea and ZnSO4 0.1% as foliar spray
on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady.
IV. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS
I. SEED RATE
Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids.
Varieties/Hybrids Quantity of seed (Kg/ha)
With fuzz Delinted Naked
MCU 5, MCU 9, MCU 5 VT, MCU 7, MCU 11, 15.00 7.50 ..

SVPR 2 15.00 .. ..
KC 2 20.00 15.00 ..
SUVIN .. .. 6.00
Jayalaxmi,HB 224 3.75 2.50 ..
TCHB 213 1.00 .. ..
NOTE: Even good quality seeds give a germination of only 60 per cent. So adopt a higher seed rate
as above.
2. SPACING
In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties.
Varieties/hybrids Spacing (in cm)

Between rows Between plants
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 9 75 30
MCU 11, LRA 5166, SVPR 2
KC 2 45 15
SUVIN 90 45
Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213 120 60
MCU 7, SVPR 1, ADT 1 60 30
Closer spacing (120x45 cm) and a fertilizer dose of 120:60:60 Kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha in DHB 105,
DHH 11, HB 224, DCH 32 and TCHB 213 give higher seed cotton yield.
b) If cotton intercropped with other crops, one paired row of cotton is alternated with three
rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crop is maintained at the same level as
in the case of pure crop.
c) For intercropping with Greengram/Soyabean, complete sowing and irrigation 20 days prior
to cotton sowing on one side of the ridge.
Intercropping system in cotton reduces the kapas and seed yield by 50% due to reduction in
plant population. The reduction is more in alternate row system than in paired row system of
intercropping. Among the companion crops, cowpea and soybean have a smothering effect on the
base crop. The seeds from intercropping system deteriorated faster than counter part seeds of pure
crop.
153
Varieties/hybrid Spacing for cotton crop (in cm)
Within Between Between
Paired row Paired rows plants
MCU 5, MCU 9, MCU 5 VT, MCU 11 60 90 30
SUVIN 80 100 45
JAYALAXMI, HB 224, TCHB 213 100 140 60
Plant 2 rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton
Intercrop Seed rate Spacing (cm)

Rows Plants
Blackgram 12.5 30 10
Greengram 12.5 30 10
Cowpea 7.5 30 20
Soyabean 20.0 30 10
For higher returns, advance sowing of either greengram or soyabean 20 days before sowing of
cotton in winter season is ideal.
3. ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS

i) Choose either plastic bucket or enamel bucket for acid delinting of seeds.
ii) Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels, porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid delinting
as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.
iii) Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated
sulphuric acid at the rate of 100 ml per kg of fuzzy seed.
iv) Stir vigorously and continuously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking
to the seeds is completely digested and the seed coat attains a dark brown colour of coffee
powder.
v) Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat the washing 4 or 5 times to
remove any trace of acid.
vi) Remove the floating, ill-filled, damaged, diseased and insect attacked seeds while retaining
the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom.
vii) Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade.
NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:
i) Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms.
ii) Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink boll worm.
iii) Helps to remove immature, ill-filled, cut and damaged seeds.
iv) Makes seed dressing more effective and easy
v) Facilitates easy sowing.
4A. PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES
i) Treat the delinted seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed or
with Carbendazim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with biofertilizers.
ii) Treat the delinted fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600 g) of Azospirillum inoculant
and sow immediately.
4B. SEED HARDENING
Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) for 8 hours and dry back to original
moisture to increase germination and virour.
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Cotton
Seed pelleting: Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder (100 g/kg) along with DAP (40 g/kg),
micronutrient mixture (15 g/kg) and Azospirillum (200 g/kg) using 5% maida solution or gruel as
adhesive (300 ml/kg) to increase the germination and vigour.
5. SOWING
i) Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3 cm in the furrows where fertilisers and insecticides are
applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil.
ii) In the case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of
cotton in a row of 5 cm apart and cover the seeds.
iii) Sow the required number of seeds in each hole.
Varieties/hybrids No. of seeds per hole

Fuzzy seeds Delinted seeds
Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 2 1

All other varieties/hybrids 3 2
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Apply any one of the following pre-emergence herbicides three days after sowing, using a
hand operated sprayer fitted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient moisture should
be present in the soil at the time of herbicide application or irrigate immediately after
Fluchloralin application.
ii) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 2.2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha followed by
one hand weeding on 35 - 40 days after sowing.
NOTE: Do not use Diuron (Karmex) in sandy soil. Heavy rains after application of Karmex may
adversely affect germination of cotton seeds.
iii) Hoe and hand weed between 18th to 20th day of sowing, if herbicide is not applied at the
time of sowing.
7. GAP FILLING
a. Take up gap filling on the 10th day of sowing.
i) In the case of Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213, raise seedlings in polythene bags of size 15
cm x 10 cm.
ii) Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil in the ratio of 1:3.
iii) Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field.
iv) Pot water and maintain.
v) On the 10th day of sowing, plant seedlings maintained in the polythene bags, one in each
of the gaps in the field by cutting open the polythene bag and planting the seedling along
with the soil intact and then pot water.
b. In the case of all other varieties, dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap and pot water.
8. THINNING OF SEEDLINGS:
Thin out the seedlings on the 15th day of sowing. In the case of fertile soils, allow only one
seedling per hole, whereas in poor soil allow two seedlings per hole.
155
i) Under normal culture:
Quantity of fertilizers (kg/ha)
Basal Top dressing II top dressing
Varieties/Hybrids (18 - 20 DAS) (40 - 45 DAS) (60 - 65 DAS)
N P K N P K N P K
MCU 7 30 30 30 30 .. .. .. .. ..
MCU 5,MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, 40 40 40 40 .. .. .. .. ..
SUVIN, MCU 11
Jayalaxmi, HB 224, TCHB 213 40 60 60 40 .. .. 40 .. ..
FYM enriched with Mussorie Rock Phosphate (MRP) @20 kg P2O5/ha and soil application of
phosphobacterium @2.5 kg/ha along with 40 kg N/ha as urea to enhance the yield.
ii) Application of fertilizers for Ragi stubble/dibbled cotton. If heavily fertilized ragi crop precedes
cotton crop reduce the ‘N’ recommendation by 25%.
Quantity of fertilizers (kg/ha) N, 75% of the recommended dose.
Basal Top dressing II top dressing
Varieties/Hybrids (18 - 20 DAS) (40 - 45 DAS) (60 - 65 DAS)
N P K N P K N P K
MCU 7 22.5 30 30 22.5 .. .. .. .. ..
MCU 5,MCU 5 VT, MCU 9, 30 40 40 30 .. .. .. .. ..
SUVIN, MCU 11
Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 30 60 60 30 .. .. 30 .. ..
11. TOP DRESSING OF ‘N’ FERTILIZER
i) Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N on 40 - 45th day of sowing for cotton
varieties.
ii) Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45th day sowing for hybrids.
NOTE: In case of winter irrigated cotton, whenever the cotton is dibbled in ragi stubbles and also
where the crop is sown with the receipt of rainfall and later converted into irrigated crop, or in
areas of water scarcity during the initial period, the basal application can be postponed to
25th day. In such cases, the full dose of phosphorus and potash with 25% Nitrogen
can be applied on 25th day after sowing (after 1st weeding) and top dressing can be given
with the remaining ‘N’viz., 50% at squaring stage (45 days after sowing) and another 25% at
flowering (60th day).
iii) In the case of cotton dibbled in the ragi stubbles, top dress 20 kg of ‘N’ per ha on 40 - 45th
day of sowing.
iv) In the case of hybrid cotton dibbled in the ragi stubble, top dress 30 kg of N/ha on 40 - 45th
day of sowing.
12. RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS
Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing in such way that the plants are on the top
of the ridges and well supported by soil.
13. SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)

Spray 40 ppm NAA on the crop to prevent early shedding of buds and squares and to increase
the yield.
NOTE: 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm.
14. SECOND SPRAYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm NAA on the crop for the second time one month after first spray to prevent
shedding of buds and squares.
156
Cotton
15. ARRESTING TERMINAL GROWTH:
Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:
For MCU 5, MCU 9 and MCU 11 nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node
(70 to 80 days after sowing) and for Suvin and Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 beyond the 20th node (90 days
after sowing).
V. PEST MANAGEMENT
1. Remove cotton crop and dispose off the crop residues as soon as harvest is over.
2. Avoid staking of stalks in the field.
3. Avoid ratoon and double cotton crop.
4. Adopt proper crop rotation. Use optimum irrigation and fertilizers.
5. Synchronise the sowing time in the villages and complete the sowing within 10 to 15 days.
6. Grow one variety throughout the village as far as possible.
7. Avoid other Malvaceous crops in the vicinity of cotton crop.
8. Timely earthing up and other agronomic practices should be done.
9. Hand pick and burn periodically egg masses, visible larvae, affected and dropped squares,
flowers and fruits and squash pink bollworm in the rosettes.
10. Use locally fabricated light traps (modified Robinson type) with 125 Watt mercury lamps to
determine the prevalence and insect population fluctuations.
11. The magnitude of the activity of the moths of the cotton pink bollworm, the cutworm
(Spodoptera litura) and the American bollworm can be assessed by setting up the species-
specific sex pheromone trap each at the rate of 12 per ha.
12. Apply insecticides only where it is absolutely necessary when pest population or damage
reaches ET level.
13. Intercropping with pulses viz., Cowpea, greengram, blackgram and soybean reduce the
population of sucking pests of cotton, viz., aphid and leaf hopper. Again, the bollworm
incidence was low. Besides, the highest activity of natural enemies viz., spiders and
predatory lady bird beetles are significant.
WHITEFLY IN COTTON
1. Avoid the alternate, cultivated host crops of the white fly in the vicinity of cotton crop.
2. Growing cotton only once a year either in winter or summer season in any cotton tract.
3. Adopting crop rotation with non-preferred hosts such as Sorghum, Ragi, Maize etc., for the
white fly to check the build up of the pest.
4. Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts like Abutilon indicum, Chrozophore rottlari,
Solanum nigrum and Hibiscus ficulensus from the fields and neighbouring areas and
maintaining field sanitation.
5. White fly tolerant varieties like LPS 141 and Supriya may be tried.
6. Timely sowing with recommended spacing, preferably wider spacing and judicious
application of recommended dose of fertilizers, particularly nitrogenous and irrigation
management is essential to arrest the excessive vegetative growth and pest build up. Late
sowing may be avoided and the crop growth should not be extended beyond its normal
duration.
7. Field sanitation may be given proper attention.
8. Cultivation of most preferred alternate host crops like brinjal, bhendi, tomato, tobacco and
sunflower may be avoided. In case their cultivation is unavoidable, plant protection measures
should be extended to these crops also.
9. Monitoring the activities of the adult white flies by setting up yellow pan traps and sticky
traps at 1 foot height and also in situ counts.
157
10. Collection and removal of whitefly infested leaves from the plants and those which were
shed due to the attack of the pest and destroying them.
11. Cypermethrin, Fenvalerte and Deltamethrin cause resurgence of white flies.
CHEMICAL CONTROL
1. Plant products namely Neem Seed Kernel extract 5% (50 kg) and Neem oil at 5 ml/l or fish
oil rosin soap 25 kg at 1 kg in 40 lit of water may be sprayed or in combination with the
recommended dose of insecticide (at 2 ml/l of water) is found effective when sprayed in
high volume sprayer or spray 5% extract of Notchi leaves or Catharanthus rosea extract.
2. If 5 - 10 whiteflies/leaf (ETL) are observed, application of Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml or
Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml/ha in the early stage of the crop growth (500 l of spray
fluid/ha and spraying Phosalone 35 EC at 2.5 l or Quinalphos 25 EC at 2 l in the mid and
late stages of crop to control the pest (1000 l spray liquid/ha), Ethion 50 EC 1.0 l/ha and
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 1.25 l/ha may also be used. In addition Triazophos 25 EC 2.0 l/ha
and Acephate 75 SP 1.30 kg/ha can be sprayed.
3. In the early stages with high volume sprayer use a goose neck nozzle to cover the under
surface of the foliage to get good control of the pest. If high volume sprayers are not
available, 375 litres of spray fluid may be used per hectare for application in the low volume
motorised knapsack mist blower.
4. The use of synthetic pyrethroids should be discouraged/minimised to 2 to 3 sprayings in
cotton to avoid the problem of white fly. Avoid repeated spraying of pyrethroids.
5. The plant protection measures should be adopted on a community basis in a specified
cotton areas.
Pest Economic threshold Suggested control measure
Thrips 50/50 leaves | Spray any one of the following insecticides Methyl
| demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha; Dimethoate 30 EC 500ml/ha
Aphids 15% of infested plant | Phosphamidon 85 WSC 300 ml/ha (500 l spray fluid/ha)
| Spray Monocrotophos 1000 ml/ha and NSKE 5%
Leaf hopper 50/50 leaves | where the leaf hopper is a big menace. Chemical spraying
of Margocide 0.5% or Neem oil 3% thrice at fortnightly
intervals effectively controls leaf hopper.
Thrips and Spray Pyraclofos 50 EC at 1.5 l/ha
Leaf Hopper
Boll-worms 10% of affected During the early stages of square formation apply Endo-
fruiting parts or bolls sulfan 2 l/ha. During bolling and maturation stage, apply
any one of the following insecticides per ha; Phosalone 35
EC 2.5 l, Quinalphos 25 EC 2.0 l, Carbaryl 50 WP 2.5 kg
(1000 l of spray fluid/ha), Pyraclofos 50 EC @ 1.5 l/ha.
Quinalphos AF is equally effective as that of Quinalphos
EC and Endosulfan EC. AF is desirable since it is
ecofriendly as it is devoid of inflammable solvent which is
used in EC.
Pink bollworm Where pink bollworm is a big problem, spray

Triazophos 0.1% and Endosulfan 0.07% in
alternation even after 100 DAS.
(Whenever there is infestation by mite, use either wettable Sulphur 1.25 kg/ha or dicofol 1.10
l/ha. Release the bollworm parasite (Chelonus blackburnii at weekly intervals from square
formation stage and apply either Endosulfan or Carbaryl at the above dosage as needed
(When the bollworm damage touches ETL of 10%).
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Cotton
Surface weevil: For the control of cotton surface weevil seed treatment with either Aldrin or
Chlorpyriphos (50 ml/kg of cotton seed) is effective.
Boll worm: Premonsoon sowing during 4th week of September significantly lower the bollworm
damage in rainfed areas of Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi districts.
VI. SPECIFIC PROBLEMS

1. TOBACCO CUTWORM (Spodoptera litura)
a) Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths. Set up the sex pheromone
trap Pherodin S.L. at 12/ha to monitor the activity of the pest and to synchronise the pesticide
application, if need be, at the maximum activity stage.
b) Growing castor along border and irrigation bunds.
c) Removal and destruction of egg masses in castor and cotton crops.
d) Removal and destruction of early stage larvae found in clusters which can be located
easily even from a distance.
e) Collection and destruction of shed materials.
f) Hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars.
g) Spray any one of the following insecticides per ha using, a high volume sprayer covering
the foliage and soil surface. Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.0 l/ha; Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1.0 l;
Phenthoate 50 EC 2.0 l/ha; Chlorpyriphos 20 EC and Fenitrothion 50 EC 1.25 l and 625 ml
respectively.
h) Spraying Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus at 250 larval equivalent per ha.
i) Spraying of insecticide should be done either in the early morning or in the evening and
virus in the evening.
j) Use of poison bait pellets prepared with rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg, Carbaryl 50%
WP 1.25 kg and water 7.5 litres. This bait can be spread in the fields in the evening hours
so that the caterpillars coming out of the soil, feed and get killed.
2. STEM WEEVIL
i) Soil application of Carbofuran 3 G at 30 kg or Aldicarb 10 G at 10 kg/ha. may be done on 20
days after sowing and earthed up.
ii) Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha or 250 kg/ha of neem cake.
3. MANAGEMENT OF Helicoverpa armigera
a. Monitoring:
Pest monitoring through light traps, pheromone traps and in situ assessments by roving and
fixed plot surveys has to be intensified at farm level, village level, block level, regional and State
levels. For bollworm, H.armigera management, an action threshold of one egg per plant or 1 larva/
plant may be adopted.
b. Cultural practices:
i) Synchronised sowing of cotton preferably with short duration varieties in each cotton
ecosystem.
ii) Avoiding continuous cropping of cotton both during winter and summer seasons in the
same area as well as ratooning.
iii) Avoiding monocropping. Growing of less preferred crops like greengram, blackgram,
soyabean, castor, sorghum etc., along with the cotton as intercrop or border crop or alternate
crop to reduce the pest infestation.
iv) Removal and destruction of crop residues to avoid carry over of the pest to the next season,
and avoiding extended period of crop growth by continuous irrigation.
v) Optimising the use of nitrogenous fertilisers which will not favour the multiplication of the
pest.
vi) Judicious water management for the crop to prevent excessive vegetative growth and
larval harbourage.
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c. Biological control
i) Application of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) at 500 LE/ha in evening hours at 7th and
12th week after sowing.
ii) Conservation and augmentation of natural predators and parasites for effective control of
the pest.
iii) Inundative release of egg parasite, Trichogramma spp., at 6.25 cc/ha at 15 days interval 3
times from 45 DAS egg-larval parasite, Chilonus blacksburnii and the predator Chrysoperla.
1,00,000/ha at 6th, 13th and 14th week after sowing.
iv) ULV spray of NPV at 450 LE/ha with 10% cotton seed kernel extract, 10% crude sugar,
0.1% each of Tinopal and Teepol for effective control of Helicoverpa.
NOTE: Dicofol, Endosulfan, Methyl demeton, Monocrotophos and Phosalone are comparatively safer
to Chrysoperla larva recording low egg mortality.
d. Chemical control
i) Discouraging the indiscriminate use of insecticides, particularly synthetic pyrethroids and
DDT.
ii) Use of proper insecticides which are comparatively safer to natural enemies such as
Endosulfan, Phosalone, etc., at the correct dosage and alternating different groups of
insecticides for each round of spray.
iii) Avoiding combination of insecticides as tank mix.
iv) Adopting proper delivery system using spraying equipments like hand compression sprayer,
knapsack sprayer and mist blower to ensure proper coverage with required quantity of
spray fluid and avoiding ULV applications or Akela spray applications.
v) Proper mixing and preparation of spray fluid for each filling of spray fluid tank.
e. Monitoring Kit for detection of resistance to insecticides in H. armigera.
This kit helps to find out the resistance level in various populations of H. armigera to various
insecticides. The resistance level ranged from 8 - 24, 68 - 84 and 30 - 54 per cent for endosulfan,
fenvalerate and cypermethrin respectively.
4. COTTON NEMATODES
Seed treatment with Carbosulfan 25% SP at 2% of w/w and soil application of Carbofuran 3 G at
(1 kg ai/ha) 30 kg/ha, 25 days after sowing.
IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR HELICOVERPA NPV

Mass production of the hosts: Large scale culturing of Helicoverpa armigera is a primary
requisite for the mass multiplication of NPV. The mass production technique is as follows:
Establishment of colony: The laboratory culture may be started from field-collected larvae or
moths attracted to light traps. Field-collected larvae should be kept in quarantine to eliminate parasitized
and diseased insects. The healthy larvae may be taken for pupation. These larvae can be reared on
natural diet (soaked bengalgram seeds) or on semisynthetic diet. The healthy pupae collected three
to four days after pupation have to be washed in soap water and then immersed in 0.5% sodium
hypochlorite for one minute. Then the pupae should be washed in running water for 15 minutes.
Those pupae after shade drying can be kept in sterilised vermiculite inside an adult emergence cage.
Upon adult emergence, they must be provided with 10% sucrose solution, fortified with one drop of
commercial multivitamin solution.
The adults can be sexed based on the colour of the scale. Males are plane greenish and
females are chocolate brown. Five pairs of adults can be allowed in a wide mouthed plastic jar (15 x
20 cm) and the mouth covered with muslin cloth. Adult feed in penicillin vials with cotton wool must
be provided daily.
Egg collection: The females begin to lay eggs from 3rd day onwards after emergence. These
eggs must be collected daily and kept under saturated atmospheric humidity. This can be achieved
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Cotton
by keeping the egg cloth in a plastic container and placing this container inside a bucket containing a
little quantity of water and closed with a tight fitting lid.
The next day the egg cloth along with the eggs are sterilised in 10% formaldehyde for 10 minutes
and thereafter rinsed in running water for 15 - 20 minutes. The egg cloth is then dried in shade.
Larval handling: When the larvae hatch, they can be introduced into a container containing
the semisynthetic diet.
COMPOSITION OF THE DIET

1. Bengalgram flour/kidney bean seeds 100.0 g
soaked for 8 hours in water
2. Yeast 30.0 g
3. Wesson’s salt mix 7.2 g
4. Agar agar 12.8 g
5. Methyl-para-hydroxybenzoate 2.0 g
6. Sorbic acid 1.0 g
7. Ascorbic acid 3.2 g
8. Choline chloride 10% 7.2 ml
9. Streptomycin sulphate 40.0 mg
10. Formaldehyde 40% 1.0 ml
11. Vitamin solution 2.0 ml
12. Distilled water7 20.0 ml
Preparation: Divide water into 2 halves. In one half add the flour/kidney bean seeds and
autoclave at 15 Psi for 20 minutes. To the other half add agar agar and autoclave. Take the autoclaved
flour/kidney bean in a waring blender and add yeast, Wesson’s salt mix, methylparahydroxy bensoate
and sorbic acid and blend for 2 minutes. Autoclaved agar agar cooled to 55°C may then be added
and blended. Finally the other ingredients may be added one by one and blended thoroughly. The
diet is semisolid condition can be poured in diet trays made of plastic (26.5 x 16 x 6.5 cm) at 75 g/tray.
The tray should then be closed with lid provided with suitable ventilation. About 200 larvae can be
accommodated in each tray and then larvae can be reared up to fourth instar.
Virus production: Once the larvae reach the fourth instar (head capsule width 1.45 mm) they
can be used for virus production
Virus feeding: Fourth instar larvae are inoculated by dipping their heads in a suspension of NPV
containing 6 x 108 POB/ml. The larvae are then transferred to individual vials containing semisynthetic
diet. Five days after inoculation with the virus, the larvae dying due to virosis can be collected and
suspended in distilled water. The virus can be purified as follows:
1. Grind the larvae with a pestle and mortar in minimum quantity of water.
2. Filter with muslin cloth. Discard the residue in muslin cloth.
3. Centrifuge the suspension containing virus in two stages:
i. At 500 RPM for 1 minute. The tissue debris will settle down. Discard it and use the
supernatant in the subsequent stage.
ii. At 3000 RPM for 3 minutes the virus particles will settle down as a pellet. This pellet
contain the virus.
4. Standardisation of virus: The virus strength can be assessed with the help of a
haemocytometer.
VII. DISEASE MANAGEMENT
1. BACTERIAL BLIGHT (ANGULAR LEAF SPOT OR BLACK ARM)
This occurs severely in Summer Cambodia tract. Adopt field sanitation and avoid stacking
infested plants in the field as the bacterium in affected plant material is viable upto 20 months.
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i) Spray any one of the following chemicals when initial symptoms of the disease appear on
the foliage. Streptomycin sulphate + Tetracycline mixture 100 g + Copper oxychloride 2
kg/ha. Copper oxychloride alone 2.5 kg/ha.
ii) Repeat spraying at 10 days interval twice or thrice if drizzling continues.
2. ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT
Spray copper oxychloride or Mancozeb (1 kg) or chlorothalanil (0.5 kg) or Hexaconazole (2.0 l/
Ha.)
Grey mildew
Spray Carbendazim (250 g/ha.)
3. BOLL ROT
Spray any one of the following: Carbendazim 500 g, Mancozeb 2.0 kg, Copper oxychloride 2.5
kg/ha, along with an insecticide recommended for bollworm from 45th day at fortnightly interval.
4. ROOT ROT
Spot drench Carbendazim @ 1 g/lit at the base of affected plants as well as surrounding healthy
plants.
Apply Neem cake @ 150 kg/ha to the soil and treat the seeds with talc based Trichoderma
viride @ 4g/kg to reduce the root rot incidence.
VIII. WATER MANAGEMENT

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.
Germination Phase : 1 to 15 days
Vegetative Phase : 16 to 44 days
Flowering phase : 45 to 100 days for Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin; 45 to 87 days for all
other varieties.
Maturity Phase : Beyong 100 days for Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213 and beyond 88 days for
all other varieties.
Stages No. of Days after dibbling seeds
Irriga-
tions Light soil Heavy soil
Germination Phase
Irrigate for germination 1 Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
establishment 2 Give a life irrigation on Give a life irrigation on
5th day of sowing to 5th day of sowing to
facilitate the seedlings facilitate the seedlings to
to emerge out emerge out
Vegetative phase
Regulate 1 Irrigate on the 20th or Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day
21st day of sowing, three of sowing, three days after
days after hoeing and hoeing and weeding
weeding
2 Irrigate again on Irrigate again on
the 35th or 36th the 40th day of
day of sowing sowing
Flowering phase
Irrigate copiously 1 48th day 55th day
2 60th day 70th day
3 72nd day 85th day
4 84th day 100th day
5 96th day **
** For Jayalaxmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin cotton only.
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Cotton
Irriga-
tions Light soil Heavy soil
Maturity phase For all varieties other than Suvin, Jayalaxmi, and TCHB 213
Control irriga- 1 108th day 115th day
tion during 2 120th day 130th day
maturity phase 3 130th day
4 144th day
Stop Irrigation after the 150th day
For Suvin, Jayalaxmi, TCHB213

3 132nd day 145th day
5 158th day ...
Stop irrigation after 160th day
NOTE: i. If irrigation is given on climatological approach, Schedule the irrigation at 0.40 and 0.60
IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively.
ii) The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate the irrigation
depending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains.
ii) Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation to save irrigation water.
The features of the methods are furnished below:
Skip furrow irrigation
a. Suited to heavy soils like clay and loam
b. Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wide bed
formation.
c. Short term crops like pulses may be raised in wider bed without exclusive irrigation.
d. Water saving is 50% when compared to control.
Alternate furrow irrigation
a. During any one run of irrigation a particular set of alternate furrows is irrigated.
b. The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional furrows.
c. During the next run, the left over furrows be irrigated.
d. Suited to heavy soils like clay and loam.
IX. HARVESTING
a. Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval between each harvest.
b. Harvest in the morning hours upto 10 to 11 a.m only when there is moisture so that dry
leaves and bracts do not stick to the kapas and lower the market value.
c. Pick kapas from well burst bolls only.
d. Remove only the kapas from the bolls and leave the bracts on the plants.
e. As kapas is picked, sort out good puffy ones and keep separately.
f. Keep stained, discoloured and insect attacked kapas separately.
NOTE: Do not mix stained, discoloured and insect damaged kapas with good kapas, as they will
spoil the good kapas also and lower the market value of the produce.
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X. POST HARVEST OPERATIONS
1) Immediately after picking, dry the kapas in shade. If it is not dried immediately the colour
will change which will lower the market value.
2) Do not dry the kapas under direct sun as the fibre strength and luster will be lost.
3) Grade the kapas into good and second quality ones, if it is sorted out at the time of picking.
4) Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground and keep the kapas over it. The dry sand will
absorb moisture and prevent it from coming in contact with the kapas, as moisture will stain
the kapas and lower its value.
RICE FALLOW COTTON
MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS
i) If the soil is in waxy condition, instead of Zero tillage, the seed rows may be tilled and the
seed dibbled in Virudhunagar district.
ii) If the soil is dry and not in condition to take up sowing, let in water and then allow the soil to
dry till soil comes to waxy condition.
iii) At the lower level of the field dig a trench 15 cm wide and connect this trench to the outside
channel to drain off the excess water.
2. PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES
i) Same as for the irrigated crop.
ii) Treat the acid delinted and fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600g) of Azospirillum
and sow immediately.
3. SOWING THE SEEDS
Particulars Variety
MCU 7 LRA 5166 ADT 1
a) Seed rate (kg/ha)
i) Fuzzy seed 15.0 25 18
ii) Acid delinted 7.5 15 9
b) Spacing (cm)
i) Between rows 60 45 60
ii) Between plants 30 15 30
c) Number of seeds per hole
i) Fuzzy seeds 4 4 4
ii) Acid delinted 2 2 2
d) Depth of sowing (cm) 3 3 3
4. FILLING UP GAPS
i) Fill up gaps on the 10th day of sowing.
ii) Dibble 2 to 3 acid delinted seeds or 4 to 5 fuzzy seeds in the gaps in the case of MCU 7
and ADT 1.
5. THINNING SEEDLINGS
i) Thin out seedlings on the 20th day of sowing
ii) Leave only one healthy and vigorous seedling per hill.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 48 EC 2.2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha ensures
weed free condition for 40 - 45 days. This should be followed by one hand weeding and
earthing up during 40 - 45 days. Fluchloralin need incorporation.
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Cotton
ii) Take up hoeing and weeding 20 days after sowing.
iii) Take up this operation when the top soil dries up and comes to proper condition.
Old delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soil test recommendations. If soil test is not done follow the
blanket recommendation of 60:30:30 kg NPK/ha.
b) Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 30th to 35th day of sowing
along the rows of cotton plants.
c) Apply the remaining N on 50 - 55th day of sowing.
New delta
a) Apply NPK fertilisers as per soil test recommendations and if not done, follow the
blanket recommdation of 60:30:30kg NPK/ha
b) Apply one third the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 20th day of sowing.
c) Apply the fertiliser mixture in band along the row and then cover with soil.
d) Apply the remaining 2/3 of N on 40th day of sowing in bands.
Apply basally12.5 kg/ha micronutrients mixture prepared by Department of Agriculture.
9. FORMATION OF RIDGES
Old delta
a) If soil is in condition, give a hoeing with mammutti and form ridges and incorporate the
fertilizer in the soil around the plants between the 30th to 35th day of sowing.
b) If soil is not in condition, give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers.
c) If ridges and furrows are not formed at the time of first application of fertilisers, form them
at this time
d) Form long ridges and furrows from one end of the field to the other without forming any
separate channels for carrying water to prevent excessive soaking of water.
f) Form ridges and furrows on alternate rows of plants. Skip furrow method of irrigation to
prevent excessive irrigation
New delta
a) Give a hoeing with mummutti and form ridges and incorporate the fertiliser in the soil around
the plants on the 40th day of sowing.
b) If soil is not in condition give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers.
c) Form long ridges & furrows on alternate rows of plants to adopt skip furrow irrigation.
Note: In case of zinc deficient soils application of ZnSO4 at 50 kg/ha is recommended.
10. APPLYING OF NAA
Spray 40 ppm of NAA (40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water) at 40/45th day. The high
volume spray liquid in 1125 l per ha. Repeat the same dose after 15 days of first spraying.
11. TOPPING
Arrest terminal growth by nipping the terminal 10 - 12th node for controlling excessive vegetative
growth.

Regulate irrigation according to the growth phases of the crops.
165
Irriga-
tions Old delta New delta
1. Vegetative Phase
Regulate irrigation 1 One wetting on the 30th One irrigation on the 20th day
during the germination to 35th day of sowing after after the application of fertilisers
phase the application of fertilisers
2 ... One irrigation on the 40th day
after the application of N
2. Flowering Phase
Irrigate more frequently 1 45th day of sowing after the 45th day
application of 2nd dose of N
2 55th day 51st day
3 65th day 56th day
4 75th day 61st day
5 85th day 66th day
6 ... 71st day
7 ... 76th day
8 ... 81st day
9 ... 86th day
10 ... 91st day
3. Control 1 99th day 98th day
Irrigation during 2 113th day 105th day
maturity phase 3 ... 112th day
Stop irrigation from the 113th day onwards.

Note: 1) The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate irrigation depending
upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rains.
2) Observe the crop and if the plants show wilting symptoms in the afternoon and in the
evening hours, give an additional irrigation.
13. Harvesting |
14. Post harvest operation | As that of the irrigated cotton.
15. Pest and disease management |
RAINFED COTTON
Follow water harvesting techniques and raise a successful crop of cotton.

For Thirumangalam in Madurai district, Sattur in Virudhunagar district and parts of Kovilpatti in
Thoothukudi district, where the annual rainfall is 375 mm and most of it is received during September
or first week of October, select MCU 10 or LRA 5166.
In places where rains are received during October or November, select K9, K10. Select Paiyur
1 for Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Madurai, Dindigul, and Theni districts.
II. PREPARATION OF LAND FOR RAINFED COTTON

i) Start preparation of the land immediately after harvest of the previous crop.
ii) Adopt permanent broad ridges system.
i) Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or composted coir pith per ha uniformly on the unploughed
soil. Apply 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azospirillum inoculant plus 25 kg FYM plus 25 kg
soil.
ii) Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country plough.
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Cotton
3. APPLICATION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS
i) Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible.
ii) If soil tests are not done, follow the blanket recommendations for the different varieties.
Varieties/Hybrids Quantity of fertilizers in Kg/Ha
N P2O5 K20
K 9, K 10, K 11 20 0 0
MCU 10 40 20 0
Paiyur 1 40 20 0
i) Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil
Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg.
ii) Apply uniformly over the furrows after sowing and cover the seeds.
iii) Do not incorporate in the soil.
5. SEEDS AND SOWING
i) Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids.
Varieties Quantity of seeds (kg/ha)
Fuzzy seeds Delinted seeds
K 9, K 10, K11 20 ..
MCU 10, LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 20 15
Note: Delint only MCU 10, LRA 5166 and Paiyur 1 seeds. Do not delint seeds of K 9 , K10 & K 11
ii) In the case of mixed crop of cotton, maintaining the same seed rates as for a pure crop and
adopt the following seed rate for the pulses crop.
Blackgram/greengram 10 kg/ha
Cowpea 7.5 kg/ha
6. SPACING
i) In the case of pure crop of varieties/hybrids, a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm
between plants may be adopted.
ii) In the case of cotton, intercropped with pulses, one paired row of cotton is alternated with
two rows of pulses and the total population of cotton crop is maintained at the same line as
that for a pure crop of cotton.
Varieties/hybrid Spacing for cotton crop (in cm)
Within Between Between
Paired row Paired rows plants
K 9, K 10, K 11, LRA 5166, Paiyur 1 30 60 15
iii) Adopt a spacing of 30 x 10 cm for the pulse crop in between each paired row of cotton.
APK 1 Blackgram is best suited for this situation.
7. ACID DELINTING
Adopt procedure for acid delinting as for an irrigated crop.
8. PRETREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

Same as for the irrigated crop.
9. SOWING
i) Use the multipurpose farming implement to sow the seeds and to apply basal fertilizers
simultaneously.
ii) Fill the hopper in the implement with the fertilizer mixtures and work the implement.
iii) Engage 3 persons for dropping the seeds, 2 for cotton and one for pulses.
In one operation, placement of fertilizer, sowing of seeds and covering will be completed.
167
NOTE: Cotton and pulses can be sown at a depth of 5 cm in black cotton soil even before the onset
of monsoon rains in dry bed sowing. When light rains are received, the moisture will not
penetrate deeper and the seeds will not germinate and die away. Only when good rains are
received, the moisture level is sufficient to penetrate to the level of the seed and facilitate
germination and proper establishment.
The control measures recommended for irrigated cotton will hold good. However, when water
is not available, use any one of the following insecticides for the control of boll worms at 25 kg/ha.
Endosulfan 4% D; Carbaryl 5% D and Phosalone 4% D.
11. WEED MANAGEMENT

i) Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin 2 l/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 l/ha or Thiobencarb
3.0 l/ha followed by one hand weeding on 40 days after crop emergence. At the time of
herbicide application sufficient soil moisture must be there. Fluchloralin needs soil
incorporation or irrigation immediately after sowing.
ii) If sufficient soil moisture is not available for applying herbicides hand weeding may be
given at 10 - 20 days after crop emergence.
12. GAP FILLING
Dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap.
13. THINNING SEEDLINGS

i) Allow two seedlings per hole and thin out on 15th day of sowing, adopting proper spacing
between plants.
ii) Thin the pulse crop on the 20th day of sowing, adopting a spacing of 15 cm between plants
for cowpea and 10 cm for other pulse crop.
14. FOLIAR APPLICATION OF UREA
Spray 0.5% urea on the 45th and 65th day of sowing. Spray Kaolin 3% twice at peak flowering,
boll formation stage for summer cotton.
15. INTERCULTIVATION WITH DHANTHULU/BLADE HARROW

Work dhanthulu or blade harrow on the 30th and 45th day of sowing.
NOTE: Other cultivation practices, plant protection measures, harvest etc., are the same as for the
irrigated crop.
Reddening in cotton and its correction:
Varieties of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense as well as hybrids manifest reddening of leaves. A
combination of Magnesium sulphate (5%). Urea (1%) and Zinc sulphate (0.1%) as foliar sprays on
50th and 80th day corrects this malady. The sprays prevent further development of reddening.
SEED TECHNOLOGY
1. INFLUENCE OF SEASON ON SEED QUALITY
Germination and vigour are better in seeds from winter crop than from the summer crop.
2. SPACING
A spacing of 90 x 60 cm may be given.
a) Soil application (kg/ha)
N P K
i) Basal 35 35 35
ii) Top dressing (at the time of earthing up) 35 .. ..
b) Foliar Application:
Apply Diammonium phosphate @ 1% strength three sprays on 70th, 80th and 90th day after
sowing.
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Cotton
NOTE: Five kg of DAP should be soaked in 25 litres of water overnight and the supernatant liquid
should be taken and mixed with 475 litres of water for spraying one hectare.
4. HARVESTING
i) Seed attains physiological maturity between 45 - 55 days after fertilization in different
pickings.
ii) Burst kapas should be picked periodically in six pickings at weekly intervals. Retaining the
kapas unpicked for more than a week reduces seed quality.
iii) First five pickings in winter crop and first four pickings in the summer crop alone should be
taken for seed purpose because the seed from the subsequent pickings is inferior in quality.
iv) The cumulative percentage of recovery of seed from the first five pickings in winter and
four pickings in summer is 90 and 80 respectively.
v) The percentage of mature seed ranges from 72 - 93 in winter and 65 - 92 in summer.
vi) The mean dormancy in seeds is 23 days in winter and 64 days in summer at the time of
picking which can be overcome by drying the kapas for 3 - 5 days.
vi) The kapas should be dried in shade immediately after each picking for a period of 3 - 5
days to reduce the moisture content to 15 - 17% which is the optimum range for ginning
with minimum injury to the seed.
viii) Faulty ginning causes seed injury which may go upto 6.5%.
ix) Immediately after ginning, the fuzzy seeds obtained should be air dried. If heaped, heating
would cause loss in viability.
5. ACID DELINTING OF FUZZY SEEDS
i) Quantity of commercial sulphuric acid required is 100 ml/kg of seed.
ii) Duration of treatment is 2 - 3 minutes.
iii) After acid treatment, the seed should be washed thoroughly for 3 or 4 times with fresh
water.
iv) From the floaters, mature seeds without any visible damage can be picked and added to
the sinkers.
6. SEED YIELD
The mean seed yield may be around 1000 kg/ha.
7. SEED TREATMENT
Slurry treat the seeds with Captan @ 2 g/kg of seed with 5 ml of water per kg of seed.
8. STORAGE
Treated seeds possessing about 7% moisture content can be stored in gunny bags for 24
months and in 700 guage polythene bags for 30 months. The polythene bags should be heat sealed.
9. SEPARATION OF DEAD SEEDS

Stored fuzzy or delinted seeds or fresh seeds may be used to separate the dead seeds. Delinted
seed may be soaked in double the volume of water for 3 hours and subsequently air dried to original
moisture of 7 per cent. The seeds may then put to potable water. The dead seeds tend to float and
these may be removed.
10. MID STORAGE CORRECTION

Stored fuzzy and delinted seeds may be soaked for 2 and 1 hr respectively in double the volume
of Disodium hydrogen phosphate solution (3.59 g/100 lit of water). The seeds are then air dried to
original moisture content and seed treated.
11. PERFORMANCE OF AGED SEED

The productivity of seed decreased significantly with the period of storage. Hybrid seed production:
Important steps involved in the commercial production of cotton hybrid are presented in brief for
close followup to ensure adequate quantity of seed of acceptable purity.
169
Preparatory tillage
1. Plough the land 6" depth after the onset of monsoon. Harrow three times and remove
stubbles and trashes of previous crop. Prepare the land to fine tilth.
2. Open up ridges and furrows at a distance of 120 cm (4 ft.)
Manures and fertilizers
1. Apply 5 cart loads of FYM per 0.5 acre before opening up ridges and furrows.
2. Apply 10 kg N (50 kg ammonium sulphate): 10 kg P2O5 (60 kg single super phosphate) and
5 kg K2O (16 Kg of Muriate of potash) per 0.5 acre just before planting. Top dress at the
rate of 5 kg (25 kg ammonium sulphate) after 60 days and again after 90 days of planting.
Apply 50 kg/ha of zinc sulphate to the soil and apply as foliar spray at 0.5% concentration of
ZnSO4 on 75 and 90 days after sowing to increase the number of flowers per plant, pollen weight and
pollen viability.
Seeds and sowing
1. Mend the ridges and furrows open at a distance of 4 feet. Apply 10:10:8 kgs of NPK along
with 5 kg Disulfotone 5% or 4 kg Phorate 10% to the plot uniformly at the base of each
ridge.
2. If the seed production area is 0.5 acre, female plant (Laxmi) should be raised in 40 cents
and male plant (SB 289-E) should be raised in 10 cents. Spacing for female is 4' x 2' and
male is 2' x 1 1/2'. The male should be sown 5 metre away from the female. In the case of
TCHB 213 Hybrid seed production, female parent (TCH 1218) will be raised in 80 cents
and the male parent (TCH 209) will be raised in 20 cents. Spacing for female parent (TCH
1218) will be 4' x 2' and for male parent (TCH 209) will be 3' x 2'.
For the production of quality seeds of parental lines of hybrid TCHB 213 namely TCH 1218
(Female) and TCH 209 (Male) a spacing 75 x 45 cm and 90 x 45 cm for female and male
parent along with a fertilizer schedule of 100:50:40 N, P2O5 and K2O/ha is optimum.
3. Seed required would be about 750 g of Laxmi and 300 g of SB 289-E. In the case of TCHB
213 hybrid seed production, seed required for female parent (TCH 1218) will be 800 g and
for male parent (TCB 209) will be 200 g.
4. Dibble Laxmi during third week of August. Male parent SB 289-E may be sown in three
instalments. Sowing of first 1/3 area along with Laxmi, 2nd and 3rd 1/3 areas after 10 days
and 20 days after Laxmi sowing.
In the case of TCHB 213 hybrid seed production, sow the seeds of male parent (TCB 209)
on the 1st August and sow the seeds of female parent (TCH 1218) 10 to 15 days after
sowing of male parent to synchronise flowering.
5. Irrigate immediately after sowing.
6. Gap-fill if necessary on 10th day after sowing.
7. Thinning may be done at 20 - 25 days after sowing to regulate one seedling/hill.
Top dressing:
First top dress at 60 days and second top dress after 90 days after sowing at the rate of 5 kg N/
acre (25 kg Ammonium sulphate)/plot with adequately earthup with first top dress. Application of 100
ppm of Boric acid improves pollen viability. Irrigate immediately after every top dressing.
Irrigation:
Irrigate the land once in 15 - 20 days depending on soil type and climatic condition. Heavy
irrigations during crossing period should be avoided.
Weeding and intercultivation:
Hand weeding should be done as and when required. Intercultivate 4 - 5 times during crop
period to keep the plot clean.
170
Cotton
Plant protection:
Important insect pests and diseases of crop are -
Insect:
Jassids, Thrips, Aphids, Mites, Spotted boll worm, Pink boll worm, American boll worm.
Diseases:
Black arm, Alternaria leaf spot, Helminthosporium leaf spot.
Control:
As per the recommendation.
Foliar feeding:
Add 20 g DAP/litre spray fluid and give 4 such sprays for better development of crossed bolls
during boll development period.
Steps necessary for efficiency in seed production
1. Emasculate and dust as far as possible all buds appearing during the first six weeks of
reproductive phase to ensure good setting and development of bolls.
2. Restrict your emasculation to each day evenings to 3 PM to 6 PM and pollination to morning
between 10 AM to 1 PM to ensure highest purity of hybrid seeds. Emasculation should be
complete and perfect.
3. Choose optimum size of bud and avoid too young or too old buds for emasculation.
4. Cover the male buds with paper packets previous evening for their use next day.
5. Emasculated buds may be covered preferably with buffer paper packets.
6. Do not forget to tie a thread to the pedicel of the bud immediately after pollination.
7. Close your crossing programme after 9th week (from commencement of crossing) and
remove all buds and flowers appearing subsequently to facilitate the development of crossed
bolls.
8. Nip the top and side shoots at the stalks to stop further vertical and horizontal growth.
9. Light irrigations should be given as and when required. Excessive or scanty or inadequate
irrigations should be avoided especially during crossing and boll development period.
10. Continue irrigation till last pick of the crossed bolls. Frequency of irrigation depends on
weather factors like rainfall, temperature and wind velocity.
11. Pick up the ripe and completely opened bolls along with brackets and threads on and
collect in baskets for second sorting. Bolls without threads may be bulk harvested as
Laxmi seed cotton.
12. Crossed bolls collected in baskets may be sorted out for second time to verify that they are
crossed bolls. then collect the crossed seed cotton and store in gunny bags carefully
marked as crossed bolls.
13. Rain touch cotton or hard locks should be picked and kept separately to avoid poor
germination of hybrid seeds.
14. Store the crossed seed cotton in a cool dry place till it is handed over to processing unit.
15. Seed producers are required to keep a clear account of the cost of production of hybrid
seed.
Ginning, storing and certification
1. Gin the crossed kapas in separate gins erected in seed processing units or farm gins
under the close supervision of the authorities concerned to ensure purity and avoid seed
damage.
2. Sieve the seed in two types of mesh to remove small shriveled seeds, broken seeds and
clean perfectly from any dirt or dust.
171
3. After ginning, the seeds should be dried well and cleaned by hand picking. After cleaning,
certification agency will take sample for testing germination and genetic purity test.
Maximum germination 65% Genetic purity 90%
4. Certified seeds would be bagged in one kg bag, sealed and specified regarding its origin,
germination per cent, physical purity per cent and genetical purity per cent, besides season
of production and passed on to sale agencies or respective producers for commercial
scale at the specified rate.
5. Uncertified seed would be procured by the concerned Department or Agency at the market
rate for the ordinary cotton seed for further destruction. This step is essential to avoid
unauthorised sale of substandard uncertified seed.
NOTE: i) Dead seeds may be removed by soaking acid delinted cotton seeds in monolayer for 3h
and drying back to original moisture content.
ii) The seeds when put into potable water will separate into sinkers and floaters. Dead
seeds become buoyant and float.
iii) Sinkers may be soaked in double the volume of 3.59 g of Disodium phosphate in 100 l
water for 2 h (Fuzzy seeds 1 h). The soaked seeds should be air dried to original
moisture content. The mid storage correction improves the planting value of old seeds.
JUTE ( Corchorus oletorius & Corchorus capsularis )

Jute can be successfully grown in Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Chengleput and parts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Pudukkottai and Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi districts where assured supply of irrigation water is available
for its cultivation and rotting for fibre extraction.
Soil type: Alluvial sandy loam, clay loamy soils are best suited for jute production. Capsularis
jute can grow even in standing water especially towards the latter part of its growth, but Olitorius jute
will not thrive in standing water. The latter is more drought resistant and is therefore grown on lighter
soils than is Capsularis.
Season: February - May.
Land Preparation: Fine tilth is required since the seeds are very small.
Manures and fertilizer application: Five tonnes of well decomposed farm yard manure is to
be applied during last ploughing. Besides 20 kg per ha each of N, P2O5 and K2O are to be applied
basally. Beds and channels are formed depending on water resources.
Varieties: Capsularis Jute = JRC 212, JRC 321, JRC 7447
Olitorius jute = JRO 524, JRO 878, JRO 7835
Crop duration : 120 to 140 Days
Seed rate and sowing: Seeds can be sown either by broadcasting or by line sowing.
Jute type Seed rate (kg/ha) Spacing No. of Plants/

Line Sowing Broad Casting Sq. Mtr.
Olitorius jute 5 7 25 cm x 5 cm 80
Capsularis jute 7 10 30 cm x 5 cm 67
Weed management: Hand weeding twice on 20 - 25 DAS and 35 - 40 DAS. Fluchloralin can be
sprayed on 3 days after sowing at the rate of 1.5 kg per hectare and is followed by irrigation. Further
one hand weeding can be taken up on 30 - 35 DAS.
172
Jute & Agave
Top dressing of fertiliser: Apply 10 kg of N on 20 - 25 days after first weeding and then again
on 35 - 40 days after second weeding as top dressing. During periods of drought and fertilizer
shortage, spray 8 kg of urea as 2 per cent urea solution (20 gm urea in one litre of water) on jute
foliage on 40 - 45 DAS as well as 70 - 75 DAS.
Water Management: Jute crop requires 500 mm of water. First irrigation is to be given after
sowing and life irrigation on fourth day after sowing. Afterwards irrigation can be given once in 15
days.
Harvest: Jute crop can be harvested from 100 to 110 days after sowing (DAS) but can be
extended from 120 - 135 DAS depending on local cropping systems. Jute plants are left in the field
for 3 - 4 days for leaf shedding. Then thick and thin plants are sorted out and bundled in convenient
size.
Yield: The green plant weight yield is 45 to 50 tonnes per hectare whereas the fibre yield is 20
to 25 quintals per hectare.
AGAVE - CULTIVATION
Among the under-exploited resources, ‘Agave’ - a fibre yielding drought tolerant plant is one
which can prosper the life of the dry land farmers without any risk. Agave is a short stemmed plant
bearing a rosette of long erect pointed fleshy leaves. Agave is noted for its strong, coarse fibre,
superior to and more flexible than Manila hemp. It is widely used for making ropes, cordage, twine,
fishing nets, door mats and rugs and the short fibres are used for making mops, brushes. The waste
material left after decorticating the leaves is used for making craft paper and paper boards. The
fibres also contain about 73-78% of lignified form of cellulose. Apart from these wax from agave
wastes and Hecogenin acetate a steroid useful for the pharmaceutical industry in India is obtained
from agave juice. The genus Agave has about 275 species of which A. sisalana, A.cantala and
A.americana commonly occur in India. Agave blossoms only once during its life time and then dies.
Agave plants are grown along railway line, road sides, river banks and as a hedge plant in dryland
areas throughout the country. Till date it is grown in patches and as border crop in a neglected
condition. The crop comes up on dry soils unsuitable for crop cultivation but grow vigorously on dry,
well drained sandy loam soils.
Nursery: Agaves are usually propagated from bulbils or suckers. Grown up suckers can be
dug out and planted during rainy months. In case of bulbils they are first sown in mother beds at
close spacing at 5000 bulbils per bed 1 x 20 M. After 6 months the seedlings are pulled out and
planted in the transplanting bed of size 20 x 1 m at 500 Plants. In the second stage it is kept for three
months. After 9 months from the date of bulbils sowing suckers weighing 1/4 to 1/2 kg and 9 to 12"
height are ready for planting.
Mainfield planting: In the main field they are planted at an espacement of 2 x 2 m in pits of size
30 cm3. Planting is usually carried out during the rainy seasons for better establishment otherwise
initial watering is quite essential for establishment.
Harvesting: The leaves are ready for harvesting from 3rd year onwards. The older leaves of
length not less than a metre is harvested in the 3rd year. Each plant yields 40-50 leaves/year. The
life cycle of the plant is upto 8 years. The content of fibre varies with variety from 2.5% to 4.5% and
the highest is reported under A.sisalana as 4.5%. Agave sisalana produces a better quality fibre
than Agave americana. From 3rd year onwards leaf yield of 30-40 tonnes/acre could be harvested
and a net profit of not less than Rs.2000/acre could be obtained out of this crop. Even as border crop
Agave could fetch a revenue of not less than Rs.400/acre/year from 3rd year until 8th year. From
traditional hand scraping process now we have mechanical decorticators for the extraction of fibre.
The extracted fibres are washed in water, cleaned and dried and packed in bales. The precaution
while fibre extraction is that it should be done on a bright sunny day and within 2 days of the harvesting
of the leaves or else the quality of the fibre will be deteriorated. The fibre colour varies from mealy
white to golden yellow.
;;;;;
173
SUGARCANE ( Saccharum officinarum )
A. PLANTED (MAIN) CROP
Sugarcane is grown chiefly in the main season (December - May) in the entire State. In parts
of Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Salem, Namakkal and Coimbatore districts, it is also raised
during the special season (June - September). The particulars in respect of each season are given
below:
SEASON, PERIOD OF PLANTING
1. Main season
i) Early - Dec - Jan ii) Mid - Feb - March iii) Late - April - May
2. Special season - June - July
The varieties noted below are susceptible to severe incidence of diseases and should be
replaced by new introductions.
Variety Disease
CO 419, CO 740 Smut
CO 62198 Grassy shoot
Variety Duration (Month) Cane yield (T/ha) CCS% CCS(T/ha)
COC 671 10 123.5 14.20 17.50
COC 771 10 140.0 13.10 18.30
COC 772 10 143.3 14.00 20.00
COC 773 10 97.5 13.20 12.60
COC 800 (C 66191) 10 - 11 102.9 13.20 13.50
COC 774 11 159.8 11.90 17.90
COC 775 11 122.5 13.40 16.40
COC 776 11 112.3 14.00 15.50
COC 777 12 171.3 11.80 20.00
COC 778 12 165.5 11.00 18.10
COC 779 12 204.6 11.80 24.00
COC 419 12 112.5 10.50 11.80
CO 6304 12 115.0 13.50 15.50
COC 8001 10 - 11 102.5 13.20 13.50
COC 85061 10 - 11 128.5 12.90 16.60
COC 86062 10 - 11 133.5 12.60 16.80
COC 86071 10 - 11 131.7 12.20 16.00
COC 90063 10 - 11 124.0 12.30 15.40
COC 8021 10 - 11 137.7 11.00 14.60
COC 91061 10 - 11 131.0 11.30 15.60
COC 92061 8 - 11 132.7 12.76 16.05
CO 8362 11 - 12 124.3 12.40 15.40
COG 93076 11 - 12 132.0 13.20 17.40
CO 8208 11 - 13 141.5 11.07 15.28
COG 94077 11 133.2 13.5 17.6
Jaggery : Recovery*; Yield** 10.9* 14.6**
COG 95076 10 - 11 108.2 11.5 12.4
CO 85019 12 134.5 12.5 16.8
COSI 95071 10 152.0 12.9 21
COSI 96071 10 145.0 11.9 17.3
CO 8610 10 - 12 146.1 10.78 15.64
COC 98061 10 - 11 120.0 11.60 13.80
COSI 98071 12 144.7 12.3 17.7
CO 86249 10 - 12 128.7 11.3 14.3
174
Sugarcane
III. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
Characters COC 671 COC 771 COC 772 COC 773
Parentage Q63xCO775 CO419xCO658 CO740xCO658 CO658XCO1305
Leaf size Broad Broad Broad Broad
Leaf colour Green Green Green Green
Sheath colour Green with Green with Green with Green with
purple tinge purple tinge purple tinge purple tinge
Sheath
Clasping Loose Loose Loose Loose
Spines Present Present Present Present
Ligular process Present Absent Absent Present
Stem colour Green with Yellow with Yellow with Yellow with
purple tinge purple tinge green tinge green tinge
Girth Thick Medium Medium Medium
Joint Staggered Straight Staggered Straight
Bud Groove Absent Present Absent Absent
Size Medium Medium Medium Medium
Character COC 774 COC 775 COC 776 COC 777

Parentage CO785x CO658xCO1305 CO419xCO775 CO419XCO853
CO 658
Leaf size Broad Broad Broad Broad
Sheath colour Green with Green with Green with Purple
purple tinge purple tinge purple tinge
Sheath
Clasping Tight Tight Tight Loose
Spines Present Present Present Present
Ligular process Present Present Present Present
Stem colour Purple Green with Yellow with Purple with
purple tinge purple tinge green tinge
Girth Medium Medium Medium Medium
Joint Straight Straight Straight Staggered
Bud Groove Absent Present Absent Absent
Character COC 778 COC 779 CO 419 COC 85061

Parentage CO419xCO 853 CO419xCO853 Poj 2878xCO290 CO6304 GC
Leaf size Broad Broad Broad Medium
Leaf colour Green Green Green Light green
Sheath colour Purple Purple Green with Green with
green tinge pink tinge
Sheath
Clasping Loose Loose Loose Tight
Spines Present Present Present Glabrous
Ligular process Present Present Lanceolate Present on one side
Stem colour Purple Purple with Purple Greenish yellow
green tinge turns to pink on
exposure to sunlight
Girth Medium Medium Thick Medium
Joint Staggered Straight Staggered Staggered
Bud Groove Absent Absent Present Absent
175
III. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS (CONTD...)
Characters COC86062 COSi 86071 CO6304 C66191(COC 8001)
Parentage MS68/47GC CO775xCO842 CO419xCO605 PO2874XCO658
Leaf size Medium Broad Broad Broad
Leaf colour Green Dark green Green Green
Sheath colour Dark pink Yellowish green Green with Greenish
with pink tinge Purple tinge
Sheath
Clasping Loose Tight Loose Loose
Spines Glabrous Present Present Absent
Ligular Absent Present Present Bow shape
process on both sides
Stem colour Yellowish green Purplish green Green with Greenish with
turns to dark turns to pink purple tinge light yellowish
pink on exposure on exposure to tinge
to sunlight sunlight
Girth Medium Thick Thick Medium
Joint Staggered Staggered Staggered Straight
Bud Groove Absent Present Present Indicated
Size Small Big Medium Medium
Character COC 8201 COC 90063 CO 8021 COC 91061

Parentage CO740xCO62174 CO6304XCOC671 CO740xCO6806 COC779 G.C.
Leaf size Medium Medium Medium Medium
Sheath colour Green with Green Purple Whitish
Pink tinge Yellow
Sheath clasping Loose Loose Loose Tight
Spines Glabrous Present Glabrous Absent
Splits .. Absent Present Absent
Ligular Lanceolate Present on Present on one Absent on
process one side side Lanceolate both sides
(4-5 cm)
Stem colour Greenish yellow Yellowish green Purple with heavy Yellowish green
wax deposition
Girth Medium Medium Medium Medium
Joint Thick Staggered Erect Staggered
Bud Groove Present Absent Present and Absent
Prominent
Size Medium Medium Medium/Big Small
Character COC 92061 CO 8362 COG 93076 CO 8208

Parentage CO 7314 CC CO 6304X COC 772X CO 62198X
(Natural cross) COC 671 CO 419 COC 671
Involving CO6314
as female
Leaf size Broad Medium Medium Medium
Leaf colour Green Green Dark green Dark green
Sheath Colour Purple with Green Dark green Greenish purple
heavy bloom
Sheath clasping __ Loose — Loose
Spines Deciduous Deciduous Deciduous Deciduous
Splits Absent Absent Absent —
176
Sugarcane
III. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS (CONTD..)
Character COC 92061 CO 8362 COG 93076 CO 8208
Ligular process One side indica- Present on One side ‘K/H’
ted and the other both side Asymmetrical
side rudimentary
Stem colour Greenish yellow Purple green Greenish light Green with
with pink tinge yellow purple tinge
Girth — — — —
Joint Slightly Straight Slightly Straight
staggered staggered
Bud Groove Absent Absent Absent Absent
Size Medium Medium Medium Small
Character COG 94077 COG 95076 CO 85019 COSi 95071

Parentage CO 740 x C0 775 COC 771 x CO 775 CO 7201 x CO 775 COC 671x MS 6847
Leaf size Medium Medium Length 140 cm Medium
width 6.0 cm
Leaf colour Dark green Green Light green Green
at harvest
Sheath colour Greenish with Green Green with Light greenish
purplish tinge purple tinge yellow
Sheath Easily trashing Loose
Clasping Loose Loose
Spines Absent Present,deciduous Hard few Absent
Ligular process Present on One side lanceo Absent Present,
one side late and one side Asymmetrical
dentoid
Stem colour Greenish Greenish yellow Exposed-Purple Greenish Yellow
yellow with purplish tinge unexposed-yello-
wish green with
heavy waxy coating
Girth Medium Medium 3.0 cm Medium
Joint Slightly staggered Slightly staggered Zig Zag Staggered
Bud groove Short, shallow Indicated Absent Present
Size Medium Medium small Medium
Character CO Si 96071 CO 8610 COC 98061 COSi 98071 CO 86249

Parentage GC Co.82061 Co 740 x Co 7409 C80 172 GC Bo 91/ Co 62198 Co J 64x
CoA 7601
Leaf size Medium Broad Medium Broad Medium
Leaf colour Green Lightgreen Green Dark green Green
Sheath colour Lightgreen with Lightgreen with Green with Yellowish Light green
pink blotches pink blotches pink tinge green
Sheathclasping — — — — —
Spines Present & Absent Absent Deciduous
deciduous
Ligular Asymmetrial “ I ” Absent on Short lanceolate Small, present
process both sides on one side
Stem colour Purplish Yellowish with Greenish yellow Yellowish green Greenish yellow
green tinge with slight purple
tinge
Girth Medium Thick Medium Thick Thick
Joint Concave,convex — Cylindrical Cylindrical Cylindrical
Budgroove Absent Prominent Absent Numerous Absent
Size Small Big Medium Big Big
177
IV. DISTRICT/SEASON - SUITABLE VARIETIES
Early Mid late Special
Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur (Coastal Belt)

CO 658 .. CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 62175 .. ..
CO 62174 CO 671 CO 62198 CO 449 COC 8201 CO 419 .. ..
CO 62198 COC 771 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 771 CO 6304 .. ..
COC 671 COC 772 COC 774 COC 776 COC 778 COC 8201 .. ..
COC 771 COC 773 COC 775 COC 8001 COC 779 CO 740 .. ..
COC 772 COC 8001 COC 8001 .. CO 419 .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 85061, .. .. CO 740 .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 86062 CO 658 .. .. ..
COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CO Si 95071 COG 94077 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
CO 658 CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 62175 .. ..
CO 62174 CO 671 CO 62198 CO 449 COC 8201 CO 419 .. ..
CO 62198 COC 771 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 771 CO 6304 .. ..
COC 772 COC 8001 COC 776 .. CO 419 .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CO Si 95071 COG 94077 CO Si98071 CO Si98071 CO Si98071 CO Si98071
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai
CO 658 CO 658 CO 6304 CO 419 .. ..
CO 62174 CO 671 CO 62198 CO 449 COC 8201 CO 62175 .. ..
CO 62198 COC 771 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 771 CO 6304 .. ..
COC 772 COC 8001 COC 776 CO 740 CO 419 .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 85061 COC 8001 .. COC 777 .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86062 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
178
Sugarcane
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai (Contd...)

COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COG 94077 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COG 95076
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Salem, Namakkal
COC 771 COC 771 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 CO 419 CO 419
CO 6806 CO 855 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6394 CO 419 COC 671 COC 671
COC 671 CO 62174 COC 776 COC 776 CO 740 CO 6806 COC 771 COC 771
COC 772 COC 772 COC 449 COC 740 COC 8201 COC 6304 COC 772 COC 772
COC 773 COC 773 CO 740 COC 774 .. CO 740 COC 85061 COC 85061
CoSi 86071 COC 774 COC 8201 COC 85062 COC 85062
COC 85062 COC 85061 COC 775 .. .. .. CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071
COSi 86071 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
CO 8021 CO 8021 .. .. .. .. CO 8021 CO 8021
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSi 95071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Dharmapuri
COC 771 CO 853 .. .. .. CO 62175 .. ..
CO 6806 CO 62174 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 419 .. ..
COC 671 COC 671 COC 776 COC 776 CO 740 CO 6806 .. ..
COC 772 COC 772 CO 449 CO 740 COC 8201 CO 6304 .. ..
COC 773 COC 773 CO 740 COC 774 .. CO 740 .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 COC 774 .. .. CO 8201 .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 COC 775 .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
CO 8021 CO 8021 .. .. .. .. CO 8021 CO 8021
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
179
Coimbatore
COC 771 CO 853 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 CO 419 CO 419
CO 6806 CO 62174 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 419 CO 671 COC 671
COC 671 COC 671 COC 776 COC 776 CO 740 CO 6806 COC 771 COC 771
COC 772 COC 772 CO 449 CO 740 COC 8201 CO 6304 COC 772 COC 772
COC 773 COC 773 COC 740 COC 774 COC 6304 CO 740 COC 85061 COC 85061
COC 8001 COC 8001 COC 774 .. CO 740 CO 8201 COC 86062 COC 86062
COC 85061 COC 85061 COC 775 .. .. .. CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071
COC 86062 COC 86062 COC 776 .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
CO 8021 CO 8021 .. .. .. .. CO 8021 CO 8021
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Erode
CO 658 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 CO 419 CO 419
CO 62174 COC 671 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 419 COC 671 COC 671
CO 62198 COC 771 COC 776 COC 776 CO 740 CO 6806 COC 771 COC 771
COC 671 COC 772 CO 449 CO 740 COC 8201 CO 6304 COC 772 COC 772
COC 771 COC 773 CO 740 COC 774 .. CO 740 COC 85061 COC 85061
COC 772 COC 8001 COC 774 .. .. CO 8201 COC 86062 COC 86062
COC 8001 .. COC 775 .. .. .. CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071
COC 8002 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
CO 8021 CO 8021 .. .. .. .. CO 8021 CO 8021
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Perambalur

COC 771 COC 771 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 CO 419 CO 419
CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 6304 .. CO 419 CO 671 COC 671
CO 62174 COC 671 COC 776 CO 740 CO 740 CO 6804 COC 771 COC 771
COC 772 COC 773 COC 774 COC 774 CO 6304 CO 740 COC 85061 COC 85061
COC 8001 COC 8001 COC 775 .. .. COC 8201 COC 86062 COC 86062
CO 62198 COC 772 CO 740 COC 776 COC 8201 COC 6304 COC 772 COC 772
CO 72198 CO 62198 .. .. .. .. COC 8001 COC 8001
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CO 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COSi 95071 COG 94077
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Sugarcane
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Pudukottai
CO 6806 CO 853 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 .. ..
COC 671 CO 62174 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 8201 CO 419 .. ..
COC 771 COC 671 COC 776 COC 776 CO 6304 CO 6304 .. ..
COC 772 COC 772 CO 740 .. CO 740 COC 8201 .. ..
COC 773 COC 773 COC 775 .. .. .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSi 95071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam
COC 671 COC 671 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 .. ..
COC 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 419 .. ..
CO 62174 CO 771 COC 776 COC 776 COC 8201 CO 6806 .. ..
COC 771 COC 772 .. .. .. CO 6304 .. ..
COC 772 COC 773 .. .. .. COC 8201 .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
CoSi 86071 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
CO 8021 CO 8021 .. .. .. .. CO 8021 CO 8021
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni/Dindigal Anna
CO 6806 CO 853 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 .. ..
COC 671 CO 62175 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 449 .. ..
COC 771 COC 671 COC 776 COC 776 CoSi 8201 CO 6304
COC 772 COC 772 CO 740 .. COC 777 COC 8201 .. ..
COC 773 COC 773 COC 774 .. COC 778 .. .. ..
CO 8134 COC 8001 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 8607 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 85061 CoSi 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86071 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSI 95071 COG 94077
181
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Ramanathapuram/Virudhunagar/Sivagangai
CO 6806 CO 853 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 .. ..
COC 671 CO 62174 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 6304 CO 419 .. ..
COC 772 COC 772 COC 740 .. COC 777 COC 8201 .. ..
COC 773 COC 773 COC 774 .. COC 778 .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 COC 775 .. .. .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86071 COC 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSI 95071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071 Co Si 98071
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
CO 6806 CO 853 CO 419 CO 419 CO 419 CO 62175 .. ..
CO 671 CO 62174 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 6304 CO 419 .. ..
COC 773 COC 773 COC 774 .. COC 778 .. .. ..
COC 8001 COC 8001 COC 775 .. COC 779 .. .. ..
COC 85061 COC 85061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 86061 COC 86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COC 90063 COC 90063 .. .. .. .. COC 90063 COC 90063
COC 91061 COC 91061 .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 95071 COG 94077
COSi 95071
Coastal Belt
.. .. CO 85019 CO 85019
CO 86249 CO 86249 CO 86249 CO 86249
All districts
CO Si 96071 CO Si 96071
CoC 98061 CoC 98061
CO 86010 CO 86010
V. PREPARATION OF THE LAND FOR RAISING SUGARCANE

a) Wetland (Heavy soils): In wet lands, preparatory cultivation by way of ploughing the land
and bringing the soil to fine tilth is not done.
i. After harvest of the paddy crop, form irrigation and drainage channels of 40 cm depth
and 30 cm width at intervals of 6 m along and across the field and along the field
borders.
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ii. Form ridges and furrows with a spacing of 80 cm between rows with mammutti.
iii. Dig with hand hoes in the furrows, stir the furrows with hand hoes and allow the soil to
weather for 4 to 5 days.
b. Problem soils with excessive soil moisture: In problem soils, where excessive moisture
is present and it is difficult to drain the water and to have a dry bed, do the following: Form
raised beds at 30 cm intervals with the following dimensions. Length - 5 m, Width - 80 cm,
Height 15 cm.
c. Garden lands and medium and light soils: In medium and light soil irrigated by flow or
lift irrigation adopt the following:
i. Plough deep with a tractor drawn plough or victory plough. Use junior hoe to break
the clods and get a fine tilth free of weeds and stubbles.
ii. Open ridges and furrows 80 cm apart with the help of victory plough. The depth of
furrow must be 20 cm.
iii. Open irrigation channels of 30 cm depth at intervals of 10 m.
2. APPLICATION OF FYM or COMPOST
Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha or compost 12.5 t/ha or filter press mud at 15 t/ha before the last ploughing
under gardenland. In wet lands this may be applied along the furrow and incorporated well.
Preparation of reinforced compost from sugarcane trash and pressmud
Spread the sugarcane trash to a thickness of 15 cm over an area of 5 - 7 m x 3 m depending on
the area available. Then spread the pressmud over this trash to a thickness of 5 cm. Sprinkle the
SRS fertilizer mixture containing mussoorie rock phosphate, gypsum and urea in the ratio of 5:4:1
over these layers at the rate of 10 kg/100 kg of trash. Moist the trash and pressmud layers adequately
with water. Repeat this process till the entire heap rises to a height of 1.0 m to 1.5 m according to
convenience. Use cowdung slurry instead of water to moist the layer wherever it is available. Cover
the heap with a layer of soil and pressmud at 1:1 ratio to a thickness of 15 cm.
Leave the heap as such for three months for decomposition. Moist the heap once in 15 days.
During rainy season, avoid moistening the heap. After three months, turn and mix the heap thoroughly
and form a heap and leave it for one more month. Then turn and mix the heap thoroughly at the end
of the fourth month. Moist the heap once in 15 days during 4th and 5th month also. This method
increases the manurial value of trash compost by increasing, N, P and Ca content. It also brings
down the C:N ratio by 10 times as compared to raw cane trash.
Enriched trash compost: An environment-friendly cost effective and feasible technology has
been developed at Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore for preparing enriched compost from
sugarcane trash within a reasonable time of 5 to 6 months. In this method, about 500 Kg of cane
trash is spread in an area of 8 m x 5 m pit and above this layer about 500 Kg of press mud is spread.
The layers are moistened and fertilizer mixture (M.R.P : Gypsum : Urea in 2:1:1 ratio) is sprinkled at
the rate of 50 Kg/tonne of trash to encourage multiplication of biodegrading microorganism. The
trash and press mud layers are repeated till 10 layers of each are laid out. The heap is covered with
the soil and allowed for decomposition by moistening once in 7 days. A turning is given after 3
months and at the end of 5th month 60% of cane trash and press mud is recovered as well decomposed
compost manure enriched with plant nutrients.
Composition of cane trash, pressmud and cane trash compost
Cane trash Pressmud Cane trash compost
Major nutrients Percent
Nitrogen (N) 0.40 1.90 1.60
Phosphorus (P) 0.13 1.50 1.10
Potassium(K) 0.40 0.50 0.40
Calcium (Ca) 0.56 3.00 1.00
Magnesium (Mg) 0.30 2.00 0.60
Sulphur (S) 0.12 0.50 0.48
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Cane trash Pressmud Cane trash compost
Micronutrients PPM
Iron (Fe) 360 2240 2710
Manganese (Mn) 110 400 450
Zinc (Zn) 90 360 370
Copper (Cu) 30 130 80
C:N ratio 113:1 16:1 22:1
2.A. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Nitrogen Deficiency: Leaves yellowish green to yellow. Drying prematurely at tips and margins,
old leaves reddish purple, leaves narrows, stem thin.
Phosphorus deficiency: Leaves show narrow, bluish green lines - older ones turn yellow and
show tip die back - stalks are slender, growth stunted.
Potassium deficiency: Young leaves are first dark green - leaves turn pale yellow and reddish
colouration on upper surface of midribs. Older or lower leaves die back at tips and margin.
Zinc deficiency: Pronounced pale green colour along the major veins, striped chlorosis shortening
of internodes with stunted growth of the cane.
Iron deficiency : Newly formed leaves are chlorotic, typical interveinal chlorosis. In severe
cases even midrib and veins may turn white.
Recommendation: 37.5 kg ZnSO4/ha as basal in the case of Zinc deficient soil. If basal application
is not done 0.5% ZnSO4 foliar spray on 90, 105 and 120 days after planting.
3. APPLYING FERTILIZERS
i) Test the soil for available P and apply P fertilizer based on soil test values. Apply super
phosphate (375 kg/ha) along with furrows and incorporate with hand hoe.
ii) Apply 37.5 kg Zinc sulphate/ha or 100 kg Ferrous sulphate/ha for soils with zinc and iron
deficiency respectively.
VI. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS
1. PREPARATION OF SETTS FOR PLANTING
a. Take seed material from a short crop (6 to 8 months nursery crop) free from borers, scales,
mealy bugs, grassy shoot, smut and resistant to red rot disease. In the case of iron deficiency
either basal application of 100 kg FeSO4 + FYM 12.5T/ha or 2% FeSO4 as foliar spray
thrice on 90, 105 and 120 days after planting.
i) Detrash the cane with hand
ii. Use short knife to prepare setts without splits.
iii. Discard setts with damaged buds, sprouted buds, splits etc.
iv. Sett treatment with Azospirillum: Prepare the slurry with 10 packets (2000 g)/ha of
Azospirillum inoculum with sufficient water and soak the setts in the slurry for 10 - 15
minutes before planting.
2. DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN SUGARCANE
1. Select healthy setts for planting. In the seed crop, select plants which do not show symptoms
of red rot, smut, grassy shoot and ratoon stunting. Setts showing red colour at the cut end
and hollows should be rejected and burnt.
2. Set fire to residues of previous crop to eliminate debris of fungal pathogens.
3. In fields which had shown high level of red rot disease, follow crop rotation with rice.
4. The setts should be soaked in 0.1% Carbendazim or 0.05% Triademefon for 15 minutes.
5. Treat setts with aerated steam at 50°C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy
shoot disease.
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Sugarcane
6. Clumps infected by grassy shoot, smut and ratoon stunting diseases should be immediately
uprooted and destroyed.
7. Use resistant varieties for the following diseases:
a. Red rot CO 62198, CO 7704 (Resistant), COC 8001, CO 8201 (Moderately resistant)
b. Smut CO 7704 (Resistant) COC 85061, COC 8201 (Moderately resistant)
3. ADOPTING THE SEED RATE
i. 75000 two-budded or 50000 three-budded setts/ha.
ii. 1,87,500 single budded setts/ha (for single bud direct planting).
4. PLANTING THE SETTS
Different systems of planting is not found to influence the millable cane population, CCS%,
cane and sugar yield. However, 25% additional N application on 5-7 days after ratoon, spraying 4%
urea and 200 ppm ethrel on 15 and 30 days after ratooning help in increasing cane and sugar yield.
i. Irrigate the furrows to form a slurry.
ii. Place the setts end to end in the centre of the furrows, keeping the buds in the lateral
position and press the setts just to the ground level in the furrow.
iii. Avoid exposure of setts to sunlight.
iv. Plant extra setts near the channel for gap filling later.
5. FILLING UP GAPS
i. Fill up gaps, if any, within 30 days after planting with sprouted setts.
ii. Maintain adequate moisture for 3 weeks for proper establishment of setts.
iii) For filling the gappy areas in the ratoon Sugarcane crop within 30 days of harvesting the
main crop with sprouted cane stubbles taken from the same field is the best for full
establishment. The next best method is gap filling with seedlings raised in polybags.
6. TRASH MULCHING
Mulch the ridge with cane trash to a thickness of 10 cm uniformly three days after planting to tide
over drought and as moisture conservation, weed control and minimising shoot borer incidence.
Mulch the field with trash only after 21 days in the case of heavy soil and wet land conditions. Avoid
trash mulching in areas where incidence of termites is noticed.
7. GROWING INTER CROPS

In areas of adequate irrigation, sow one row of soybean, blackgram or greengram along the
centre of the ridge on the 3rd day of planting. Intercropping of daincha in ridge side planting and
incorporation of the same on the 60th day after planting helps to increase the soil fertility and also the
cane yield. Intercropping of CO 1 Soybean in ridge side planting gives 800 to 970 Kg/ha without any
adverse effect on cane yield.
8. APPLICATION OF HERBICIDES FOR PURE CROP OF SUGARCANE

Weed management in Sugarcane intercropping system
Premergence application of Thiobencarb @ 1.25 kg ai/ha under intercropping system in
Sugarcane with Soybean, blackgram or groundnut gives effective weed control. Raising intercrops
is not found to affect the cane yield and quality.
i. Spray Atrazine 2 kg or Oxyflurofen 750 ml/ha mixed in 900 ltr. of water as pre emergence
herbicide on the 3rd day of planting, using deflector or fan type nozzle.
ii. If pre-emergence spray is not carried out, go in for post-emergence spray of Grammaxone
2.5 ltr. + 2,4-D sodium salt 2.5 kg/ha in 900 ltr. of water on 21st day of planting or apply
10% Ammonium sulphate on 45th, 75th and 105th day after planting as directed spray.
iii. If the parasitic weed striga is a problem, application of 2, 4-D sodium salt at 1.25 kg/ha is
recommended. Post-emergence application of 2,4-D sodium salt 1.75 kg/ha in 650 ltr. of
185
water/ha has to be sprayed 2, 4-D spraying should be avoided when neighbouring crop is
cotton or bhendi (or) apply 20% urea for the control of striga as direct spray.
iv. If herbicide is not applied work the junior-hoe along the ridges 25, 55 and 85 days after
planting for removal of weeds and proper stirring. Remove the weeds along the furrows
with hand hoe.
9. EARTHING UP
On 45th day a partial earthing up is given. After application of 3rd dose of manure (90 days),
work victory plough along the ridges for efficient and economical earthing up. Repeat with spade 150
days after planting.
10. DETRASHING
Remove the dried leaves alone on 150th and 210th day.
11. PROPPING
Do double line propping with trash twist at the age of 210 days of the crop.
12. TOP DRESSING WITH FERTILIZERS

a. Soil application
Apply 275 kg of nitrogen and 112.5 kg of K2O/ha in three equal splits at 30, 60 and 90 days in
coastal and flow irrigated belts (assured water supply areas). For plant crop, N at 45, 90 and 135
days after planting is recommended. For ratoon crop 30, 60 and 90 days may be followed.
In the case of lift irrigation belt, apply 225 kg of nitrogen and 112.5 kg of K2O/ha in three equal
splits at 30, 60 and 90 days (water scarcity areas). For jaggery areas, apply 175 kg of nitrogen and
112.5 kg of K2O/ha in three equal splits on 30, 60 and 90th days.
b. Foliar and soil application:
Economise nitrogen application by the following three methods.
i. Foliar spray
1st Dose: Apply 55 kg/ha of nitrogen to soil on 30th day of planting.
2nd Dose: Apply 55 kg of nitrogen/ha to soil on 60th day of planting.
3rd Dose: Resort to foliar spray of urea by dissolving 62.5 kg of urea in 850 litres of water
(for high volume spray) or 312 litres of water (for low volume spray) on 90th day.
Repeat the above foliar spray on the 110th day. By this method, 37.5 kg of nitrogen can be
saved.
ii. Soil application
a. Neem Cake Blended Urea: Apply 67.5 kg of N/ha + 27.5 kg of Neem Cake at 30
days and repeat on 60th and 90th days.
Note: Neem cake blending: Powder the required quantity of neem cake and mix it with
urea thoroughly and keep it for 24 hours. thus, 75 kg of nitrogen/ha can be saved by
this method.
b. Azospirillum: Mix 12 packets (2400 g)/ha of Azospirillum inoculant with 25 kg of
FYM and 25 kg soil and apply near the clumps on 30th day of planting. Repeat the
same on 60th day with another 12 packets (2400 gm). Repeat the above at the other
side of the crop row on the 90th day (for lift irrigated belt).
c. Band placement: Open deep furrows of 15 cm depth with hand hoes and place the
fertilisers in the form of band and cover it properly.
d. Subsurface application: Application of 255 kg of Nitrogen in the form of urea along
with potash at 10 - 15 cm depth by the side of the cane clump will result in the saving
of 20 kg N/ha without any yield reduction.
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Sugarcane
Irrigate the crop depending upon the need during different phases of the crop. Germination
phase (0 - 35 days): Provide shallow wetting with 2 to 3 cm of water at shorter interval especially for
sandy soil for enhancing the germination by 10%. Sprinkler irrigation is the suitable method to satisfy
the requirement.
In other crop phases irrigation can be provided at 0.75, 0.75 and 0.50 IW/CPE ratio during
tillering, grandgrowth and maturity phases respectively. The intervals of the irrigation in each phase
are given below:
Days of irrigation interval
Stages Sandy soil Clay soil
Tillering phase (36 to 100 days) 8 10
Grand growth Phase (101 - 270 days) 8 10
Maturity phase (271 - harvest) 10 14
Contingent plan
Gradual widening of furrow: At the time of planting, form furrow at a width of 30 cm initially.
After that, widen the furrow to 45 cm on 45th day during first light earthing up and subsequently
deepened the furrow on 90th day to save 35% of water.
Drought Management: To alleviate moisture stress, soak the setts in ethrel 200 ppm or lime
solution (80 kg Kiln lime in 400 lit) for one hour and plant in deep furrows of 30 cm depth. Then spray
potash and urea each at 2.5 per cent during moisture stress period at 15 days interval. Spray Kaolin
(30 g in 1 ltr. of water) to alleviate the water stress effect. Under water scarcity condition, alternate
furrow and skip furrow methods are beneficial.
14. PRE-HARVEST PRACTICES

a. Apply cane ripeners
i. Spray Sodium metasilicate 4 kg/ha in 750 litres of water on the foliage of crop at 6th months
after planting.
ii. Repeat the same twice at 8th and 10th month after planting to obtain higher cane yield and
sugar percentage.
b. Assessing maturity of crops
i. Assess the maturity by hand refractometer brix by survey. 18 to 25 per cent indicates
optimum maturity for harvest.
ii. Top-bottom ratio of H.R.Brix reading should be 1:1.
15. HARVESTING
Decide the age for harvest in relation to varieties and time of planting.
i. Early varieties to be harvested when 10 to 11 months old and mid-season varieties when
11 to 12 months old.
ii. Harvest the cane at peak maturity, cut the cane to ground level for both planted and ratoon
crops.
B. RATOON CROP
1. MANAGEMENT OF THE FIELD AFTER HARVEST OF THE PLANT CROP
Follow the operations within 10 days of harvest of planted crop to obtain better establishment
and uniform sprouting of shoots.
1. Remove the trash but do not burn it. Irrigate the field copiously.
2. Follow stubble shaving with sharp spade to a depth of 4 - 6 cm along the ridges.
3. Fill in gaps with sprouted stubbles or settlings or setts.
4. Test the soil and apply phosphorus based on soil test values. Apply basal dose of organic
manure and super phosphate and work with cooper plough along the sides.
187
II. MANAGEMENT OF THE CROP
Follow different operations similar to planted crop.
1. Spray Ferrous sulphate at 2.5 kg/ha in 150 litres of water on the 15th day. If chlorotic
condition persists, repeat twice further at 15 days interval. Add urea 12.5 kg/ha in the last
spray.
2. Hoeing and weeding on 20th day and 40th to 50 th day.
3. First top dressing on 25th day, 2nd on 45th to 50th day.
4. Final manuring on 70th to 75th day.
5. Partial earthing up on 50th day. If junior-hoe is worked two or three times upto 90th day,
partial earthing up is not necessary.
6. Final earthing up on 90th day.
7. Detrashing between 120th and 180 th day.
8. Trash twist propping on 180th day.
9. Harvest after 11 months.
C. SHORT CROP (NURSERY CROP)
I. SELECTION OF PROPER PLANTING MONTHS FOR RAISING NURSERY CROP IN
RELATION TO MAIN FIELD PLANTING
Raise six to eight months old nursery crop prior to main field planting in the following lines.
Raise nursery crop during To transplant during
June December - January (early season)
July February - March (Mid season)
August April - May (Late season)
Dec - Apr June - September (Special season)
II. PRECAUTIONS IN MAINTAINING NURSERY CROP

Adopt similar production techniques for raising short crop with the following modifications.
1. Do not detrash
2. Do not prop
3. Harvest at 6 to 8 months age
4. Remove trash by hand while preparing setts
5. Avoid bud damage
6. Transport the seed material to other places in the forms of full canes with trash intact.
D. PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
1. PESTS
i. Shoot Borer: Apply any one of the following insecticides if 15% dead-heart incidence is
noticed. Carbaryl + Lindane (Sevidol) 4% G 12.5 kg; Lindane 10 G 12.5 kg; carbofuran 3
G 33 kg (soil application), Monocrotophos 36 WSC 1000 ml; Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml,
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1000 ml, Phosalone 35 EC 1000 ml or Granulosis virus at 1.1 x 105
IBS/ml (750 diseased larvae/ha) or Release 125 gravid females of Sturmiopsis inferens.
Spray, GV twice on 35 and 50 DAP.
NOTE: The virus should be applied with Teepol (0.05%) during evening hours. The granular
application should be immediately followed by irrigation. ‘Granulosis’ virus spraying on
sugarcane at 750 Nos. of diseased larvae, crushed and filtered mixed in 500 ltr. of water has
been found harmless to parasitoids and predators. A sticker like ‘Teepol’ (250 ml for 500 ltr.)
can also be added to make the solution stick on to the surface of the crop and it is preferable
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Sugarcane
to use high volume sprayer to be most effective. Daincha intercropped sugarcane record the
lowest early shoot borer incidence. Need based spray of Endosulfan 0.07% for lowest
damage is recommended. On cost benefit ratio basis NSKE 5% is recommended.
ii. Internode Borer: Release egg parasite, Trichogramma chilonis at the rate of 2.5 cc/
release/ha. Six releases for every fifteenth day starting from fourth months onwards will
be necessary.
Detrash the crop on the 150th and 210th day after planting.
Control of minor pests
iii. Pyrilla: Spray any one of the following on the 150th and 210th day per ha (1000 ltr. spray
fluid). Malathion 50 EC 2.0 l, Endosulfan 35 EC 2.0 ltr. or detrash on the above days.
Avoid excess use of nitrogen.
iv. Aleuroids: Spray 2.0 ltr. of any one of the following per ha as and when the incidence is
noticed (1000ltr. spray fluid). Fenitrothion 50 EC, Monocrotophos 36 WSC. The pest
generally occurs in ill drained soil.
v. White grub: Provide adequate irrigation, since under inadequate soil moisture conditions,
the pest appears in the root zone.
vi. Termite: Apply 125 kg of Heptachlor 3% D per ha in the furrows at the time of planting.
vii. Mealy bug: Detrash as per schedule. Drain excess water. Apply any one of the following
insecticides per ha and when the incidence is noticed spray on the stem only. Methyl
parathion 50 EC 1000 ml, Malathion 50 EC 1000 ml.
viii. Nematode: Apply carbofuron 3 G at 33 kg/ha at the time of planting or 2 months after or
Cartop 1.5 kg ai/ha or apply pressmud at 15 t/ha or poultry manure at 2 t/ha or neem cake
2 t/ha. Apply pressmud at 15 t/ha or poultry manure at 1 t/ha before last ploughing in
garden lands. Under wetland conditions this may be applied along with the furrow and
incorporated well. Sunnhemp may be raised as intercrop to reduce the nematode population.
ix. Scale insect: Spray Dimethoate 0.06% on the 120th and 150th day after detrashing.
IMPROVED TECHNIQUES IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Improved adult feeding techniques for Trichogramma
Trichogramma adult feeding through cotton swabs will trap the adults which get entangled in the
sticky cotton lint. To avoid this, a better adult feeding technique is developed.
Make small dotted holes in a thick mylar film sheet or old film negatives by using a sewing
machine, leaving a gap of 1 cm between the dotted holes horizontally. One side of the sheet (7 x 6
cm) will be smooth and the other will be eruptive. Streak 50% honey solution on the smooth side by
using a camel hair brush. Then fold the sheet in such a way that the honey-smeared surface is on
the inside and the eruptive surface outside and staple it. The gap between the dotted holes will
provide free movement for the adults, which imbibe the honey through eruptive surface. In this
method, the adults do not get trapped in the honey solution.
II. DISEASES
i. Grassy shoot disease: In recent years, the grassy shoot disease is appearing in several
tracts. This disease is caused by a mycoplasma and is characterised by the production of numerous
tillers from the base of affected shoots. Leaves become yellow and narrow. The plants appear
bushy due to reduction in length of internodes and continuous formation of tillers. Cane formation
does not take place. In the planted crop, the disease first appears due to planting of infected setts.
The cane cutting knives also spread the pathogen. Treat setts with aerated steam at 50°C for 1 hour
to control primary infection of Grassy shoot disease. Rogue out infected plants in the secondary and
commercial seed nursery. Select seed canes from the middle of the field as for as possible.
ii. Leaf spot: Spray Mancozeb 2.0 kg or Carbendazim 500 g/ha.
iii. Rust: Spray Tridemorph 1.0 ltr. or Mancozeb 2.0 kg/ha.
iv. Smut: Spray Triadimefon 250 g/ha 30 days after planting to control smut.
Y Y Y Y Y
189
TOBACCO ( Nicotiana tabacum )
I. VARIETIES AND HYBRIDS
Types Varieties Hybrids Area of cultivation
I. Cigar Vellaivazhai(VV -2) ... Dindigul & Vedasanthur

Karuvazhai (KV-1) ... - do -
... Krishna Tiruchirapalli
II. Country Oosikappal ... Erode (Bhavani)

Cheroot (I-737) Kurichi) and Salem, Namakkal
... Bhavani Sangakiri, Edapadi
Special
Oosikappal (OK-1) Salem, Namakkal
... Sendarapatty spl. Sendarapatty
Gangavalli
III. Chewing
a.Sun-cured Monnai(I-64) ... Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Kanchipuram, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur, Erode
... Bhagyalakshmi - do -
Vazhaikappal ... Coimbatore
(I - 115) (Meemampalayam,
Karamadai, Avanasi,
Mettupalayam)
Vadamugam (VD-1) ... Erode (Avanasi,Gobi)
Vattakappal (VTK-1) ... - do -
Vedaranyam (VR-2) ... Vedaranyam &
Chidambaram
b.Smoke Periya Vadamugam ... Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,

cured (PV - 7) Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Erode,
... Thangam Coimbatore
... Maragatham - do -
c. Pit-cured Vattakkappal Vairum Coimbatore district

(VTK - 1)
Vadamugam (VD -1) ... Coimbatore (Palladam,
Sultanpettai)
CHARACTERS OF CIGAR, CHEROOT AND
CHEWING TOBACCO VARIETIES
Type pure line Hybrid Parentage Duration Yield * Plant Leaf size (topped) in cm
Selection Varieties of the crop (kg/ha) height Length breadth Colour
(days)
* Cured leaves (irrigated condition)
I. Cigar filter & Binder
Vellaivazhai
(VV - 2) ... Selected from 80 - 90 2100 45 - 50 70 - 75 25 - 30 Light
farmers’ field
190
Tobacco
Characters of cigar, cheroot and chewing tobacco varieties (Contd...)
(days)
Kuruvazhai ... - do - 90 - 100 2400 30 - 35 60 - 65 30 - 35 Dark

(KV - 1) green
... Krishna Maryland 100 - 110 2500 45 - 50 70 -75 20 - 25 Medium
green
II. Country Cheroot
a. Narrow leaf Oosikappal
I-737 ... Selected from 85 - 90 1600 45 - 50 60 - 65 10 - 12 Medium
farmers’ field green
... Bhavani I-737 x 90 - 100 2000 45 - 50 50 - 55 10 - 15 Dark
Spl. Olor-10 green
b. Broad leaf Oosikappal
OK-1 ... Selected from 90 - 100 2000 45 - 50 55 - 60 20 - 25 Dark
... Sendara- OK - 1 x VV 2 90 - 100 2500 40 - 45 60 - 65 20 - 25 Medium
patty spl. green
III. Chewing tobacco
a. Sun-cured
Monnai (I-64) ... Selected from 110 - 120 3000 25 - 30 60 - 65 40 - 45 Dark
Bhagya- I-64 x I-375 115 - 125 3500 20 - 25 60 - 65 40 - 45 Dark
lakshmi Green
Vazhaikappal ... Selected from 100 - 110 2600 40 - 45 65 - 70 30 - 35 Medium
(I-115) farmers’ field green
Vadamugam ... - do - 110 - 120 2500 30 - 35 60 - 65 30 - 35 Dark
(VD-1) green
Vattakkappal ... - do - 120 - 130 2800 40 - 45 60 - 65 40 - 45 Dark

(VTK-1) green
Vedaranyam ... - do - 110 - 120 2500 40 - 45 65 - 70 35 - 40 Dark
(VR-2) green
b. Smoke cured
Periavada- ... - do - 110 - 120 3200 30 - 35 60 - 65 45 - 50 Light
mugam (PV-7) green
Than- (PV-7xI-64) 120 - 125 3000 45 - 50 65 - 70 40 - 45 Dark
gam green
Mara- (PV-7xI-115) 100 - 105 3200 35 - 40 60 - 65 30 -35 Med.
gadam green
191
Characters of cigar, cheroot and chewing tobacco varieties (Contd...)
(days)
c. Pit cured
Vattakkappal ... Selected from 110 - 120 2800 40 - 45 60 - 65 40 - 45 Dark
(VTK 1) farmers’ field green
Vadamugam (VD-1) - do - 110 - 120 2500 35 - 40 65 - 70 30 - 35 Dark
green
Vairam I-64 x VTK-1 110 - 120 3500 45 - 50 65 - 70 35 - 40 Dark

green
II. NURSERY MANAGEMENT

1. The best time of sowing in Tamil Nadu is from 15th August to September end.
2. Nursery area should be very close to the water source. There should be ample drainage
and protection from heavy wind. The area should be free from nematode infestation. Red
sandy loam soils are preferred for tobacco nurseries.
3. Seedlings should be raised in raised beds (10 cm) to prevent from ‘damping off’ and ‘leaf
blight’.
4. After preparation of the bed, rabbing (Spreading and burning of paddy husk at 15 kg/2.5 m2
bed or burning of farm waste such as tobacco stalks, bajra or jowar straw) should be done
to ensure destruction of pathogens, Pupae and egg masses of insects and weed seeds to
a depth of 5 - 10 cm.
5. Seeds should be sown evenly to avoid over crowding of seedlings which will prevent damping
off. Seed rate 1.0 to 1.25 g/2.5 m2 bed.
6. Manures: FYM or compost 12.5 kg + 80 g super phosphate/2.5 m2.
7. After sowing, the beds should be covered with coconut fibre/dried grass at 750 g/2.5 m2 to
protect the germinating seeds from beating rain and scorching sun and to conserve moisture.
The covering should be removed in a phased manner from 15th to 25th day of sowing.
8. Watering the bed 5 to 8 times per day by rose can, ensures uniform germination of the
seeds. It is imperative that the seed beds are neither allowed to dry nor retain excess
moisture.
9. At the end of the nursery period, the left-over seedlings are pulled and the area is immediately
ploughed.
PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
A. Damping off:
Low lying area, use of high seed rate and excessive watering are the favourable conditions for
this disease.
Preventive measures:
i. Preparation of raised seed beds with adequate drainage facilities.
ii. Use of recommended seed rate i.e, 1.0 to 1.5 g/2.5 m2.
iii. Regulating waterings to avoid excessive dampness.
Control measures:
a. Pre-emergence damping off: Drench and seed bed with 1% Bordeaux mixture or Copper
oxychloride 0.2% 2 days before sowing.
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Tobacco
b. Post-emergence damping off: Drench 4% Bordeaux mixture or Copper oxychloride 0.2%
or metalaxyl compounds 0.2%.
c. Schedule of spray: Drenching of Bordeaux mixture or any other fungicide 2 weeks after
sowing and subsequently at 4 days interval under dry weather and at 2 days interval under
wet cloudy weather will save the seedling from damping off. It is a good practice to drench
immediately after each rain.
B. Black shank:
Symptoms: Blackening of roots and stem at ground level.
Control:
a. Burn the seed bed with paddy husk or groundnut shell at 15 - 20 cm thick layer before
sowing.
b. Drench seed bed area with 1% Bordeaux mixture/Copper oxychloride 0.2%, Ziram 0.2%
before sowing.
c. Spraying of Copper oxychloride @ 0.2% concentration.
C. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) (Mormor tabaci):
Symptom: Light and dark green mottlings on leaves.
Control:
It can be suppressed by spraying 1% Bougainvillea or Basella alba leaf extract 2 to 3 times at
weekly intervals.
D. Tobacco Caterpillar or Cut-worm (Spodoptera litura):
This caterpillar feeds on leaves during night and hide during day time. Young caterpillars are
light green with black head or black spots. Well grown caterpillars are grey or dark brown with a ‘V’
shaped white mark on the front portion of the black head.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM):
1. Deep ploughing of nursery area 2 - 3 times in summer.
2. Grow castor as ‘Ovipositional trap crop’ around the nursery to attract moth for egg laying.
3. Collect and destroy egg masses and tiny caterpillars on Castor leaves.
4. Spray neem seed kernel Extract (NSKE) 5% or Nuclear polyhedrosis virus at 250 LE/ha on 4
weeks old seedlings.
5. Spray Monocrotophos 36 WSC 15 ml or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 25 ml or Quinal phos 25 EC 15
ml or Endosulfan 35 EC 20 ml or Carbaryl 50 WP, 30 g or Acephate 75 SP 10 g in 10 l of water when
the pest reaches economic threshold level ie., 6 seedlings damaged or one number of 3rd instar
larvae of Spodoptera litura is observed per one sq. meter area.
E. Grasshopper: Acrida exaltata, Atractomorpha cranulata
Symptom: Cut holes on the leaves
Control
i. Keep the surrounding area clean
ii. Spray the surrounding vegetation with 30 ml of Endosulfan 35% EC in 22 ltrs. of water.
F. Green Peech Aphid:
Apply Acephate 75 SP at 250 g/ha as high volume application to check the Green Peech Aphid
in tobacco. High volume application is safe to the adults of two coccinellid predators viz., Coccinella
septumpunctata and Menochilus sexmaculata predaceous of this aphid.
193
III. MAIN FIELD PREPARATION
1. SEASON
Rabi Planting: First fortnight of October. After first December in Vedaranyam.
2. PLOUGHING
4 to 5 ploughing followed by 2 harrowings are necessary to get a desired tilth. Summer ploughing
reduces building up of the pest and disease including nematode.
3. PLANTING METHOD AND SPACING

Planting in ridges is better than flat bed system.
1. Chewing tobacco : 75 x 75 cm
2. Cigar tobacco : 75 x 50 cm
3. Cheroot tobacco : 60 x 45 cm
4. MANURES AND FERTILIZERS
Organic manures: FYM 25 t/ha or sheep penning at 8 to 10 thousand sheep/ha or 25 t/ha of
nightsoil compost (compost should be applied one month prior to planting) or Neem cake 250 kg/ha.
Inorganic fertilizers
Nitrogen: 100 kg N/ha in the form of Ammonium sulphate for chewing tobacco. In case, brackish
water is used for irrigation, restrict to 75 kg N/ha. Apply 50% of the nitrogen at 45th day and the other
50% at 60th day of planting. Application of half of the recommended ‘N’ through foliar spray of urea
at 2% concentration three times at an interval of 10 days starting from 60th day increases yield from
6 to 12 per cent. By seedling dipping and soil application of Azospirillum, about 25% of recommended
N can be saved.
Phosphorus: Apply 100 kg of P2O5/ha in the form of super phosphate in conjunction with sieved
FYM or Night soil compost in 1:4 ratio (625 kg super phosphate + 2500 kg NSC or FYM) at planting.
Potassium: Chewing tobacco: 50 kg/ha, Cigar and Cheroot: 100 kg/ha.Apply potassium in two
split doses along with nitrogen at 45 and 60 days after planting.
5. PLANTING
Select healthy seedlings of uniform size, free from pests and diseases and nematode and plant
them in the cool hours of the evening for better establishment. Gap filling: 7 to 10 days after planting.
For intercropping in Tobacco (Bhagyalakshmi), onion and coriander (greens) were more suitable
without affecting tobacco yield.
6. WEEDING AND INTERCULTURE

First hand weeding - three weeks after planting. At 45 days after planting, a soil mulch is
created by spade digging making the ridges flat. Subsequently ridges are reformed after a week
creating deep furrows to facilitate heavy irrigation at grand growth period of the crop.
Control of Orobanche: Remove as and when the shoot appear above the ground level before
flowering and seed set. The removed shoot are to be buried or burnt. Trap cropping of greengram
or gingelly or sorghum reduce the infestation.
Chemical weed control: Pre-emergence application of Fluchloralin at 1 lit/ha or Oxyfluorfen at
0.5 lit/ha one week prior to planting controls most of the weeds.
7. IRRIGATIONS
Upto first hoeing (45 days) irrigate the field at 3 to 4 days interval. 6 to 12 weeks: Heavy
irrigations are necessary for obtaining better yields. Maturity stage: Irrigate once in 4 - 5 days. Total
irrigations required: 20 - 25.
8. TOPPING AND DESUCKERING

Chewing tobacco: Top, leaving 10 leaves on the plant, besides 2 end leaves.
194
Tobacco
Desuckering: 1. Manual removal of suckers by hand 4 to 5 times at weekly intervals.
2. Application of neem oil emulsion at 35% immediately after topping completely suppress the
suckers. (Neem Oil 1.75 lit + Sandovit 0.5 lit + water 2.75 lit will suffice for 1000 plants).
9. HARVESTING
Bulging of the intervenial portions of the leaf and the appearance of the brown spot on the
leaves are the signs of maturity. Harvest the plants by stalkcut method in the afternoon and allow it
to wilt in the field over night.
10. POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY

i) Sun curing:
Cigar and chewing tobaccos are normally sun-cured. After harvest in the afternoon, followed by
an initial period of wilting in the field, the plants are strung on bamboo poles and sun-cured for about
2 - 3 weeks depending upon the moisture content of the plants and weather conditions. About 25 to
30 pairs are hung on a 3 m long pole. On alternate days the stalks are turned to expose the plants
uniformly to sun on all sides. For reducing the cost, stringing can be done on wire at 15 to 22 cm
distance. By this the process of turning the plants on poles could completely be eliminated.
ii) Fermentation:
After sun-curing the stalks are arranged layer by layer in rectangular bulks of dimensions of
1.75 m x 1.5 m x 1.25 m with the cut ends pointing outside, in a crisscross fashion. The bulk is
covered with date palm mats or thick hessian cloth. The bulks are broken and reformed initially at 3
- 4 days intervals and thereafter at weekly intervals. When the temperature of the bulk rises over
50°C, turnings are done more frequently at 2 - 3 days intervals. Thus in total 6 to 7 turnings are
given. Later the leaves are stripped from the stem and graded into 2 lots viz., whole leaf and blemished
leaf. The whole leaf in turn is sub-graded into two lots based on the length of the leaf. The leaves are
tied into bundles of 40 leaves each and subjected to fermentation in rectangular bulks of 1.75 m x 1.5
m x 1.25 m giving about 7 turnings in about 5 weeks time.
iii) Smoke curing:
This is being practiced in Madurai, Dindigul, Theni and Coimbatore districts. Plants are harvested
by stalk cut method and wilted over night and cured in a smoke curing chamber. The chambers are
constructed with bricks and mud plaster of 3.27 x 1.8 m dimensions, with an entrance of 0.9 x 0.75 m
to feed the fuel. Coconut husk is generally used as fuel. The top of the curing chamber has a
rectangular opening in which thin bamboos fitted with 2 inch nails are arranged across the walls.
The stripped tobacco leaves are hung in bunches of three leaves each from the nails inside the
curing chamber. Coconut husk is fed to the chamber through the entrance and they are fired. Sufficient
precaution need to be exercised to see that only smoke is emitted from the fired coconut husk. This
could be ensured by sprinkling water on the husk as and when needed. Small leaves are spread in
a thick layer over the bamboos to make sure that the smoke does not escape out of the chamber. A
standard chamber can normally hold 40 sticks, each stick accommodating 40 pairs of leaves. Smoke
curing of the tobacco leaves is done for 12 hours over night. Later the leaves are removed from the
chamber, bulked in rectangular or circular heaps and subjected to 2 to 3 turnings at 2 days intervals.
The leaves are again loaded in the smoke curing chamber and cured for 12 hours, repeated 4 times
in total. Subsequently the tobacco leaves are hung in sheds and left for drying for 2 - 3 weeks. The
leaves are graded as per length and made into 1 kg bundles securing the butts with banana fibre.
These bundles are treated with sea water by dipping them and excess water is drained. The bundles
are then opened and leaf unfolded. The individual leaf is then folded from either side of the midrib in
the form of a thick tape. Five such folded leaves are bundled and the bundles are bulked for a month
turned once in a fortnight and covering the heaps with palmyrah mats. After a lapse of 15 days, one
can observe the formation of whitish encrustations on the leaves.
After a month these bundles are taken out of the bulk and the leaves are arranged in layers one
over the other and made into 5 kg bundles. The leaf tips of smoke cured tobacco are secured with
palmyrah string giving it a unique shape and characteristic feature of smoke cured tobacco.
195
iv) Pit-curing:
This type of curing of chewing tobacco is practiced in Palladam and Sultanpet areas of
Coimbatore. In this method the plants are harvested by stalk-cut method and wilted overnight in the
field. They are loaded into cylindrical cement plastered pit of 3 m diameter and 3.6 m depth dimension.
The plants are laid in layers uniformly trampled gently to displace air to facilitate anaerobic fermentation
to set in. After completely loading the pit with leaf, the top of the pit is covered with a gunny cloth and
sealed with mud plaster. One pit can hold the green leaf from 4 - 6 acres. After 2 weeks, the material
from the pit is taken out. The leaves are separated from the stalks along with a piece of stem. Then
they are subjected to sun drying for three days on specially erected structure. The leaves are then
brought into sheds and formed into bulks. The bulks are turned and remade at 4 - 5 days interval.
During the process of fermentation, whitish encrustations form on the leaves and there also a
development of fruity odour in the leaf.
v) Shade-curing:
Practiced in Bhavani, Sendarapatty areas of Tamil Nadu for cheroot. Harvesting is done by
stalk-cut method and the plants are left in the field over night for wilting. Next morning the wilted
plants are heaped and covered with palmyrah leaf. Again during night time the plants are spread
over the ground. This process of spreading during nights and covering during day time is repeated
for about a week.
11. CROPPING SYSTEMS

Crop rotation: Ragi - Tobacco - Sorghum.
Intercropping: Onion, Coriander (greens) can be grown as an inter crop in tobacco.
V. PLANT PROTECTION
PESTS
i) Tobacco caterpillar ( Spodoptera litura ):
The incidence of this pest is normally noticed from the middle of December. Hand pick the
caterpillars and destroy them. If the incidence is severe, spray either Endosulfan 35 EC at 30 ml/
Carbaryl 50% WP at 50 g, / Monocrotophos 36 WSC at 22 ml in 22 litres of water.
ii) White flies ( Bemisia tabaci ):
These tiny white flies cause leaf curl disease. The leaves of curled plants are twisted and
thickened with abnormally prominent veins. Remove and destroy the curled plants to reduce the
incidence. Spray Methyl-S-demeton 25 EC at 30 ml in 22 ltrs. of water four times once in 8 - 10 days.
First spray in the nursery before pulling out of the seedlings and subsequent in the planted crop.
iii) Aphids ( Myzus persicae ):
Spray any one of the following systemic insecticides in 500 ltrs. of water/ha.
i. Demeton - S - methyl 25% EC 500 ml
ii. Dimethoate 30% EC 500 ml
iii. Thiometon 25 EC 500 ml
iv. Phosphamidon 85 WSC 500 ml. First spray as soon as the symptoms are noticed and
subsequent sprays at 10 - 15 days interval.
iv) Grass hoppers:
Acrida exalta walker, Cyrtacanthacris tartarica linn, Atractomorpha cranulata: These green or
grey jumping insects cut holes on the leaves.
i. Keep the surrounding area free of weeds.
ii. Spray the surrounding vegetation with Endosulfan 35% EC at 30 ml in 22 ltrs. of water or
dust the area with Endosulfan 4% dust at 40 kg/ha.
196
Tobacco
v) Nematode ( Meloidogyne sp. )
i. Deep summer ploughing
ii. Grow non-susceptible crops viz., Groundnut, Gingelly, Marigold in rotation with tobacco.
Rotation for 2 - 4 years will give better results.
DISEASES
i) Black shank ( Phytopthora parasitica var. nicotianae )
Affected plants show stunted growth and in advanced stage black discolouration on the midrib
and stem.
Control:
1. Discard seedlings showing blackening of roots and base of the stem.
2. Spot application of Bordeaux mixture 0.4% or 0.2% Copper oxychloride.
3. Remove carefully the wilted plants and destroy them.
ii. Leaf Spot disease
Frog eye spot (Cercospora nicotianae) and brown spot (Alternaria alternata) commonly occur
on tobacco. Periodical spraying of Bordeaux mixture 0.4% or Thiophanate methyl at 750 g/ha or
Carbendazim at 500 g/ha controls this disease.
iii. Leaf curl ( Ruga tabaci ):
Leaf curl in tobacco is due to virus which is transmitted by insect vector (Whitefly Bemisia
tabaci)
Control:
1. Remove the affected plants and destroy
2. Destroy the weeds harbouring white flies.
3. Spray systemic insecticides like Demeton-S-methyl at 0.1 to 0.2%.
iv. Mosaic ( Mormor tabaci ):
Mosaic affected plants are generally stunted with puckered, crinkled and mottled leaves. It is a
highly contagious disease spreads through workers while weeding or through other cultural operations.
Control:
1. Wash the hands with soap and running water before weeding/handling the seedlings.
2. Diseased plants should be removed and destroyed.
3. Spray leaf extracts of Basella alba, Bougainvillea (one litre of extract dissolved in 100 - 150
ltrs. of water) on 30th, 40th and 50th days after transplanting.
Pesticides recommended: Endosulfan, Carbaryl, Monocrotophos, Pongamia cake, Demeton-
S-Methyl, Thiometon, Dimethoate, Phosphomidon.
Pesticides not to be used:
N BHC or Lindane
N Toxaphene
N Aldrin
N Dieldrin
N DDT
N Heptachlor
N Chlordane
N Parathion dust (Eg. Folidol dust, Paramur dust, Ekatox dust).
Y Y Y Y Y
197
FORAGE CROPS
FODDER CHOLAM
DISTRICTS/SEASONS VARIETIES
Irrigated (Jan - Feb and Apr - May)
All districts CO 11, CO 27
Rainfed (Jun - Jul)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 11, CO 27
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore,
Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai
(Sep - Oct)
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, K 7, CO 27, K 10
Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli,
Thoothukudi
II. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD (IRRIGATED CROPS)

Plough with an iron plough once and with a country plough twice.
a. Spread 12.5 MT/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field, along with 10 packets of
Azospirillum inoculant (2000 g).
b. Incorporate the manure into the soil during the ploughing.
a. Form ridges and furrows of 6 m long and 30 cm apart.
b. Form irrigation channels across the furrow using a ridge.
c. If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 20 m2 depending on the availability of
water.
a. Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test is not
done, follow the blanket recommendation of 60, 40, 20 kg NPK/ha respectively.
b. Apply half the dose of N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing.
c. In case of bed planted crop, mark lines to a depth of 5 cm and 30 cm apart. Place the
fertilizer mixture at a depth of 5 cm along the lines. Cover the lines upto 2 cm from the top
before sowing.
d. Application of Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium together as a mixture along with 75%
recommended dose of N and P fertilizer enhanced the yield besides saving of 25% of
fertilizer dose.
5. SOWING
a. Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha.
b. Sow the seed over the lines where the fertilisers are placed at a depth of 2 cm and cover
with soil.
c. Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g)/ha of Azospirillum
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing and give life irrigation on the third and there after once in
10 days.
198
Forage Crops
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Along with hand weeding thin the seedlings and gap fill with the seedlings thinned out and
maintain a spacing of 15 cm between plants after the first hand weeding on the 20th day of sowing,
and hand weed between 35 - 40 days after sowing if necessary.
Spray any one of the following insecticides on the 10th and 17th day of sowing to control shootfly.
Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha; Methyldematon 25 EC 500 ml/ha; Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha in
250 ltrs. of spray fluid.
Apply any one of the following insecticides on the foliage on the 30th day of sowing.
Endosulfan 35 EC 750 ml/ha; Carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha (or) apply any one of the following: Dust
in the leaf whorl at 10 kg/ha mixed with sand to make up to 50 kg, Carbaryl 10 D or Endosulfan 4 D.
9. TOP DRESSING FERTILIZERS

Apply the balance 50% of N (30 kg N/ha) along with lines on the 30th day after sowing and
irrigate.
10. HARVESTING
If it is a single cut, it should be harvested at 60 - 65 days (50% flowering) after sowing and if it is
a multicult, the first cut is 60 days after sowing and a second, 40 days after the first.
RAINFED CHOLAM
1. RAINFALL
Average and well distributed rainfall of 250 - 300 mm is optimum for rainfed fodder cholam.
2. DISTRIBUTION
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, , Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Virudhunagar,
Sivagangai , Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Pudukkottai, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore,
Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts.
3. SEASON
The crop can be grown in South West and North East monsoons.
Field has to be prepared well in advance taking advantage of early showers. FYM application
should be done at 12.5 t/ha and soil incorporated at the time of last ploughing.
5. VARIETIES
K 7, CO 27 and K 10 for Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi,
Virudhunagar and Sivagangai districts. CO 27 and CO 11 for Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Pudukkottai, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore,
and Tiruvannamalai districts.
6. SEED RATE
75 kg/ha.
7. SOWING
Sow the seeds well before the onset of monsoon at 5 cm depth (by seed drill or by country
plough).
8. SPACING
30 x 15 cm
199
9. FERTILIZER
30 kg N; 20 kg P2O5 and 20 kg K2O. 30:20:10 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha for Alfisols. 40:20 kg N, P2O5/
ha for Vertisols.
10. PLANT PROTECTION

Need based. Avoid spraying/dusting for a fodder crop after 30th day of sowing.
III. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES

Characters CO 11 K7 CO 27 K 10
Green fodder yield t/ha 36.70 33.75 44.40 11.36
Protein content (%) 9.38 9.77 9.82 9.20
Dry matter (%) 20.26 21.52 24.17 ..
Brix (%) 6.20 6.30 7.40 ..
Plant Height (cm) 275 272 262 260
Number of tillers 1 2-3 1 ..
Number of leaves 8.80 10.50 18.66 12
Leaf length (cm) 75.53 70.96 78.43 75
Leaf breadth (cm) 7.21 7.62 6.18 8
Leaf stem ratio 0.19 0.22 0.20 ..
Note: Fodder Cholam can be intercropped with CO 5 Cowpea at 1:1 ratio and harvested together
to provide nutritious fodder.
CO 8 - FODDER CUMBU
1. SEASON
Throughout the year as an irrigated crop. During Kharif and Rabi seasons as rainfed crop.
2. SOIL
All types of soils with good drainage.
3. PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form beds of convenient size.
4. SEED TREATMENT
a) Removal of ergot affected seeds and sclerotia if any by soaking in salt solution (2.5 kg of
common salt in 12.5 litres of water). b) Seed treatment with fungicides 24 hours prior to sowing.
5. SEED INOCULATION
Nil
6. MANURING
Basal application: FYM: 25 t/ha; NPK: 25:20:12 kg/ha.
Top dressing: 25 kg N/ha on 30 DAS
Application of Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium together as a mixture along with 75%
recommended dose of N and P enhanced the yield besides saving of 25% of fertilizer dose.
7. SEED RATE
10 kg/ha.
8. SPACING
25 x 10 cm.
First hoeing and weeding on the 30th day after sowing.
10. IRRIGATION
Once in 10 days.
200
Forage Crops
Generally not needed.
12. HARVEST
Harvest at boot leaf stage, 40 - 45 days after sowing.
13. STORAGE
Fed to cattle as green fodder or ensilaged.
14. YIELD
30 t/ha of green fodder.
Note: Co 8 fodder cumbu can be intercropped with CO 5 cowpea that can be harvested together to
provide a nutritious fodder to cattle.
FODDER MAIZE
Composite/hybrids: African Tall, Ganga 5 throughout the year for fodder in all districts under
irrigation.
II. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD ( IRRIGATED CROP )

Plough the field twice with an iron plough and three or four times with country plough to obtain
good tilth.
Apply and spread FYM or compost at 25 t/ha on unploughed field along with 10 packets of
Azospirillum (2000 g) inoculum and incorporate the manure into the soil during ploughing.
Form ridges and furrows using a ridger, 6 m long and 30 cm apart and form irrigation channels
across the furrows. If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending
on the availability of water and slope of the land.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as for as possible. If soil testing is not
done, follow blanket recommendation of 60 N; 40 P2O5; 20 K2O kg/ha. Apply half the dose of N and
full dose of P2O5 and K2O basally before sowing. In case of bed planted crop, mark lines to a depth
of 6 cm and 30 cm apart. Place the fertilizer mixture at a depth of 6 cm along the lines and cover the
lines to a depth of 4 cm with soil.
5. SOWING
a. Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha and dibble one seed to a spacing of 15 cm between the
seeds in the row which are 30 cm apart. Sow the seeds at a depth of 4 cm over the lines
where fertilizers are placed and cover.
b. Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g) Azospirillum inoculant before sowing.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing and give life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in
10 days.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoeing and weeding are done as and when necessary.
8. HARVESTING
Harvest the crop when the cob is in the milky stage.
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III. PARTICULARS OF COMPOSITE/HYBRID
Details African Tall Ganga 5
Green fodder yield t/ha 42.00 34.00
Crude protein (%) 9.80 10.63
Dry matter (%) 17.65 14.27
Plant height (cm) 302.00 231.00
Number of leaves 13.30 11.50
Leaf length (cm) 81.30 74.80
Leaf breadth (cm) 8.15 8.50
Stem thickness (cm) 1.77 1.69
Leaf-stem ratio 0.21 0.17
Note: Fodder Maize can be intercropped with CO 5 Cowpea at 1:1 ratio and harvested together to
provide nutritious fodder.
CO 1 - NEELAKOLUKATTAI
BLOU BUFFEL GRASS - ( Cenchrus glaucus )
Cenchrus is a promising green grass type which performs well in dryland cultivation under
rainfed conditions. Cenchrus ciliaris and C. setigerus are the two commonly grown species but low
yielding in nature. C. glaucus is yet another type found to grow well in dry land areas but superior
than the other species.
1. SEASON AND VARIETY
North-East Monsoon CO 1 (Neela Kolukattai)
Can be grown in Erode, Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur,
Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai
and other rainfed tracts of the State.
II. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD

1. SOIL TYPE
Well drained soil with high calcium content is suitable.
Plough the field twice or thrice with an iron plough to ensure good tilth.
Apply and spread 5 t/ha of FYM on the unploughed field and incorporate the manure into the soil
during ploughing.
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations. If the soil test is not done, follow
the blanket recommendation of 25 kg N: 40 kg P2O5 : 20 kg K2O per hectare.
b. Basal dressing: Apply full dose of NPK before sowing.
c. Top dressing: After every harvest apply 25 kg N/ha after the rains.
5. SOWING
a. Seed rate: Sow the seeds at 6 - 8 kg/ha.
b. Spacing: Give a spacing of 50 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants.
c. Seeds are to be sown at shallow depth (1 cm) and cover with soil.
d. Care to be taken for the seeds not to be blown away by wind while sowing.
Fresh seeds will be dormant for 6 - 8 months. To break dormancy soak the seeds in Potassium
nitrate 1% solution for 48 hours prior to sowing.
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Forage Crops
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hand weeding can be done as and when necessary.
7. HARVEST
First cut on 70th or 75th day after sowing and subsequent 4 - 6 cuts depending on growth.
8. INTER CROPPING
Highly drought resistant legume fodder Stylosanthes scabra can be intercropped in the ratio of
1:3.
9. YIELD:
A pure crop yields 40 t/ha/year in 4 - 6 cuts.
III. YIELD POTENTIAL OF BLOU BUFFEL GRASS

Characters CO 1
Green fodder yield t/ha/year 40 (4 cuts)
Seed yield kg/ha/year 55 - 60
Dry matter (%) 28.00
Crude protein (%) 9.06
Phosphorus (%) 0.26
Calcium (%) 0.58
Carbohydrate (%) 41.01
Iron (ppm) 385
Zinc (ppm) 24
Manganese (ppm) 56
Crude fibre (%) 34.62
IVDMD (%) 49.45
CO 1 - GUINEA GRASS (Panicum maximum)

1. SEASON
Can be grown throughout the year under irrigated conditions. Suitable for growing in the monsoon
season under rainfed condition.
2. SOIL
All types of soil with good drainage. Does not come up well on heavy clay soil or flooded or
waterlogged conditions.
3. PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form ridges and furrows at 50 cm spacing.
4. SEED TREATMENT
Nil.
5. SEED INOCULATION
Nil.
6. MANURING
Basal: FYM 25 tonnes/ha; NPK 50:50:40 kg/ha
Top dressing: 25 kg N/ha after each cut.
7. SEED RATE
Seed 2.5 kg/ha, slips 66,000 nos/ha.
8. SPACING
50 x 30 cm.
First hoeing and weeding on 30th day after germination. Earthing up once in three harvests.
203
10. IRRIGATION
Once in ten days or depending upon soil condition.
Generally not needed.
12. HARVEST
First cut 75-80 days after germination or 45 days after planting of slips. Subsequent cuts at
interval of 45 days.
13. STORAGE
Fed to cattle as green fodder and ensilaged.
14. YIELD OF GREEN FODDER
175 tonnes/ha per year in 8 cuts.
Note: Guinea grass can be intercropped with Velimasal at 3:1 ratio and can be harvested together
and fed to the animals.
CO1 DEENANATH GRASS (Pennisetum pedicillatum)

1.SEASON
Can be grown throughout the year under irrigated conditions. Suitable for growing in the monsoon
season under rainfed condition
2.SOIL
All types of soil with good drainage. Does not come up well on heavy clay soil or flooded or
waterlogged conditions.
3.PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
Plough 2-3 times to obtain good tilth and form beds and channels.
4.SEED TREATMENT
Nil
5.SEED INOCULATION
Nil
6.MANURING
Basal: FYM 25 t/ha NPK 40:60:40 kg/ha
Top dressing: 20 Kg N on 30th day after sowing (50% of this has to be applied for rainfed crop)
7.SEED RATE
2.5 kg/ha
8.SPACING
30 cm solid stand
9.AFTER CULTIVATION
Hoeing and weeding on 30th day after sowing
10.IRRIGATION
Once in ten days or depending upon soil condition
11.PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not needed
12.HARVEST
55-60th day after sowing.
13.YIELD OF GREEN
Irrigated crop: 40-45 t/ha fodder
Rainfed Crop: 20-25 t/ha
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Forage Crops
CUMBU - NAPIER HYBRIDS
Hybrids recommended BN 2, NB 21, CO 1, CO 2
Season Throughout the year in all districts
II. PREPARATION OF THE FIELD (IRRIGATED CROP)
1. PREPARATION OF FIELD
Plough with an iron plough two to three times to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 25 t/ha of FYM or compost every year on the unploughed field and incorporate
the manure in the soil during ploughing.
3. FORMING RIDGES
Form ridges and furrows using a ridger, 6 m long and 50 cm apart and irrigation channels
across furrows.
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as for as possible. If soil testing is
not done, follow the blanket recommendations of 50:50:40 of NPK in kg/ha.
ii. Apply full dose of NPK basally before planting by opening furrow 5 cm deep on the side of
the ridges and cover.
iii. Application of Azospirillum and phosphobacterium along with 75% of recommended dose
of N and P fertilizers enhanced the yield besides saving of 25% of fertilizer dose.
5. PLANTING
i. Irrigate through the furrows and plant one rooted slip/stem cutting per hole and at a depth
of 3 to 5 cm on the side of the ridge, half the distance from the top of the ridge and the
bottom.
ii. Maintain a spacing of 50 cm in the row in ridges which are 50 cm apart and 40,000 slips
required to plant one ha.
iii. As a mixed crop, 3 rows of Cumbu Napier Hybrid and one row of Desmanthus can be
raised to increase the nutrient value.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Immediately after planting, give life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10 days.
Sewage or waste water can also be used for irrigation.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hand weeding is done whenever necessary.
8. HARVESTING
First harvest is to be done on 75 to 80 days after planting and subsequent harvests at intervals
of 45 days.
9. TOP DRESSING
After each harvest apply 100 kg N/ha (wherever Nitrate problem is more reduce the N application).
NOTE: 1. Quartering has to be done every year or whenever the clumps become unwieldy and
large.
2. Wherever necessary to countermand the ill effects of oxalates in this grass, the following
steps are suggested.
i. Feeding 5 kg of leguminous fodder per day per animal along with these grasses or
ii. Providing calcium, bone meal or mineral mixture to the animal or
iii. Giving daily half litre of supernatant clear lime water along with the drinking water or
sprinkling this water on the feed to be given.
205
III. PARTICULARS OF CUMBU-NAPIER HYBRIDS
DETAILS CO 1 CO 2 CO 3
Green fodder yield t/ha/yr 250 - 300 300 - 325 400
Dry matter yield t/ha/yr 40.60 50.00 65.12
Crude protein yield t/ha 4.58 5.00 5.40
Mean plant height (cm) 232 275 300 - 360
No. of leaves per clump 354 360 450
No. of tillers per clump 29 30 30 - 40
Leaf-stem ratio 0.94 0.95 0.70
Leaf width (cm) 3.60 2.68 3.00 - 4.20
Leaf length (cm) 84.40 89.31 80 - 95
Dry matter (%) 16.20 15.00 17.08
Crude protein (%) 9.38 9.38 8.30
Calcium (%) 0.88 0.88 0.86
Phosphorus (%) 0.24 0.24 0.24
Oxalate (%) 2.97 2.92 2.51
IVDMD (%) 58 58 60
Note: Cumbu-Napier grass can be intercropeed with Velimasal at 3:1 ratio and harvested together
and fed to animals.
LUCERNE (Medicago sativa)

VARIETY
CO 1
SEASON
All through the year in places like Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalpet and in other places during
July - December. Not suitable for very hot and very cold climates.
II. PARTICULARS OF STRAINS

Characters CO 1
Green fodder yield t/ha/year 70 - 80 (In 10 harvests)
Seed yield kg/ha 200 - 250
Protein content (%) 20 - 24
Dry matter (%) 18 - 20
Plant height (cm) 60 - 80
Mean clusters per tiller 12 - 15
Mean No. of pods per tiller 22 - 25
Mean No. of seeds per pod 4-6
III. PREPARATION OF FIELD (IRRIGATED CROP)

1. PLOUGHING
Plough twice with an iron plough and three or four times with country plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread FYM or compost at 12.5 t/ha on the unploughed field and incorporate the
manure into the soil during ploughing.
3. FORMING BEDS
Form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the availability of water and slope of land.
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Forage Crops
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as for as possible. If soil testing is
not done, follow the blanket recommendation of 25:120:40 kg NPK/ha.
b. Apply the full dose NPK of 25:120:40 basally before sowing.
c. Mark lines to a depth of 5 cm and 25 cm apart. Place the fertilizer mixture at a depth of 5
cm along the lines and cover the lines upto 2 cm from the top before sowing.
Application of Biofertilizer mixture viz., Azospirillum, Rhizobium and Phosphobacterium along
with 75% recommended dose of N and P enhanced the yield besides saving of 35% of fertilizer in
lucerne, and Desmanthus.
5. SOWING
a. Good quality seeds without the seeds of Cuscuta should be used.
b. The seeds are to be treated with Rhizobial culture at 3 packets/ha (600 g).
c. Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand in rows of 25 cm apart over the lines where
fertilizer are applied at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hand weeding is given as and when necessary.
8. PLANT PROTECTION
a) Spray any one of the following insecticide within 5 days after harvest to control aphid
infestation.
i) Malathion 50 EC 500 ml/ha
ii) Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha
b) Wherever the parasite Cuscuta is observed uproot the affected plants along with the soil
and burn
8. HARVESTING:
First harvest 75 - 80 days after sowing. Subsequent harvests are made at intervals of 25 - 30
days.
HEDGE LUCERNE ( Desmanthus virgatus )

(VELIMASAL)
Variety : Velimasal
Season : Grown throughout the year under irrigation and during June - October as a rainfed
crop.

Plough two to three times with an iron plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field and incorporate the

Form ridges and furrows 50 cm apart using ridger and irrigation channels across furrows.
207
a. Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If the soil testing
is not done, follow the blanket recommendations of 10:60:30 kg NPK/ha.
b. Apply full dose of NPK basally before sowing.
c. Open a furrow 5 cm deep on the side of the ridges and place the fertilizer mixture at the
above rate along the furrows and cover with soil.
5. SOWING
Pure crop: Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand on the side of the ridges over the lines
where fertilizers are applied at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
Mixed Crop: Sow the Velimasal seeds in one row and plant Cumbu- Napier hybrid grass in the
subsequent three rows in the ratio of 1:3.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoeing and weeding are given as and when necessary.
8. HARVESTING
a. Pure crop: First cut on 90th day after sowing at 50 cm height and subsequent cuts at
intervals of 40 days at the same height.
b. Mixed crop: First harvest on 60th day after sowing. Subsequent cuts at intervals of 45
days at 50 cm height of Velimasal which is maintained throughout.
YIELD POTENTIAL OF VELIMASAL (HEDGE LUCERNE)
Characters Velimasal Grass +Legume Grass (BN 2)
(CO 2 +Velimasal)
1. Total green fodder yield t/ha/year 125.00 225.00 250.00
2. Total dry matter yield t/ha/year 33.75 52.50 60.00
3. Total crude protein yield t/ha/year 6.45 6.25 5.25
4. IVDMD % 55.28 50.00 45.00
FODDER COWPEA
I. SEASON AND VARIETY
Variety : Co 5
Season : Irrigated, June - July can be grown in Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Cuddalore,
Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai.

1. PLOUGHING
Plough twice with an iron plough and three or four times with country plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread FYM or compost at 12.5 t/ha, on the unploughed field and incorporate the

a. Form ridges and furrows of 6 m length and 30 cm apart.
b. Form irrigation channels across furrow using a ridger.
c. If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 20 m2 depending on the availability of
water.
208
Forage Crops
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per the soil test recommendations as for as possible. if soil testing
is not done, follow the blanket recommendation of 25:40:20 kg NPK/ha.
b. Apply the full dose of NPK of 25:40:20 kg/ha basally before sowing.
c. In the case of bed planted crops, mark lines to a depth of 3 cm and 30 cm apart. Place the
fertilizer mixture at a depth of 5 cm along the lines. Cover the lines upto 2 cm from the top
before sowing.
d. In the case of ridges and furrows, mark lines on both sides at the bottom of the ridges.
Place the fertilizer mixture as done in the bed planted crops.
e. Application of Biofertilizer mixture viz., Azospirillum, Rhizobium and Phosphobacterium
along with 75% recommended dose of N and P enhanced the yield besides saving of 35%
of fertilizer in lucerne, and Desmanthus.
5. SOWING
a. The seeds are to be treated with Rhizobial culture at 3 packets/ha (600 g) using rice kanji
as binder.
b. Maintain a seed rate of 40 kg/ha.
c. Sow the seeds over the lines where the fertilizers are placed at a depth of 2 cm and cover
with soil.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on third day and thereafter once in ten days.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoeing and weeding are given as and when necessary.
8. PROTECTION OF SEEDLINGS FROM INSECT PESTS

If sucking pests are noted spray Methyl _ Demeton 25 EC 500 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml
or Phosphamidon 85 WSC 250 ml/ha in 250 ltrs. of water. Stop spraying 20 days before harvest.
9. HARVESTING
Harvest 50 - 55 days after sowing (50% flowering stage).
III. PARTICULARS OF STRAIN

Characters CO 5
Green fodder yield t/ha 18 to 20
Dry matter content (%) 14.64
Crude protein content (%) 20.00
Plant height (cm) 93.00
No. of branches 2-3
No. of leaves 12
Leaf length (cm) 12.1
Leaf width (cm) 8.2
Leaf stem ratio 8.3
Plant Habit Semi spreading
Plant type Indeterminate
209
GRASS LEAF DESMODIUM ( Desmodium tortuosum )
Variety : FD 275 from IGFRI, Jhansi
Season : Throughout the year
Species of Desmodium are so palatable and make such nutritious forage plants that they have
been termed as “alfalfa of the tropics” or tropical Medic.
There are two economic tropical species for fodder in this crop namely 1) Grass leaf Desmodium
(Desmodium tortuosum), 2) Silver leaf Desmodium (D. unciniatum)
Grass leaf Desmodium is an erect perennial legume and does best at an elevation upto 2000 m.
It grows upto 6 - 8 feet and is distinguished by its leaves, which have fine hairs and bears characteristic
brown fleckings on the upper surface. The species is versatile in its soil requirement and is tolerant
to acid conditions. Grass leaf Desmodium combines well with many grasses, gives a good response
to phosphates and is an efficient fixer of nitrogen. It is readily eaten by livestock and is propagated
from seeds.
Silver leaf Desmodium is distinguished by the presence of an irregular silver band along the
midrib of the leaf. Livestock of all kinds relish both the leaves and young branches. it will grow well
in pasture land both in the tropics and sub-tropics. It will grow even in acid soils.
Desmodium is a shade tolerant forage legume, coming well under the shade of trees like tamarind,
coconut and eucalyptus. When grown in June - July it can be cut four times a year. The crop under
shade yield 23.75 t/ha/year. Desmodium fodder contains 27% dry matter and 20.9% crude protein.
It is as good as alfalfa as a protein supplement in poultry feedings. A special feature of Desmodium
is its self-seeding ability. The Desmodium pods are in chain like form. Maturation of pods proceeds
from top to bottom. As soon as top portion of the pod matures, it falls on the ground and remains.
When rain is received or if water is let in, the fallen seeds germinate and a new crop comes up
densely. If we allow the first crop to set seed it is very difficult to eradicate the crop from the field.
Moreover the seeds will stick to the animals and spread very rapidly in the surrounding places.
The root system of the Desmodium fixes nitrogen through their root nodules. It is a good
legume to raise in the pasture and in coconut gardens. It will not affect the coconut yield. The crop
must be harvested as soon as it starts flowering. If it is allowed for some more days after flowering
the stem gets hard and turns woody. Moreover the leaves start falling.
MUYAL MASAL (STYLO) - ( Stylosanthes scabra )

Muyal Masal (Stylo) is a promising legume which is performing well under South Indian Agro-
climatic region. Stylos are drought resistant legumes coming up well in areas receiving a minimum
rainfall of 450 - 840 mm annually. These can be grown in a wide range of soils. The crude protein
content of stylos ranges from 15 to 18%. Stylosanthes scabra can be raised as an intercrop with
Cenchrus in the ratio of 1:3 under rainfed conditions.

1. SEASON
June - July to September - October.
2. VARIETIES
a. S.hamata (Annual)
b. S.scabra (Perennial)
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Forage Crops

1. PLOUGHING
Plough the field two to three times to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 10 t/ha of FYM or compost and incorporate the manure into the soil during
ploughing.
3. FORMING BEDS
Form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as for as possible. If the soil testing is
not done follow the blanket recommendation of 20:60:15 kg NPK/ha.
b. Apply full dose of NPK basally.
5. SOWING
a. Seed are to be treated with cowpea group rhizobium culture.
b. For line sowing (30 x 15 cm) the seed rate is 6 kg/ha and for broadcasting 10 kg/ha.
c. Care should be taken that seeds are sown at a depth of 1 cm since any form of deep
coverage is disasterous.
d. Stylo seeds possess hard seed coat. So acid scarification is to be done by dipping the
seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three minutes and washing thoroughly with tap
water. Acid scarified seeds are again to be presoaked in cold water overnight. (or) Seeds
can also be scarified in hot water. Immerse the seeds for 4 minutes in hot water of 80o C.
Scarified seeds are again to be presoaked in cold water overnight.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
It is a rainfed crop. But during the period of establishment, care should be taken to provide
sufficient moisture.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hand weeding may be given as and when necessary.
8. HARVESTING
First harvest can be taken 75 days after sowing at flowering stage and subsequent harvests
depending upon the growth.
9. YIELD
It is to be noted that during the first year, the establishment after sowing is very slow and the
yield is low. Later on when the crop establishes well due to self seeding it yields 30 to 35 t/ha/year
from the third year onwards.
LEUCAENA ( Leucaena leucocephala )

Season Varieties
Jun - Jul Hawaiian giant (Ivory coast), CO 1
Rainfed (Sep - Oct) K 8, Giant Ipil - Ipil, CO 1
Can be grown in Kanchipuram, Tiruvallore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram,
Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, , Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Kanyakumari,
Virudhunagar and Sivagangai districts.
211
Plough twice with an iron plough and 3 or 4 times with country plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 25 t/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field and incorporate the

Form ridges and furrows (using a ridger) 6 m along and 1 m apart and irrigation channels across
the furrows.
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If soil testing is
not done, follow the blanket recommendation of 10:60:30 kg NPK/ha.
b. Apply full dose of NPK basally before sowing.
5. SOWING
a. Maintain a seed rate of 10 kg/ha for fodder and 1.25 kg for fuel.
b. Seeds are hard and require scarification to obtain high and uniform germination. Scarification
of seeds can be done by pounding the seeds with sand in mortar. Acid scarification is
done by dipping the seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three minutes and washing
thoroughly with tap water. The easiest method is hot water treatment. Seeds are soaked
in hot water (80o C) for 4 minutes. Boiling water removed from the flame and kept for 4
minutes comes down to 80o C.
A still simpler method would be to bring water to boil (100o C) in a vessel, take it out of the
flame and immediately pour it over the seeds and keep them for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, the
very hot water may be poured out and cold water added to steep the seeds over night. The
simplest method is to soak the seed in plain water for 72 hrs and sowing in the field or in the
polythene bag.
c. Seed treatment with Rhizobial culture: After scarification, treat the seeds with Rhizobial
inoculant using rice kanji as binder.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
This may be done wherever the crop is raised under irrigation. Once established, this plant can
withstand several months of dry weather. However, to ensure rapid seedling growth, the land should
be adequately moist upto 5 - 6 months. In summer irrigation once in 6 weeks is adequate.
7. HARVESTING
Plant can be harvested in as short as 6 months after planting. However, the initial cutting
should not be done until the trunk has attained atleast 3 cm diameter or the plant has completed one
seed production cycle. Harvests can be repeated once in 40 - 80 days depending upon growth and
season. In drought prone areas, allow the trees to grow for two years to ensure deep root penetration
before commencing harvest. The trees can be cut at 90 to 100 cm height from ground level. For
poles and fuel, allow the tree to grow straight without cutting for 2.5 or 5 years as the case may be.
8. YIELD
As green fodder under irrigated conditions, a pure crop yields about 80 to 100 t/ha of green
fodder. Under rainfed conditions 40 t/ha of green fodder is got after 2 years of initial growth and
pruning to a height of 100 cm.
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212
Green manure & Oyster Mushroom
GREEN MANURE
Sesbania rostrata - CO 1
Parentage Pureline selection from unselected commercial
Duration 45 - 60 days
Season April - June
Yield 39.8 t/ha green matter; 900 - 1000 kg/ha seed
Special factors A high biomass yielding green manure crop, more number of stem
nodules besides root nodules, high total nitrogen content (3.74%) low
C : N ratio (1:5.2)
Area of adoption Entire Tamil Nadu.
OYSTER MUSHROOM
Throughout the year. During summer months the yield may be reduced by 20 per cent. Cultivation
is indoor and requires mushroom house. White oyster mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) or CO
1 and grey oyster mushroom (P.sajorcaju) or M2 are suitable for Tamil Nadu.
2. MUSHROOM HOUSE
A thatched shed of 16 sq.m. is required. Divide the shed into spawn running and cropping
rooms.
Spawn running room: Maintain 25-30oC, provide ventilation, no light is required.
Cropping room: Maintain 23-25oC, RH above 75-80 per cent with diffused light and aeration.
3. SPAWN
Suitable substrates for spawn: Cholam, maize, wheat grains.
Preparation of spawn: Half cook the grains, air dry, mix with Calcium carbonate at 2% level, fill
the grains in empty glucose drip bottles, plug with cotton and sterilize in autoclave at 15 psi. for 2 h.
Inoculate with pure culture of the fungus and incubate at room temperature for 15 days. Use 15-18
days old spawn for spawning.
4. PREPARATION OF MUSHROOM BED (CYLINDRICAL BED METHOD):

Suitable substrates for cultivation: Paddy/wheat straw, sugarcane-bagasse, hulled maize cobs.
Pasteurization of substrate: Cut into 5 cm bits, soak in potable water for 5 h, boil water for 1 h,
drain, air dry to 65% moisture.
Test for 65% moisture: No water drips when squeezed between hands.
Preparation of bed (Spawning): Use 60 x 30 cm polythene bags. Tie one end of bag, put two
holes of 1 cm dia in the middle. Put handful of straw in the bag to a height of 5 cm, sprinkle about 25
g of spawn. Layer the straw to 10 cm height. Repeat the process to get four layers of spawn and 5
layers of straw. Tie the mouth and arrange beds in tiers in the spawn run room. After 15-20 days, cut
and remove the polythene bag and transfer the beds to cropping room. Maintain cropping conditions.
Keep the beds moist by periodical spraying with water.
5. HARVEST
Mushroom pin heads appear on 3rd day of opening of beds and matures in 30 days. Harvest
matured mushrooms before spraying water. Second and third harvest can be obtained after scraping
the surface of beds after first or second harvest.
213
6. AFTER CARE
Weed moulds: Trichoderma, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Sclerotium are common weed moulds
appearing on beds. Use good quality spawn and straw, pasteurize the straw properly and maintain
optimum moisture (65%) and high level of cleanliness.
Phorid flies: Provide 35 mm mesh to windows, maintain cleanliness in and around mushroom
house.
Bacterial rot: Avoid excess spraying of beds with water. Use chlorinated water to control rotting
of mushrooms (2 g of stable bleaching powder in 10 l of water).
YIELD AND OTHER CHARACTERS OF OYSTER MUSHROOM VARIETIES

Characters White Grey APK 1 MDU1 Ooty 1 APK 2
Oyster Oyster
(Co 1) (M 2)
Colour White Grey Deep rose Bright Bright Milky

buds fading white white white
to white
at maturity
Spawn run (days) 15 20 7 - 12 12 - 16 33 24 - 28
Yield in g/bed
(0.5 kg air dry 395 328 910 538 531.34 712
substrate) (0.5 kg dry
paddy straw)
Bioefficiency (%) 79.0 65.6 182 122.8 116.11 143.2
Crop cycle (days) 35-40 40-45 35 - 40 35 55 - 60 45 - 50
Shelf life 72 h. 24 h. 36 h. 3 - 5 days
Texture Fleshy Fleshy Fleshy
Nutritive value
Moisture at — — 90-95 — —
50o C (%)
Moisture at — — 9.51 — —
100o C (%)
Crude protein 27.66 — 18.01 33.58 30.65 32.3
(% dry wt)
Fat (% dry wt) 3.18 0.14 2.26 4.07 0.7
Crude ash (%) — 4.63 10.79 9.75 8.89
Crude fibre (%) — 64.20 10.90 8.97 41.1
Carbohydrate — 3.51
(By difference) (%)
Iron 18 mg/g 0.01% 0.02% — 0.03
Zinc — — — 0.0041 — —
Copper 21 mg/g — — — —
Calcium 28 mg/g 0.27% 0.03 0.031 0.12
Manganese 3.10 mg/g — 0.0033 — —
Phosphorus 1600 mg/g 0.43% 1.68 1.60 0.8
Sodium — 0.15% — 0.95
Potassium — 0.94% 2.80 2.80 4.52
Magnesium 182 mg/g — 0.197 0.15 —
APK 2 can be grown in entire tamil Nadu throughout the year. Robust umbrella like mushroom
easy to cultivate, grows well in a variety of waste substrates, suitable for hot climate.
Ooty 1 is suitable for growing in temperate regions (hilly tracts), throughout the year.
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214
Milky Mushroom
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES FOR MILKY MUSHROOM (APK 2)
SUBSTRATES
Milky mushroom can be cultivated on a wide range of cellulosic substrates namely, paddy
straw, maize stalks, sorghum stalks, pearlmillet stalks, palmarosa grass, vetiver grass, sugarcane
begasse, soy bean hay, groundnut haulms etc.
MUSHROOM SPAWN
Half cooked sorghum grains or paddy chaff are mixed with 2 per cent calcium carbonate and
filled in empty glucose bottles or in polypropylene bags. They are autoclaved at 1.4kg/cm2 pressure
for 1.5 to 2.0 h. The bottles/bags are aseptically inoculated with pure cultures of mushroom fungus
maintained in PDA medium and incubated at room temperature. The spawn run will be completed in
10-12 days and these serve as mother cultures. From each bottle of mother culture 25 additional
spawn bottles can be prepared.
CULTIVATION CHAMBER
Beds after preparation may be kept under normal room temperature (25 – 35oC) for spawn run.
After completion of spawn run and after casing, the beds are to be incubated over racks in a partially
sunken chamber lined with blue coloured high density polythene sheet as roofing material. Inside
the chamber the temperature should be around 30-35oC and the relative humidity more than 85 per
cent. Light intensity of about 1600 – 3200 lux is essential in the cropping room. Proper ventilation for
gaseous exchange is also essential in this chamber.
MUSHROOM BED PREPARATION

Polythene bags of 60 x 30 cm size are used for mushroom bed preparation. Chaffed paddy
straw bits of 3-5cm in length are soaked in cold water for 4h. After draining the excess water, the
straw bits are boiled for 30-45 min. in a separate drum. Some times, steam treatment of substrate for
1 h or chemical treatment with carbendazim 75 ppm + formalin 500 ppm (soaked for 16h) may be
followed. Comparatively hot water or steam treatment is safe and best. After substrate treatment
they are shade dried to remove excess moisture and used for bed preparation. At the time of bed
preparation the substrate should contain around 60 per cent moisture (can be tested by squeeze
method). Sorghum grain / paddy chaff spawn may be used and cylindrical beds are prepared following
layer method of spawning as we do in case of oyster mushroom. With each bottle of spawn 2-3
cylindrical beds can be prepared. The beds are then incubated for spawn run under semi-dark condition
in a clean room. Spawn run will be completed in 10-12 days.
CASING
Unlike oyster mushroom cultivation, milky mushroom production involves an additional process
called casing. After the completion of spawn run the cylindrical beds are cut horizontally into two
equal halves. Over the each half bed casing soil is applied to a height of 1-2cm. For casing steamed
(for 1h) garden soil(clay loam, pH around 8.0) is useful. In some cases, red soil mixed with sand and
calcium carbonate (2 per cent) or any other porous medium with good WHC, moderate CEC and low
EC are also found useful.
CROPPING
Beds after casing are kept in cultivation chambers and sprayed regularly with
water to maintain 50-60 per cent moisture level in the casing medium. Pin heads appear in 8-10
days after casing and the first harvest can be made in 6-8 days after pinhead formation. After obtaining
the first harvest the casing medium is gently ruffled, slightly compacted back and sprayed regularly
with water. Second and third harvest may be obtained within 45-50 days of bed preparation. Then
the beds are removed and fresh beds may be kept for cropping.
YIELD
Mean yield is 356 g/bed (contains 250g of paddy straw on dry weight basis) which accounts to
143 per cent bio-efficiency. On an average single mushroom weighs 55-60 g and in some times a
maximum of 472 g / button has been recorded.
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PALMAROSA - (Cymbopogon martini)
DISTRICTS/SEASON
Irrigated Throughout the year in all districts
Rainfed Jun-Jul - Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai; Sep - Oct - Southern districts
II. NURSERY
i) For raising seedlings to plant one ha, select 7.5 cents near a water source. Water should
not stagnate.
ii) Plough the land and bring it to fine tilth.
Apply 750 Kg of FYM or compost.
3. FORMING RAISED BEDS
i) In each cent mark 6 plots of 3 x 1.5 m with 30 cm channel in between the plots all around
ii) Form the channel to a depth of 15 cm
iii) Spread the soil exhausted from the channel on the beds and level.
4. FERTILIZER
Apply 12.5:12.5:12.5 Kg NPK fertilizers to the nursery
i) Open small rills not deeper than 1 cm on the bed by passing the fingers over it.
ii) Mix the seeds (12.5 kg/ha) with sand sufficiently since the seeds are lighter in weight.
iii) Cover the seeds by smoothening-out the rills with hand. Sprinkle either soil or compost/
FYM(500 Kg) evenly and cover the seeds completely with hands.
6. IRRIGATION OF THE SEED BED
i) Provide inlet to each unit of the plots to allow water in the channels.
ii) Allow water to enter the channel and rise up in it. Turn off the water when the raised bed is
wet. Do not allow the water to stagnate.
iii) Irrigate as the following schedule
Light soil Heavy soil
Ist immediately after sowing immediately after sowing
2nd on 3rd day after sowing on 3rd day after sowing
3rd on 7th day after sowing on 10th day after sowing
4th on 15th day after sowing on 20th day after sowing
5th on 22nd day after sowing on 30th day after sowing
6th on 28th day after sowing —
Note: The seedlings of 30-40 days old should be transplanted in the main field.
III. PREPARATION OF MAIN FIELD

Plough the field with iron plough and with country plough twice so that the soil is brought into
fine tilth.

Spread 5 t/ha of FYM or compost uniformly on unploughed soil. Incorporate the manure by
working with country plough.
3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS/BEDS

Form beds of 20 m2 size (depending upon water availability)
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Palmarosa
4. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS:
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as for as possible. If soil test
recommendation is not available follow the blanket recommendation of 30:30:30 Kg NPK/ha. Apply
10:30:30 Kg NPK/ha as basal. The remaining 20 Kg of N can be applied in two splits on 30th and
60th day after planting.
IV.MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS

1.TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS
i) Pull out seedlings when they are 30-40 days old
ii) Adopt the spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm (or) 30 cm x 30 cm according to the soil type and
water availability.
2. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-emergence application of Diuron 2 kg ai/ha or oxyflorgen 5 kg a.i/ha.
ii) Application of 2, 4-D Sodium Salt @ 2.5 kg ai/ha after the harvest, for the control of broad
leaved weeds.
iii) Apply herbicides when there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
iv) Hand weed on 30-35 days after planting if pre-emergence herbicides is applied. If not,
hand weed on 15 and 30 days after planting/sowing.
V. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate the crop according to the soil type.
Heavy soil Once in 15 days
Light soil Once in 7-10 days
Note: Adopt irrigation in accordance with rainfall receipt.
VI. HARVESTING THE CROP
1.The crop starts flowering on 80th day after transplanting. Harvest the crop seven days after
flowering. Geranium content is found more when the crop is harvested seven days after flowering.
2.Harvest the crop, leaving 8-10 cm of crop portion at the base.
3.Subsequent harvests can be done at an interval of 2 months and five harvests can be done
during the first year. The crop can be left in the field for another three years(total period 4 years) and
subsequent harvests can be done at an interval of 90 days . Geranium content is found more, when
the harvest is done at 90th day of every harvest.
4.Yield: Green matter 20 tons/ha (From a total of 5 harvests)
Oil: 2.5 - 3.0 Kg Oil/ton of green matter of palmarosa
VII. SEED TECHNOLOGY
1.Season June-July
2.Spacing 45cm x 30 cm
3.Seed rate 4-5 kg/ha
4.Application of fertilisers
Nursery 12.5:12.5:12.5 kg NPK
Mainfield 30:30:30 kg NPK/ha
5.Harvesting
i) 1st harvest 7 days after flowering
ii) Subsequent harvests at 2 months interval during first year
iii) From second year onwards harvest at 3 months interval.
Palmarosa Oil - Recommendations
RICE
* Palmarosa oil 0.5% is as effective as Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5% or Monocrotophos 36
WSC at 1000 ml/ha in reducing leaf folder and stem borer infestation.
* Palmarosa oil 0.2% is equally effective as Neem Oil 3% in reducing the leaf folder damage.
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217
COMPOSTING
1. COIRPITH COMPOSTING
Coirpith, the waste from coir industry contains not quickly degrading constituents like lignin
(30%) and cellulose (26%) which can be decomposed by employing the fungus Pleurotus sojar-caju
with urea supplementation.
Five Kg of urea and 5 spawn bottles (250 g) of Pleurotus sp. are required to decompose 1 ton of
coir pith.
In an elevated shady place or a thatched shed, level the area and mark an area of 5 x 3 meter.
First spread 100 Kg of pith on this marked area. Then spread one bottle of Pleurotus spawn over this
layer. Again spread another 100 Kg of pith and over this uniformly spread one Kg of urea. Likewise
repeat the alternate application of Pleurotus sp.and urea over the each 100 Kg of coir pith layer for
the whole 1 ton of pith. Sprinkle water to a moisture level of 50 to 60%. The compost will be ready in
about a month. The height of the heap is to be above 1 metre while stacking. Sprinkle water when
the moisture per cent goes below 50%. At the end of the period the coir pith is turned to a well
decomposed black mass. The C:N ratio is reduced to nearly 24:1 and it is enriched with N from 0.26
to 1.06%.
2. COMPOSTING OF WEEDS AND COMMERCIALLY NOT UTILISED PLANTS

(Parthenium, Water hyacinth, Ipomoea)
Composting is one of the useful way of utilization of some of the weeds and commercially not
utilized plants like Parthenium, water hyacinth, Ipomoea etc. instead of their eradication.
The plants can be composted using Trichoderma viridi and Pleurotus sajor-caju as a microbial
consortia with urea supplementation.
Select an elevated shady area or a thatched shed and mark an area of 5 x1.5 meter. Cut the
composting materials into 10 - 15 cm size. Spread 100 Kg of these materials over the marked area.
Sprinkle 1 bottle of microbial consortia over this layer. Again spread another 100 Kg of composting
materials over this layer. Spread 1 Kg of urea uniformly over this layer. Likewise repeat these
processes of spreading composting materials, then microbial consortia, again composting materials
followed by urea application until a minimum of 1 metre height is reached. Sprinkle water to a moisture
level of 50% to 60%. The surface of the heap is covered with a thin layer of soil. Sprinkling of water
is repeated depending upon the necessity to maintain the moisture around 50%. A turning is given at
the end of 20 days to give a thorough mixing of outside material with that of the inside ones. The
bioconverted compost will be ready in about 40 days time.
3. VERMI COMPOSTING
Degradation of organic wastes by earthworm is known as vermicomposting.
Phases of Vermicomposting
Phase I : Processing involving collection of wastes, shredding, mechanical separation of the metal,
glass and ceramics and storage of organic wastes.
Phase II : Vermicomposting which involves composting by earthworms. Organic wastes can also
be used first for biogas production and the slurry can be added to the earthworm beds
for vermicomposting. Earthworm bed can be prepared with concrete lining or in wooden
218
Composting
boxes for small scale use.
Phase III : Screening and sorting of larger undecomposed wastes which can be used for
reprocessing. Earthworms should be separated from the compost either by sieving or
drying. Vermicompost and earthworms thus obtained can be utilised as desired.
Earthworms suitable for vermicomposting
Selection of suitable species of earthworm for vermicomposting should emphasise on more
consumption of organic biomass and rapid growth and reproduction within short time period.
Earthworm species which live close to the surface and have greater preference for organic matter
than soil should be identified locally and used to produce vermicomposting.
Vermiculture:
Containers:
Earthworm culturing can be done in shallow cement tanks, wooden boxes or plastic tubs of 1 m
x 1 m x 0.3 m size which can accommodate 2000 worms.
Culture bed:
Culture bed or worm bed (3 cm) can be prepared by placing either saw dust or husk or coir
waste or sugarcane trash in the bottom of the container. A layer of fine sand (3 cm) should be spread
over the culture bed followed by a layer of garden soil (3 cm). All layers must be moistened with
water.
Feed:
Dung of domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, horse, pig or poultry droppings mixed with
kitchen wastes form an ideal feed. The best results are obtained if dung + wheat or rice bran + gram
bran + vegetable waste or leaf mould are mixed in 10:1:1:1 proportion. This layer should also be
moistened.
Placement of containers:
Vermiculturing has to be done in moist places with proper shelter to avoid direct sun light or
heavy downpour. To ensure protection from predators, containers should be covered with cloth or
mesh.
Vermicompost production and collection:
The worms that feed actively assimilate only 5-10 per cent and the rest is excreted as loose
granular mounds of vermicasting on the surface, generally away from the food source in about 2-10
days. These have to be brushed aside and collected into separate trays. The castings, thus, collected
have to be left over night in conical heaps for the worms to move to the bottom. The tops of the
cones which are free of worms are then collected and lightly air-dried. The dried vermicastings are
sieved through a3 mm mesh to separate cocoons and young ones from the vermicastings. The
sieved castings are now ready for use as vermicompost.
Vermicomposting:
Vermicomposting can be easily prepared by employing local earthworms. All that you need are
earthworms, dung, soil, organic wastes and a place to compost. As earthworms are highly sensitive
to both direct sunlight and rain, composting should be done in a shaded place, preferably in a temporary
shed.
219
1. Select a levelled ground and spread soil (Free from clods, stones, glass pieces) uniformly
over the ground to a width of 90 cm and height of 30 cm . The length of the heap will vary
according to the availability of organic wastes, space, dung and labour.
2. Moisten the soil (just wet to touch and avoid water stagnation)
3. Spread a layer of cowdung and organic wastes (Kitchen wastes, dried leaves etc.) over
the soil to a height of 15-20 cm. Moisten this layer also.
4. Collect earthworms from the field locally and release them in the heap.
5. Be sure to water the earthworm bed daily.
6. Earthworms will eat the wastes and cowdung and leave the excreta in the form of granular
heaps. Remove the heaps every week and dry them in the shads as before. It is very rich
in nutrients and is known as vermicasting. Within 45-60 days about 10 Kg of castings can
be produced with 1 Kg of earthworms.
7. When the feed materials disappear, replenish them.
8. Remove the vermicastings as before and store them aside in conical heaps. As the heaps
get dried up, the worms will move down to the bottom of the cone.
9. Remove the upper 3/4 layer of the heap and the separated worms can then be returned to
the bed.
10. The entire set up can be retained only for 6 months. As the volume goes down during
composting, the soil gets compacted and the worms will not be able to burrow through it. It
has to be discarded and fresh bed should be laid again.
11. To get continuous supply of vermicompost through out the year, more beds should be laid
out at regular intervals.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Composting should be done in a shaded place to protect the worms from sunlight and rain.
2. Watering must be done regularly.
3. Fresh cowdung or any manure should not be used.
4. Cowdung should be shade dried and powdered before use.
5. If any other dung is used, they should be mixed with equal quantity of cowdung before use.
6. 1000 adult worms weigh approximately 1 Kg.
7. 1 Kg of adults can convert 5 Kg of waste per day.
8. 10 Kg of adults can convert one tonne of waste per month.
9. 2000 adults can accommodate in one m2 area.
10. Use only PIGMENTED/SMALL WORMS that are found in the UPPER 25 cm layer of soil for
vermicomposting.
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220
Sericulture
SERICULTURE
MULBERRY VARIETIES
Irrigated : KANVA-2 (M 5), MR 2, S 30, S 36, S 41, S 54, V1
Rainfed : S 3, S 13, S 14, S 25, S 28
THE OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR MULBERRY GROWTH

Temperature : 13oC to 37.7oC (24 to 28oC ideal)
Humidity : 65 to 80% RH
Rainfall : 600 mm to 2500 mm
Sunshine : 9 to 13 hrs.
Soil type : Red loamy
Soil pH : 6.2 to 6.8
* Saline, alkaline or highly acidic soils should be avoided.
* Avoid new plantation during severe winter period, December-January.
* Take up plantation during pre-monsoon showers.
* In April-May, ploughing operations can be done.
* In June-July, planting can be taken up.
CUTTINGS
Cuttings are prepared from branches of 6 to 8 months old and 10 to 12 mm in diameter. The cut
should be clean and should not damage the bark. Reject the greenish tender portion of the branch.
The cuttings should be 15-20 cm long with 3 or 4 active buds and should have a 45o slanting cut
on both sides.
NO. OF CUTTINGS REQUIRED TO PLANT ONE HECTARE

Irrigated : at 60 x 60 cm spacing : 27,780
Rainfed : at 90 x 90 cm (pits) : 12,350
Biofertilizers : Azospirillum and Azotobacter applied in 2 methods.
Method 1 (Sett : 4 packets/20 litres of water Dip the basal portions of the
treatment) cuttings and plant/hectare.
Method 2 (Soil : 20 packets + 25 kg FYM. Mix and apply in the soil
application) furrow/hectare.
FYM : 20 tonnes/ha(irrigated) : 10 tonnes/ha (rainfed).
Weedicides : Two doses in March-April and May-June Grammaxone at 2-3 lit/ha or
Dalapon at 5-10 kg/ha. Before application, plantation should be cleared.
Weeding : First weeding is done after 45-60 days of planting. Glycel 0.71% @
1.36 Kg ai/ha (7.1 ml in a litre of water) plus 0.5 g. Ammonium sulphate/
lit spray fluid 600 lit/ha.
Fertilizers : 300 N : 120 P: 120 K (per ha/year) - irrigated
100 N : 50 P : 50 K (per ha/year) - rainfed
Micronutrient : Foliar application of Iron sulphate @ 1% or Zinc sulphate @ 0.5% for
crop in deficient area. Foliar spray should be given 30 days before leaf
harvest.
221
Crop Production Guide Sericulture
PRUNING AND HARVEST
The well established plantations are pruned twice a year, the first during early June and the
second in November at 18-20 cm above ground level. The first harvest after pruning will become
due after 10 weeks and thereafter subsequent harvests can be made at 6 to 8 week’s interval
depending on growth. In all, 6 harvests can be taken. In rainfed areas, the pruning is done only once
during June at 28/30 cm above ground level.
Yield : 35 MT of leaves (Irrigated); 25 MT of leaves (rainfed)
MULBERRY PROTECTION
Mealy bug: Release of Cryptolaemus beetle at 1250 nos./ha to control mealy bug. Grow mulberry
5-6 m away from other crops to avoid drifting of pesticides.
SILKWORM REARING
Silkworm races
Multivoltine : PM, TW
Bivoltine : NB 7, KA, NB 18, NB4 D2
Cross breed : NB4 D2 x PCN, NB 7 x NB 18, CC1 x NB 18, CA2xNB 18, PM x NB 4D2,
PM x NB 18, RD 1 x NB 18 (for rainfed areas)
Egg period : 7 days
Larval period : 22-26 days
Pupal period : 8-15 days
Optimum temperature for silkworm rearing : 20-28oC
Optimum relative humidity for the growth : 75%
Before commencement of each rearing, the rearing equipments and the rearing house must be
thoroughly washed, dried and disinfected with 2 to 4% formalin to destroy the disease causing
organisms.
INCUBATION OF EGGS
The egg sheets should be spread out in a single layer on a tray. Temperature of 25oC and
humidity around 80% are maintained. About 48 hours before hatching, the eggs should be kept in
darkness by wrapping them in black paper or by keeping them in a box. On the expected day of
hatching, they are exposed to light early in the morning.
BRUSHING
The hatched larvae should not be starved and must be brushed in a rearing tray with paraffin
paper. Chopped tender mulberry leaves of size 0.5 to 1 cm2 are sprinkled over the hatched larvae.
To prevent drying of leaves and maintain the required humidity in the rearing bed, wet foam pads and
paraffin paper covering are provided.
CHAWKI REARING
In a tray of 4' x 3' x 3 1/2" size, 20 disease free layings are brushed and reared till the end of
second age. From brushing to the end of second age, the larvae are fed with tender leaf. The leaves
are selected from the largest glossy leaf, 3rd or 4th from the top. The next 6 to 8 leaves are used to
rear the young age worms upto II moult. The size of the chopped leaf is around 0.5 to 1 cm2 during
the first age and 1 to 2 cm2 during 2nd age.
CLEANING
In the first age, one cleaning is given just a day before the worms settle for moult. In the second
age, two cleanings are given, one after resumption of feeding and the other a day before the second
moult.
222
Sericulture
At the time of moulting, care should be taken not to disturb the worms. Correct detection of
moult and stopping of resuming feeds are very important for uniform growth of silkworms. The
rearing bed should be kept thin and dry and should have proper aeration.
LATE AGE REARING

The temperature and humidity requirements are:
Temperature (oC) Humidity % Period (days)
III instar 26 80 3-4
IV instar 25 70 - 75 4-5
V instar 24 70 6-7
The ideal size of the chopped leaves for feeding:
III instar : 4 - 6 cm
IV instar: 6 - 8 cm or entire leaves or cut shoots
V instar: Entire leaves or cut shoots
Four to five feedings are given daily.
Cleaning
III instar : Thrice - first after the mould, second in the middle of the instar, third just before the
next moult.
IV instar : For shelf rearing - once a day.
V instar : For floor rearing - once for each instar
The worms in the beginning of third age will be kept in 20 bamboo bound trays 3 1/2' diameter
which is doubled gradually by the end of each age.
MOUNTING
When the ripe worms cease to feed, they are translucent and raise their heads to find a place for
spinning. The worms have to be picked up and transferred to Chandraki for spinning cocoons. 1000
worms can be mounted in a Chandraki of 6’x4' size. Mountages are kept in shade in a well ventilated
place during spinning.
On 25th day the Worms are placed in mountages. On 29th day harvest is made.
a) Uzifly control: 1) By using nylon-net 2) Uzicide 1% 3) Use of China clay powder at 3 kg/100
layings 4) Use of fish meal trap.
Release of hyper parasitoids Nesolynx thymus @ 1 lakh female parasitoids and 5000
males in 3 split doses for every 100 layerings @ 8000, 16000 and 76000 during fourth and
fifth stages of rearing and after cocoon harvest.
b) Dermestid beetle: In store houses, i) Fumigation with chloropicrin for 3 days at 500 g for
283 sq. mt. ii) Dusting with Malathion 5% dust, provided the rearing house and the store
house are sufficiently apart.
c) Diseases on silkworm: 1) Pebrine caused by Protozoa, 2) Flacherie caused by bacteria,
3) Grasserie caused by NPV, 4) Muscardine caused by fungus.
Avoid contaminated chandriki. Disinfect the mountage with formalin 2% before use.
Spraying Chlorine dioxide on room and appliances will check the diseases. Chlorine dioxide
500 ppm (500 ml/20 ltr water)
Bed disinfectant Vijetha @ 30-40 g/sqm area of bed during early instars and 40-50g/sqm area
for late instars. Apply half an hour after moulting and before commencement of feeding. This controls
grasserie and muscardine diseases.
;;;;;
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AGROFORESTRY
The present trend of growing trees in the farm lands demands for identification of economically
potential tree species suitable to different climatic conditions and soil types. The concept of agroforestry
implies sustained, combined management of the same piece of land for silvicultural, agricultural and
pastural crops leading to an overall increase of production compared to single crop management.
This practice is of immense importance to our country for it is intimately linked with the question of
increasing wood and food production to meet the needs of burgeoning population and conservation
of soil land moisture resources which is vital for the tropical regions.
Properly distributed tree growth acts as a foster mother to agriculture. This is particularly true in
dry inhospitable climatic conditions. Tree growth in such cases conserves soil moisture, increasing
atmospheric humidity, improves soil fertility, protects field crops against the scorching and desiccating
effects of winds and generally makes the climate more equable and pleasant, thereby stepping up
agricultural production.
Important tree species much involved in agroforestry system and their cultivation details have
been presented hereunder viz., Acacia holosericea, Eucalyptus sp., Casuarina equisetifolia,
Tamarindus indica, Azadirachta indica, Ceiba pentandra and Ailanlthus excelsa.
Acacia holosericea
Origin: New introduction from Australia
Rotation age (felling age): 4-6 years
Spacing: 2 x 2 m or 1 x 4 m
Seed rate: 2500 plants/ha; app. 100 gm/ha.
Preparatory cultivation: One ploughing with disc is suggested. Pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cm are
recommended. Red lateritic soil preferred.
Nursery: Seed require hot water treatment for encouraging maximum germination upto 96 per
cent. Viability of seed is good for upto 6-7 years. Single seed is dibbled in 10 x 20 cm polythene
containers filled with 3:1:1 soil : sand : manure. Seedling raised for 4-5 months to reach 50 cm
height.
Planting: First few rains of September to October (North east monsoon) Basin formation of 50
cm radius is suggested for capturing rain water.
After cultivation: No weeding is needed.
Plant protection: No serious outbreak of pests or diseases reported so far.
Yield: At the end of 4 years, above ground biomass of 60 tonnes/ha is realisable.
Special features: High survival (above 99.0 per cent) under rainfed conditions. It is able to fix
local rhizobium to form nodules. Suitable for low rainfall (600-800 mm), alkaline and lateritic soils.
Resistant to termite in the field condition. The stem has very low moisture content (25.0 per cent) as
compared to Prosopis(47.0 per cent) and Eucalyptus(49.0 per cent). It is also resistant to browsing.
It is thornless. Petioles modified into phyllodes for phytosynthesis.
Use: Fuel wood.
Eucalyptus sp.
There are about 700 different Eucalyptus species in the world and majority of them are located
in Australia. Nearly 170 species are believed to have been tested under Indian conditions and a
handful are considered essential for industrial application. Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. tereticornis
are ideally suited for the plains receiving about 800-1000 mm rainfall and prefer sandy loam to loam
soils within a pH range of 6.0-7.5. Its altitudinal range limited to about 0-500 m above sea level.
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Agroforestry
The preferred espacement is 2 x 2 m and seedlings are planted in pits 30 cm3. While preparatory
ploughing by disc is desirable to enhance moisture conservation and subsequent survival rate, it is
substituted by ploughing with country plough. Seedlings grown in 10 x 20 cm. poly containers for a
period of 5-6 months are preferred. Quality of seedlings is guaged by thickness of the stem rather
than by height which remains fairly uniform among them.
Survival of planted seedlings in the field is influenced by the following:
i) Deeper pits of 30x30x45 as against 30x30x30 cm.
ii) Saucer basin formation around the planted saplings
iii) Coir dust/plant mulching around the plant.
iv) Compartment or contour bunding along the slopes.
v) Soil working during January-February to receive maximum benefit of summer rains.
vi) Intercropping with legumes by modifying the espacement from 2 x 2 m to 1x4, 1x5, 1x6 m
so that the continued filling of the soil helps to aerate the plant roots and also capture and
retain maximum moisture.
vii) Planting during the early phase of the monsoon, especially within a fortnight of
commencement of the rains.
Despite the fact that E. camaldulensis and E.tereticornis are closely related, the former shows
better adoption of drought conditions and also show least variation in foliar characteristics. Currently,
a shift is noticed from E.tereticornis in developing large scale plantations due to the above causes.
Once established, the above need no special care in maintenance.
Similar to the above, operational strategies remain the same for E. grandis which is slated for
altitudes in the range of 1000-1400 metres with an annual rainfall of 1200 to 1500 mm. Hence, this
species raised for rayon industries is found largely in Cumbum mettu, Bodi mettu, Hasanur plateau,
Perumal malai, Thirumoorthi hills - all in Tamil Nadu and Western Ghat areas of Kerala.
E. globulus, the popular blue gum of the higher hills like Kodaikanal and The Nilgiris, demand an
altitude of 1500-2500 metres with a rainfall of 1200-1800 mm and lands free from forests. The
planting techniques being the same, the rotation period is fixed as ten years as against seven for the
other low land species.
The significant management in these Eucalyptus is the coppice growth. These have high potential
to produce hundreds of new shoots from the callus tissue developing on the margin of the cut stem.
Felling the trees immediately after the monsoon helps to rapid callus formation and consequently
thicker coppice stems.
Care should be taken to fell the trees with a gentle slope at the cut end so that rain water does
not stay as a pool and cause decay of the callus tissue. Eventhough hundreds of coppice shoots
may develop by a process of natural competition and thinning, only two or three stems ultimately
remain on the stump. There is no separate need to manually reduce this bulk of the growth occurring
on the stump. Nature itself does the job. However, the health and number of coppice stumps
growing from the stump are related to the diameter of the stump.
The coppice growth are allowed before the stumps loose their regenerating power. The
productivity of coppice plantation is generally higher by above 20-25 per cent as against the first
seedling plantation. At end of the second coppice growth it is necessary to uproot the roots.
Though fertilization with commercial fertilizers is resorted to in developed countries, no systematic
schedule has been drawn for Eucalyptus type in India and our expertise in this area is incomplete.
The productivity of a rainfed crop in Tamil Nadu plains range from 50-75 tonnes/ha/seven years and
in mid-altitudes it is about 100-125 tonnes, while blue gum shows 100-140 tonnes at a high altitude.
225
Casuarina equisetifolia
Casuarina species are native to the Southern hemisphere from tropical India to Polynesia.
Most are native to Australia where they occur in subtropical and tropical coastal regions as well as in
the arid central areas. In Tamil Nadu, this tree is mainly grown in coastal districts of Cuddalore,
Villupuram, Kancheepuram,Tiruvallur Thanjavur and Ramanathapuram. It could also be seen on
sandy soils of inland districts.
The tree is suited to a wide range of temperature from 10o-33oC from sea level upto 1500 m and
mean annual rainfall between 700 to 2000 mm. The tree is best suited to light soils. This species
tolerates calcareous and slightly saline soils, but it is grown poorly on heavy soils such as clays. It
can withstand partial water logging for a long time. Seedlings produced in the nursery are outplanted
after 6 months.
Site preparation: Since this tree is a light demander, the area should be cleared of its regrowth
before planting.
Spacing: Depending upon the end use this is varied. Poles 1 m x 1 m, Fuel wood 0.5 m x 0.5 m,
Pulp 2 m x 2 m, Agri-silviculture 4 m x 1 m.
Pitting and planting: Pits of 30 cm are prepared and seedlings are planted. Planting of naked
seedlings is done in coastal areas and container seedlings in inland. Planting of 2 seedlings per pit
at an espacement of 2 m x 2 m has given more basal area/unit area.
Cultural practice: Weeding and Soil working: Not necessary in sandy soils. In heavy soils
weeding and soil working is essential.
Watering: Particularly in sandy tract watering is essential till the onset of monsoon. In high
rainfall area it is not necessary. Early planting and establishment by the end of monsoon makes the
plant to survive till next monsoon. Watering once in five to ten days is sufficient from December to
next monsoon.
Application of manure: Added fertilizer boosts up growth immediately in sandy tract, fertilizer
application produces more survival percentage, farmyard manure serves better. Neem cake
application further acts as a pesticide also.
Pruning: At the end of 2nd year or after beginning of third year pruning is essential. Thereafter
when the canopy is closed. Pruning is not essential as natural pruning occurs.
Thinning: This is done to get large size poles and straight poles.
Harvest: The trees are felled after the required period and the stumps are uprooted.
Intercropping: Pulses can be raised as intercrops in the inter space of tree rows (i.e. 4 m x 1 m;
4 m North-South and 1 m East-west; in row spacing 1 m and inter row spacing 4 m) under protective
irrigated condition.
Yield: Coastal area at 2 m x 2 m - 80 to 100 t/ha in 8 years. 1 m x 1 m spacing at Marakkanam
yields 25 t/ha in 4 years.
Tamarindus indica
It is an introduced tree in India from tropical Africa. It is not a tree of the forest. But it is
cultivated throughout India except the Himalayan region and arid western zone. It is mostly planted
as an avenue tree along roads and a shade tree in and around the villages.
Climate: Tamarindus indica is a tree of tropical climate. It is grown where the maximum
temperature touches about 46oC in South India and minimum temperature rarely drops to 0oC in
North India. It is grown in areas where the annual rainfall varies from about 500 to 1500 mm.
Soil: It can be grown in variety of soils ranging from gravelly to deep alluvial soil. It thrives best
in deep loamy soil with adequate supply of moisture.
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Agroforestry
Seed collection and storage: The ripe pods are collected from healthy trees by shaking the
branches. The pods should be allowed to ripen on the tree until the outer shell is dry and can be
separated from the pulp without adherence. Individual pods contain about 3 to 10 seeds covered
with pulp. A good full grown tree produces about 2 quintals of fruits per season. The pods are trod
by hand and washed in water to separate the seed which is dried in shade and stored. The seeds
constitute about one third the weight of the pods. The pulp is about 55 per cent and shell and fibre
about 11 per cent of the pod. About 1800-2000 seeds weigh one kilogram.
Direct sowing: Direct sowing can be done either in lines or in patches. Sowing in lines can be
done behind the plough. Depth of sowing should be about 5 cm. About 20 kg seed is needed to sow
each hectare. For patch sowing, patches of 45 cm2 are prepared by digging the soil upto about 30
cm depth and then pulverising it well. About 8-10 seeds are sown per patch.
Planting technique: Planting is done in July-August after the soil is fully soaked by monsoon
rains. Pits of 30 cm should preferably be dug up in advance to allow soil weathering. Spacing is
normally 5 m x 5m to 10 m x 10 m. The plants are dug out from the nursery with balls of earth and the
root portion is wrapped in moist gunny bags. In case the seedlings are more than one year old,
pruning of the tap root is necessary. Bushes likely to shade the plant should also be cut at the time
of digging of the pits or planting.
Pest and diseases: Larva attack fruits and destroy seeds. Sap rot - Xylaria euglosa and white
rot Tramates floccasa are the principal diseases, It will cause pre and post emergence rot of tamarind
seedlings.
Uses: Leaves are regarded as good fodder. Tender leaves are used as vegetables. The
analysis of leaves show that it contains 70.5% moisture, protein 5.8%, fat 2.1%, fibre 1.9%, carbo-
hydrate 18.2% and minerals 15%. It also contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper,
chlorine, sulphur, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C.
Tamarind kernel powder is extensively used as sizing material in textile and jute industry and
also used as cattle feed.
Azadirachta indica (Neem)
Distribution: Neem grows throughout the greater part of India more especially in the drier parts
of the country. It is a tree with wide climatic adaptability. In its range, the maximum temperature may
exceed 400C and the minimum temperature varies about 20 to 15oC. The annual rainfall varies from
about 450 to 1125 mm.
Soil: It grows well on wide variety of soils ranging from sandy to clayey. It can thrive even in
stony shallow soils or with calcareous soils. It grows best on well drained soils with subsoil water
level fairly high. It can persist under adverse soil condition also.
Flowering and fruiting: Leaf shedding and flowering are controlled by the climatic conditions.
The trees become leafless for a short period. The new leaves appear in March-April. It flowers in
April to May. The flowers are in panicles and are white in colour. The fruits appear soon after and
attain full size in 2-3 months. A fully developed fruit is a smooth ellipsoidal drupe, greenish, yellow
and normally one seeded. The fruits ripe generally in June - July.
The yield per tree varies from 30-33 kg of seeds depending upon age and soil characteristics.
The oil content ranges from 40 to 45%.
Collection: Fruits fallen down or beaten down are swept together or hand picked. They are
depulped with water or by dumping them with soil/ash and then by trampling.
Processing: Processing is done by decorticating and winnowing. Decorticator gives 70% shell
and 25% kernels. In a depulped seed 45% is shell and 50% kernel. Maximum oil is obtained only
after 2-5 months of collection.
227
Cultural practices: Nursery technique: Seeds are sown either directly or in polybags. The
seeds do not require any pre-sowing treatment. As the seeds loose viability quickly the seeds
should be sown as soon as possible. About 3300 seeds weigh one kilogram.
Planting technique: One year old seedlings are preferable. Planting is done in July-August in
pits dug up in April-May to allow weathering of the soil. The spacing may be 4 x 4 m and after 5
years, alternate trees are felled down. The recommendation is 8 - 10 m spacing.
Economics: After planting, the tree flowers at 6th or 7th year. After 10 year, each tree yields
about 50 kg of fruits and 20 kg of seeds. In one acre of land 1000 kg of seeds can be obtained. If the
seeds cost Rs.2/kg, the income is Rs.2000.
Ceiba pentandra (silk cotton)
It is a native of South America and now grown in Myanmar (Burma), Jawa, Ceylon and India. It
grows to a height of 20 to 25 m under various agro - climatic conditions. It comes up well in heavy
rainfall areas. In Tamil Nadu, it is grown in Coimbatore, Salem, Dharmapuri besides Madurai where
it is grown in very large areas of about 40,000 hectares.
Based on the branches, colour of the flower, number of fruits besides length and breadth of the
fruits, pod breaking and colour of the fibre, the Ceiba pentandra can be differentiated into three
types.
1. Var. indica
2. Var. caribea (Singapore kapok)
3. Var. africa
Of the above three types, the first two are mainly for fibre. Moreover caribea is otherwise called
as “Singapore Kapok”. Local variety is indica.
Difference between indica and caribea variety: 1. In Indica variety, the branches will start from
centre of the trees and grown horizontally whereas in caribea variety the branches will go upright.
2. In Singapore variety, the fruits will be more. After the age of 8 to 10 years, it will yield 800 to
900 fruits in the Singapore variety whereas in the local variety it is only 450 to 500.
3. In Singapore variety, the fruits are long and the length of fruits may vary from 25 to 35 cm
whereas in the local variety the length of the fruits is 10 to 15 cm.
4. The pods are not broken even in the fully matured fruits so there is no loss of fibre whereas in
the local variety, the fruits burst in the tree itself resulting in loss of fibre.
5. In Singapore kapok, colour of the fibre is pearl white whereas in the local variety it is only dull
pale white colour.
6. Number of seeds per fruit is very low in Singapore variety as compared to local variety.
Uses
1. It is used as stuffing material for pillow and bed.
2. It is also used for making tennis ball, boxing gloves, shooting suits
3. Its oil is used for making soap, its cake used as cattle feed.
4. Shell is used for fuel.
Cultural practices:
Seeds and sowing: Fresh seeds can be used for sowing. The seeds are sown directly in the
polythene bags of size 20 x 10 cm and watered daily. Seeds start germinating at 7th day and it will
be over after 15 days. 6 months old seedlings are generally used for planting.
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Agroforestry
Mainfield
Spacing: 7 x 7 m
Pit size: 30 cu.cm
Planting: During rainy season or at any time with irrigation facilities
Weeding: Should be done twice, first two years.
Irrigation: In areas receiving less than 1,000 mm rainfall, irrigation is a must especially during
summer season at 10 days interval.
Intercropping: Pulse crops can be raised as intercrop for initial two years. Bund planting with
an espacement of 6 m can be taken up and main field can be utilised for agricultural crops.
Ailanthus excelsa
Common name: The tree of Heaven, Matchsplint tree
Tamil name: ‘Aiyilai’ ‘peemaram’ ‘peenari’
Distribution: Indigenous to India and more common in Bihar; Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa
and South India.
Soil: Grows in all types of soils, but more suitable to red soil.
Flowering: February-March
Fruiting: April to May
Optimum time of fruit collection: April third week to 1st week of May, when the fruits turn to
brown/biscuit colour, before being blown off by wind from the mother tree.
Nursery: a) Use of presprouted seeds obtained by soaking seeds for 24 hours followed by
sprouting in wet gunny bags for 48 hours is advocated for raising nursery seedlings in polythene
containers filled with soil mixture. d) Some of the seed sprouted only in polythene bag size 10 x 20
cm. 200 guage filled with nursery mixture of 1:1:1 red soil, sand and farmyard manure and Rosecane
watering is advocated; shifting the containers to prevent rooting in the arth once in 15 days is necessary.
Planting: Size of the pit 30 x 30 x 30 cm. Planting should be done during rainy season and
saucer basin should be done to conserve moisture.
Spacing: 5 x 5 m i.e. 160 seedlings/acre under agro-forestry situations, under rainfed conditions.
The intercrops are cumbu, sorghum, blackgram, greengram and gingelly. If it is for a grove, the
spacing should be 3 x 3 m. i.e. 444 seedlings/acre.
Yield: It depends on site quality; a ten year old tree given 150-200 kg wood. 20 - 30 tons of
wood/acre is expected. The current price is about Rs.1,000/ton. The price is flexible due to the
production cost and availability of raw material.
Plant protection measures: Eligma narcissus, defoliator and Atteva fabriciella are important
pests. a) Eligema narcissus can be controlled by spraying monocrotophos 35 EC at 0.1% (1 ml. per
litre). b) Neem oil 2% (20 ml per litre) and mixed with teepol should be sprayed to control the pest.
229
AGROFORESTRY OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT AGROCLIMATIC
ZONES OF TAMIL NADU
The state of Tamil Nadu has experienced drought almost every fourth of fifth year in the past
involving a decline in the annual rainfall. The severity of drought is highly pronounced if it occurs
during the major north-east monsoon and especially when the first rains of the monsoon is delayed
by three to four weeks from the customary third or fourth week of September. It is also on record that
the monsoon rarely extends, itself beyond the second or third week of December. Hence, the
precipititiont falling within the eight to ten week period between October and November has to be
harnessed for maximum exploitation. Since four to six weeks period is essential for the establishment
of planted up seedlings, the pace of planting operations that spans for about six to eight weeks from
the third week of September has to be abridged to about two to three weeks in October and acceleration
of all the connected activities is called for. It is in this backdrop, the present suggestions are put forth
for compliance to obtain a reasonably good survival of planted materiel across the different zones of
Tamil Nadu.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED IN PLANTING ACTIVITIES

1. Choice of pit size
The conventional pitting of 30x30x30 cm. for species like Eucalyptus, casuarina etc., needs to
be deepened to at las 30x30x45 cm. so that it provides deeper open dug soil for the roots to meander.
It is also necessary that the edges of the pit are cut critically at 45° so that it forms a wide mouth
leading to a funnel like structure. This allows maximum rain water to accumulate on the tip and
percolate deep. This also helps for better harvesting of rain water during summer. Most hardened
seedlings of forestry species show a sudden spurt of new root primordia within a duration of five to
seven days and elongation of roots is complemented by loosening the soil, both from the sides and
the bottom. The degree of drying moisture from ground level to the deeper layer, say about 30 cm.
takes about 30-45 days after the cessation of the monsoon. The provision of extra 15 cm depth
encourages percolation of moisture for the next 30-45 cm. depth (i.e. about 75-90 cm.from the ground
level). In a normal distribution of rainfall, moisture reaches earily to a depth of 1.0 to 1.2 m below
ground. The rainfall in deficit years does not encourage percolation of moisture to that extent. Hence
this simple method of deepening the pit and cutting the edges, though costing a little more than the
conventional pitting, justifies towards better survival of the seedlings (Fig.2).
2. Organic amendment for filling the pits
It is generally considered unnecessary to fill the pits with organic materials like FYM or good
tank silt in most forestry planting operation, hoping that the hardy seedlings will cope up the deficiency
in the soil in the long run. But in agroforestry situation every individual living tree is a monetary
advantage to the farmer. Every possible support has to provided for the seedlings to firmly establigh
through a well established root system. It is a well established fact that there is a direct correlation
between the quantum of organic matter in the soul and the rate of growth. Therefore the 2-3 kg of
organic input in the form of FYM per pit of 30x30x45 cm. is suggested so that the accelerated root
development will get a boost to dichotomise and consequently lead to greater shoot area development.
In places where the pit sizes are bigger as in the case of 45x45x45 cm. and 60x60x60 cm. for timber
species a proportionate increase in the organic inputs is also indicated.
3. Bio-fertilizer amendments
It has been provided beyond doubt that wherever, biofertilizers like Rhizobium, Azotobacter,
phosphobacteria or Arbuscular Mycorrhiza are incorporated, either within the containers or applied
inside a pit, they accelerate nutrient absorption and confer a higher root shoot ratio in the first year
itself which is a critical period for survival of seedlings. Most leguminous species have responded
well to application of Rhizobium inoculation as evident in Acacia plantations under SIDA aided social
forestry programme. Release of unavailable phosphate from the laterite soils is possible with the
help of phosphobacteria, both in the plains and in the hills.
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Agroforestry
The non-leguminous species have responded favourably to the application of Azotobacter and
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal cultures in almost all situations. Hence this simple low cost technology could
be effectively adopted to overcome the defecits caused by limited availability of moisture.
4. MULCHING
Use of locally available weed species that emerge out during the monsoon period is a rich
source to be used as a mulch over the pits soon after the monsoon rains are over. Despite the short
duration of monsoon, there is a preponderance of weeds like Croton sparsiflorus, Xanthium Sp.
Leucas aspera etc. growing along the open spaces. These weed species can be harvested and
covered on the pits. Decomposition of the mulch over a period of time also enriches the top soil of the
pit which is beneficial during the following summer rains or earlier monsoon rains for the growth of
the plants.
5. SOIL CONSERVATION MEASURES

If is not possible to go far contour bunding within the short span of 2 to 3 months but an option
is available to erect square bunding enclosing a reasonably number of seedlings in places where the
slope is less than two per cent. Where the slope exceeds from gentle to moderate or even steep
slope, semicircular bunds of 1m radius and 15 cm height on the lower side of the gradient is strongly
suggested. Within level ground improvement in the form of circular basins is also desirable to encourage
better moisture retention (Fig.3 and 4).
6. CHOICE OF SPECIES
A wide range of species is available for planting in the normal course of a well distributed
monsoon. But in a situation like this where the imminent drought overrides all other considerations, a
restriction in the choice of species quite compatible to drought is warranted. Based on this edict, to
species recommended for different agroclimatic zones are mentioned below.
i) North eastern zone
Species that are suitable for block planting adopting the usual espacements are only indicated.
Intervention of intercropping is very much restricted because, the restricted rainfall does not satisfy
the growth requirements of the locally accepted annual crops. Species like Casuarina equisetifolia,
Acacia auritculiformis, A.holesericea, Bassia latifolia, Eucalyptus tereticornis and E.camaldulensis,
can survive this situation. In the case of casuarina, which is planted with naked seedlings, instead of
planting two seedlings per pit planting three seedlings per pit as in cluster planting is advocated. If by
any chance, more than one seedling gets established in the field at the end of one year, the excess
seedlings can be eliminated. Considering the relatively very low cost of naked seedlings, adopting
this techinique should not cause serious monetary loss to the farmer. In the case of other containerised
seedlings, preference should be given to such seedlings having a taller growth and thicker shoot
collar.
ii) North western zone
Compared to North Easter Zone, this zone has lesser rainfall in the order of 700-900 mm and
the terrain is also undulating as in the farthest western part. However the prevalence of plateau effect
in the major part of the region can be exploited by planting fruit yielding species like mango, tamarind.
The Thenkanikottai and Keelamangalam areas show an affinity for establishment of Jack trees.Higher
water table in this location can be made use of to grow these horticultural trees. Though silver oak
and casuarina are recommended species for this plateau region,it is better to avoid them during this
drought period.Pongamia pinnata, an oil yielding tree species is capable of with standing the restricted
rainfall and it can be planted in bigger pits of 45X45X45 cm.size.Since all these species demand a
wider espacement ranging from 5m x5 m to 10m x 10m the wide interspace can be successfully
intercropped with short duration Dolichos lablab,D.biflous,Cicer arietinum and also foxtail millet,
Pongamia pinnata is the preferred species with an intercropping of Dolichos biflorus in the eastern
part of NW Zone.
iii) Western zone
This is largely benefited by North east monsoon.Hence it restricts the choice of species to
Ailanthus excelsa, Neem, Acacia ferrugenia and Acacia planifrons. Raising of tamarind and silk
231
cotton can be confined to the foot hills along the Western Ghats. Since these species call for wider
espacement, intercropping with short duration legumes like vegetable cowpea maturing in less than
75 - 80 days is recommended.
These leguminous intercrops will also provide a living mulch for the exposed interspace.
iv) Cauvery delta zone
This is a zone characterised by riverine alluvial soil with a high degree of water holding capacity
and offers a relatively greater chance of survival of the planted seedlings of any kind. Though letting
in of water from Mettur dam may be delayed by a month, planting of seedlings can progress right
from July onwards. Considering the precarious situation, hardly species like Acacia arabica for planting
along the field bunds, Delbergia sissoo and Tectoina grandis along the canal bunds and Bambusa
bambos rhizomatous seedlings of not less than two years at elevated ground will certainly help in
the success of the planting. It is generally accepted that quite healthy and sturdy seedlings of not
less than 60 cm for sissoo and babul and also teak stumps of not less than 2 cm thickness are the
suitable planting materials for this situation. Though it may not be necessary to irrigate them at the
end of January or February, it is still prudent to do an occassional watering from the residual water in
the canals or ponds.
v) Southern zone
This is an area comprising both vertisols and alfisols.There is a marginally better success in
vertisols accommodating species like Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica and Ailanthus excelsa.
Though tamarind is found in the larger section of this tract, it is not recommended because its viability
following the severe summer stretching from March to September is very much doubtful as it is a
slow growing species and it may not attain the required root/ shoot growth with very limited rainfall of
NE monsoon. However intercropping in vertisol with pulses of local preference is indicated. In the
alfisol region, culture of Eucalyptus and Ailanthus excelsa are recommended. The problematic saline
and alkaline patches along the coasts are better left unplanted. Planting of Borassus flabellifer
(Palmyrah) on all field bunds in this tract is indicated. Though it takes nearly 10-11 months to
emerge out, the palmyrah nut remain dormant in the subsoil until the favourable moisutre regime
occurs in the following monsoon.
vi) High rainfall zone
Normally these regions have the benefit of two monssons. In such situations, where south west
monsoon, the dominant rain maker fails, the choice is left to take up planting in North East Monsoon.
In this situation it is recommended that seedlings of spices and condiments need not be planted but
woodlots of Albizia falcatoria, Grevillea robusta, Callophyllum inophyllum and Havea brasilensis can
be grown successfully with the residual rains.
vii) Hilly zone
Considering the limitation imposed by the restricted rainfall, planting of fuel and pulp wood
species like Eucalyptus grandis, E.globulus and Acacia mearnsii (Wattle) are recommended.
232
Agro forestry
Fig.1 Tree Species for Agro-climatic Zones
LEGEND
AA = Acacia auriculiformis
AH = Artocarpus heterophyllus
AP = Acacia planifrons
CE = Casuarina equisetifolia
EGL = E. globulus
MI = Mangifera indica
AE = Ailanthus excelsa
AI = Azardirachta indica
BB = Bambusa bambos
CP = Ceiba pentandra
E.Gr. = Eucalyptus grandis
TI = Tamarindus indica
AF = Acacia ferruginea
AN = Acacia nilotica
BL = Bassia latifolia
DS = Dalbergia sissoo
E.t = E. tereticornis
TG = Tectona grandis
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Fig.2 Improved Pits
233
5-
10%
SLO
PE
Fig 3. Semilunar Basins
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
Fig.4 Square Bunding and Saucer Basins
234
Integrated Farming
INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH IN
TAMIL NADU
At present, the farmers concentrate mainly on crop production which is subjected to a high
degree of uncertainty in income and employment to the farmers. In this contest, it is imperative to
evolve suitable strategy for augmenting the income of a farm. Integrations of various agricultural
enterprises viz., cropping, animal husbandry, fishery, forestry etc. have great potentialities in the
agricultural economy. These enterprises not only supplement the income of the farmers but also
helps in increasing the family labour employment.
The integrated farming system approach introduces a change in the farming techniques for
maximum production in the cropping pattern and takes care of optimal utilisation of resources. The
farm wastes are better recycled for productive purposes in the integrated system. A judicious mix of
agricultural enterprises like dairy, poultry, piggery, fishery, sericulture etc. suited to the given agro-
climatic conditions and socio-economic status of the farmers would bring prosperity in the farming.
FARMING SYSTEM RESEARCH IN TNAU

Studies on farming system in TNAU commenced as early as 1976. Two centres were identified
for the study viz., Paiyur (Dharmapuri District) and Yercaud (Salem District). Prior to the
commencement of the research programme, preliminary farm surveys were conducted at both the
centres to ascertain the average size of farm holdings and to understand the existing cropping pattern
and practices. Based on the survey, 5 treatments viz., crop + Dairy (3 milch cows), Crop + Poultry (6
layers), dairy cum poultry (3 milch cows + 6 layers) improved cropping alone and farmers’ cropping
pattern alone were fixed. Of all the treatments, in Paiyur, in a 2.00 acre farm, the dairy based farming
gave the maximum income (Rs.4,872/acre/yr) and employment (518 mandays) in a year. In Yercaud
the dairy cum poultry farming yielded the maximum income (Rs.5529/acre/yr) and employment (556
mandays).
In mid eighties TNAU has approached farming system development from three dimensions viz.,
education, research and extension. A post-graduate programme on Farming System Management
was offered. Under this programme the M.Sc.(Ag). students have worked on rice based Integrated
Farming System at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai involving dairy, goat, poultry
cum fish culture and at Agricultural Research Station, Aruppukottai under dryland situations. The
results of the studies are furnished below:
Wetlands: At TRRI, Aduthurai, an effort was made to study the role of poultry-cum-fish culture
as a component in mixed farming under small farm conditions. The study was conducted in a
holding of 2.0 ha. In one hectare conventional cropping system (CCS) as practiced by farmers was
taken up. In IFS area an extent of 0.96 ha was utilised for crop activity, and an area of 0.04 ha was
allotted for poultry/cum/fish culture. The results indicated a net income of Rs.8,898 per ha and
Rs.8311 per ha in IFS and CCS respectively. The additional employment generated from IFS was
124 mandays over CCS.
Field experiments were carried out at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai with
duck cum fish culture as a component in the mixed farming. Two farm holdings each with the size of
one hectare were selected for conducting the study. In one holding, conventional cropping as practiced
by farmers was followed.
In another plot, cropping was practiced in an area of 0.973 ha and an area of 0.027 ha was
allotted for duck cum fish culture. Economics of mixed farming was compared with existing cropping
system. A net income of Rs.13,790/- was obtained from an hectare of existing cropping system
(Kuruvai - Thaladi - rice fallow Pulse) and a net income of Rs.22,676 was obtained from the modified
cropping system (Kuruvai - thaladi-rice fallow cotton and maize) even with an area of 0.973 ha
allotted for cropping. The additional profit from modified cropping alone was Rs.8,886/-. From duck
cum fish culture as a component in mixed farming system a net profit of Rs.1,441/- was obtained
from an area of 0.027 ha. Totally an additional income of Rs.10.327/- was obtained from the mixed
235
farming system over existing cropping system. The existing cropping system could generate only
252 mandays whereas mixed farming system generated 383 mandays. The additional employment
generated from mixed farming was 131 mandays over and above the existing method of cropping.
Another comparative study with Rice-Rice-Rice fallow pulses as conventional cropping System
(CCS) and with Rice-Rice-Rice fallow blackgram, rice fallow cotton and NB21 green grass for 3
number of milch animals as Integrated Farming System revealed that a net return of Rs.8,422/- was
obtained from CCS and Rs.10,912/- was obtained from IFS. Net return from dairy enterprise was
Rs.8,896/-. The additional net income of Rs.11,477/- was obtained from the dairy based mixed
farming over the existing farmers’ method of cropping. Inclusions of dairy unit generated an additional
employment of 190 mandays. The total additional employment generated by dairy based mixed
farming was 309 mandays over the practiced cropping system. The farm yard manure obtained
from dairy unit was applied to rice fallow cotton in combination with inorganic fertilizers. The treatment
recorded the highest seed cotton yield of 17.6 q/ha and a net return of Rs.8,573/-. These studies
have confirmed the validity of the Integrated Farming System in boosting the income and employment
of the farm family.
Research on Integrated Farming System was done both at On-Station and On-Farm Studies on
integrated farming system involving poultry cum fish culture and mushroom production under lowland
situation; dairy and biogas under irrigated situation; goat rearing and agro forestry under rainfed
situation have been conducted at TNAU Coimbatore.
In wetland condition poultry, fish culture and mushroom cultivation were integrated with crop
cultivation. Cropping was undertaken in 0.36 ha and 0.04 ha was allotted for fish pond, the poultry
shed was placed above the pond. The poultry unit comprised of 20 bapkok chick and fisheries
comprised of 300 polyculture fingerlings. The results were compared with that of the conventional
system. The gross income from the integrated farming system was Rs.35552/ha-1 yr-1 and that of the
control was Rs.15860/- ha-1 yr-1. Of the income from Integrated Farming System 59.2 per cent was
from cropping, 8.3 per cent from poultry, 7.5 per cent from fish culture and 25.0 per cent from
mushroom. The additional net income realised from the integrated farming system was Rs.16481
ha-1 yr-1.
GARDENLANDS
Under gardenland situation, dairy and bio-gas were integrated in 1.00 hectare area. The dairy
unit comprised of 3 graded jersy cross breed milch animals with two calves. For effective recycling
of farm and animal waste, a bio-gas unit of 2 cubic metre capacity was installed. The results of the
study revealed that the entire system produced a net income of Rs.21,169 per hectare per annum.
DRYLANDS
A study was taken up integrating crop and goat rearing under dryland in one hectare, considering
small and marginal farmers of Tamilnadu. The goat unit comprised of Tellicherry goats twenty eves
and one buck. The results of integrated farming, system were compared with the control. The gross
income from the farming system was Rs.12,400/- and that of control Rs.3,697/-. Of the income from
the integrated farming system, 57.4 per cent was from goat rearing. The additional net income
realised from integrated farming system was Rs.3400/- as compared to cropping alone. The additional
employment gained through integrated farming system over cropping was 106 mandays. By recycling
of goat manure along with coir waste (bedding materials) the land will be supplied with 13.2 kg N,
16.8 kg P2O5 and 18 kg K2O per annum.
On-Farm studies on integrated farming system were conducted in different location in Coimbatore
district. A survey of different farm holdings in the study area was done to understand the existing
farming system. From this sample, representative farm holdings were selected both under irrigated
and rainfed farming conditions. An exhaustive stock, taking of the available resources, potentials,
constraints, Farmers’ preference etc., of these farms were done and improved alternate farming
system plans were developed, involving the farmer and with the aid of the technology developed in
TNAU. The plans were implemented in the respective farms and monitored by periodical visits to
farms. The farms played a participatory role. Similarly, studies on integrated farming system are
being conducted in Agrl.College and Research Institute at Madurai and Killikulam and other sub-
stations.
236
Integrated Farming
A National seminar on Farming System for Semi-arid tropics was conducted in TNAU during
1988. Six State Seed Farms were selected within the state and the respective farm managers were
trained on Integrated Farming System. This was followed by laying out Programmes involving suitable
Farming Systems in the respective, State Seed Farms. Besides a training programme on Integrated
Farming System was organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Tamil Nadu Agrl.University for the
contact farmers in Coimbatore district. An educational programme on ‘Integrated Farming System’
was conducted in collaboration with AIR in the Farm School programme.
Integrated Farming System for Rainfed Black Cotton Soils: Unlike irrigated agriculture, rainfed
farming is with full of uncertainties to the extent that getting a normal crop itself is uncertain. To offset
the innate difficulty of uncertainties such as uncertain rainfall, heavy downpour and consequent
damage of crops and uncertain yield and income, exclusive concentration on cropping technologies
may not give a practical solution to the farmers. The solution lies in changing the agricultural system
itself integrating cropping with maintenance of other enterprises. Keeping this objective in view, a
well designed farming system has been developed for the benefit of rainfed black cotton soil farmers.
Integration of cropping, livestock (goat) and orchard crops is profitable. In an area of four acres,
including livestock (1-5 Tellicherry goats) along with cropping 3 acres and orchard crops (one acre of
ber or guava or any marketable drought tolerant fruit tree), the additional income obtained over
cropping alone was on an average, Rs.3300/-. Depending upon the extent of holding, the size of the
components may be altered. Such integration is not only for higher income in favourable years but
also to safeguard the farmers from getting disaster income in poor rainfall years.
INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM MODELS FOR VARIOUS
AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF TAMIL NADU
Farming with crop cultivation alone will encounter certain specific problems like unstable income,
under employment of farm family members and improper utilization of resources available in the
farm. Integrated farming with allied activities like dairying, poultry, fishery, sheep and goat rearing,
piggery, rabbit rearing, duck farming, pigeon rearing, sericulture, apiary, mushroom production, biogas
production, homestead garden and fruit tree cultivation and agro-forestry would result in stability of
farm income with proper distribution of employment. Scientifically developed farming system models
are available for stabilizing the farm income and standardizing the living of small and marginal farmers.
Adoption of improved farming system models can result in the advantages listed below.
l Higher food production to equate the demand of the exploding population of our nation
l Increased farm income through proper residue recycling and allied components
l Sustainable soil fertility and productivity through organic waste recycling
l Integration of allied activities will result in the availability of nutritious food enriched with protein,
carbohydrate, fat, minerals and vitamins
l Integrated farming will help in environmental protection through effective recycling of waste
from animal activities like piggery, poultry and pigeon rearing
l Reduced production cost of components through input recycling from the byproducts of allied
enterprises
l Regular stable income through the products like egg, milk, mushroom, vegetables, honey and
silkworm cocoons from the lined activities in integrated farming
l Possibility of adopting improved package of technology for crop cultivation through the regular
income realized from integrated farming system component
l Inclusion of biogas & agroforestry in integrated farming system will solve the prognosticated
energy crisis
l Cultivation of fodder crops as intercropping and in border cropping will result in the availability
of adequate nutritious fodder for animal components like milch cow, goat and sheep, pig and
rabbit
l Firewood and construction wood requirements could be met from the agroforestry system without
affecting the natural forest
237
l Avoidance of soil loss through erosion by agro-forestry and proper cultivation of each part of
land by integrated farming
l Generation of regular employment for the farm family members of small and marginal farmers
l Development of revenue paying allied farm activities at village level through integrated farming
Integrated farming system models will vary widely in each agro-climatic zones with very high
location specific natural resource availability like rainfall, and other climatic factors, soil types and
market demand. Based on the agro-ecological condition and successful cropping systems adopted
in each zone specific farming system models proposed based on the research carried out could be
recommended with slight modification for each agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu.
I. WESTERN ZONE
Wetland
Integration of cropping in 0.90 ha with fishery in 0.10 ha, 50 layers of poultry, and 2 kg Oyster
mushroom production per day with one hectare lowland farming will result in higher net return of
Rs.35000/ha/year. (or)
Integration of cropping Rice-Gingelly-Maize and Rice - Soybean-Sunflower in 0.90 ha with 0.10
ha polyculture fish rearing, 100 pairs of pigeon and 2 kg mushroom production per day could result
in higher net return of Rs.88700 in one hectare farming with additional employment of 300 mandays/
year.
Gardenland
Integration of six crossbred milch animal with 2 m3 biogas production, mushroom production
(2 kg), and 20 bottles of mushroom spawn with farm forestry and homestead garden results in higher
net return Rs.34,580 with 1250 mandays employment in one hectare farming under gardenland
condition.
Rainfedland
Integration of grain crop cultivation with fodder production and sylvipastoral system involving
trees like soobabul, Acacia sp. and thornless prosophis interplanted with cenchrus grasses and
rearing of 20 female and one male Telicherry goat results in additional income of Rs.5970/ha in
rainfed farming.
II. NORTH WESTERN ZONE
Crop cultivation in rainfed lands can be integrated with 3 milch cows, 6 layers of poultry in 0.80
ha land area will fetch additional income. (or)
Integration of cropping with 2 milch animal, 6 goats in 1.25 ha rainfed land, out of which 0.25 ha
with mulberry cultivation for sericulture results in the net return of Rs.28560/year.
III HILLY ZONE
To obtain higher income and regular employment in hilly zone, crop cultivation can be integrated
with 2 milch cows, 6 poultry layers and 9 broilers.
IV CAUVERY DELTA ZONE
Integration of rice based cropping with 2 milch animal resulted in Rs.19900 net income or 6 goat
rearing with crop cultivation fetched Rs.35400 or cropping with duck and fish rearing resulted in a net
return of Rs.24110 and when this system is integrated with mushroom cultivation there is 25%
additional income in lowland condition.
V SOUTHERN ZONE
Integration of rice based cropping with fish rearing and poultry in one hectare land area fetched
an additional income of Rs.9530 under Periyar Vaigai command area.
Integration of milch cow and fish rearing with rice based cropping system in wetlands of Tirunelveli
district will fetch a revenue of Rs.25210 as net income. In rainfed black clay soil integration of
cropping with fruit tree cultivation and goat rearing will result in better returns.
238
Integrated Farming
INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS - DRYLANDS (1988 - 1993)
CROP CULTIVATION
Gross income Rs.5672
Goat Manure
Expenditure Rs.2587 ç
Net income Rs.3085
Contribution
41%
to total income
ç
ç
Employment
Gross
Expenditure Net income generation
Plan income
Rs./ha. Rs./ha (Mandays/
Rs./ha.
year)
Integrated
13841 8170 5671 400
Farming System
Crop cultivation
3939 2020 1919 86
alone
Additional benefit 9902 6150 3752 314
ç
GOAT REARING
Tellichery breeds
Female : 20
Male : 1
Gross income Rs.8169
Expenditure Rs.5583
Net income Rs.2586
Feed
è Contribution 59%
to total income
239
SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

A constraint free soil environment is very important for achieving higher food production. The
major constraints affecting the crop production in Tamil Nadu are salinity, sodicity, acidity, high or
low permeability, sub soil hard pan, surface crusting, fluffy paddy soils etc.
SALT AFFECTED SOILS

1. Saline soils
Saline soils are characterised by higher amount of water soluble salt, due to which the crop
growth is affected. For these soils with electrical conductivity of more than 4 dS m -1, provision of
lateral and main drainage channels of 60 cm deep and 45 cm wide and leaching of salts could
reclaim the soils. Application of farm yard manure at 5 t ha -1 at 10 - 15 days before transplanting in
the case of paddy crop and before sowing in the case of garden land crops can alleviate the problems
of salinity.
2. Sodic soils
Sodic soils are characterised by the predominance of sodium in the complex with the
exchangeable sodium percentage exceeding 15 per cent and the pH more than 8.5 .To reclaim the
sodic soils, plough the soil at optimum soil moisture regime, apply gypsum at 50% gypsum requirement
uniformly, impound water, provide drainage for leaching out the soluble salts and apply green manure
at 5 t ha-1 10 to 15 days before transplanting in the case of paddy crop.
3. Fluffy paddy soils
They are characterised by low bulk density of the top soil resulting in the sinking of farm animals
and labourers as well as poor anchorage to paddy seedlings. For such soils, passing of 400 kg stone
roller or oil drum with stones inside eight times at proper moisture level (moisture level at friable
condition of soil which is approximately 13 per cent) once in three years.
4. Sandy soils
Sandy soils are containing predominant amounts of sand resulting in higher percolation rates
and nutrient losses. Campacting the soil with 400 kg stone roller or oil drum with stones inside eight
times at proper moisture level ( moisture level at friable condition of soil which is approximately 13
per cent ) once in three years could reduce the percolation losses.
5. Hard pan soils
Hard pan occurs in red soil areas due to the movement of clay and iron hydroxides and settling
at shallow depth, preventing the root proliferation. These soils can be reclaimed by chiselling the
soils with chisel plough at 0.5 m interval first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular
to the previous one, once in three years. Application of FYM or composted coir pith at 12.5 t ha-1
could bring additional yields of about 30 per cent over control.
6. Surface crusted soils
The soils having weakly aggregated soil structure are easily broken by the impact of rain drops
resulting in the formation of clay crust at the soil surface. The clay pan prevent the emerging seedlings
and arrest the free exchange of gases between the soil and atmosphere. The surface crust can be
easily broken by harrowing or cultivator ploughing and its formation can be prevented by improving
the aggregate stability by the application of lime at 2 t ha-1 or FYM at 12.5 t ha-1 .
7. Heavy textured clay soils
The clay soils are containing major amounts of clay resulting in the poor permeability and nutrient
fixation. Such soils can be reclaimed by the addition of river sand at 100 t ha -1 or managed by deep
ploughing the field with mould board plough or disc plough during summer to enhance the infiltration
and percolation.
240
Soil Constraints & Management
APPLICATION OF DISTILLERY EFFLUENT FOR THE CORRECTION OF SODIC
SOILS
The use of amendments to correct sodic soils are known, Amendments generally used are
gypsum, phosphogypsum, iron pyrites or elemental sulphur. All these are inorganic in nature. Some
of the organic amendments have also been used to correct the sodic soils are Press-mud, farm yard
manure (FYM), coir dust and green manure. Recent experience with direct discharge of distillery
effluent to sodic soil to improve the productivity of the sodic soil is the new information. Distillery
spent wash is acidic (pH 3.8-4.2) with considerable quantity of magnesium. Organic compounds
mainly the humic related melanoidins improve the biocatalytic potential of the treated soil. Hence 2
lakhs litres of distillery spent wash can be added to an acre of sodic soil in summer months. Natural
oxidation is induced for a period of six weeks with intermittent ploughing once in a month. In the
second month (after 45-60 days) fresh water may be irrigated and drained. Such a treatment reduces
the pH and exchangeable sodium percentage and increases the productivity of the sodic soil. Crop
productivity increase by such treatment may be adopted in sodic soils.
APPLICATION OF DISTILLERY SPENT WASH TO CROPS

Distillery effluent contains Nitrogen 1200 ppm, Phosphate 1500 ppm, Potash 120000 ppm,
calcium 1800 ppm and iron 300 ppm. Since the effluent has the electrical conductivity, 50 times
diluted effluent can be irrigated to sugarcane, banana, ragi, sunflower, grass, cotton and soybean.
However, the effluent irrigation should not be adopted in lands having drinking water sources.
ONE TIME APPLICATION OF DISTILLERY EFFLUENT

Distillery effluent contains both macro and micronutrients. Because if its high salt content, it can
be used for one time application to fallow lands, About 20 to 40 tonnes /ha of distillery effluent can be
sprayed uniformly on the fallow land. It should not be allowed for complete drying over a period of 20
to 30 days. The effluent applied field has to be thoroughly ploughed two times for the oxidation and
mineralization of organic matter . Then the crops can be cultivated in the effluent applied fields by
conventional methods.
IRRIGATION OF PULP AND PAPER MILL EFFLUENTS

Pulp and paper effluents contain lot of dissolved solids and stabilized organic matter. The properly
treated matter with EC less than dSm-1 as such can safely be used for irrigation with appropriate
amendments viz pressmud @ 5 tonnes ha-1, fortified pressmud @ 2.5 tonne ha-1 or daincha as in
situ green manure.
Though there were perceptible changes in soil pH,EC, available NPK, exchangeable cations,
exchangeable sodium per cent and sodium absorption ratio, there is no detrimental effect due to
sodium either on soil or plants grown in sandy loam soils with good drainage facilities, the treated
effluent can be used for irrigation in these soils also. The following crops and varieties were found to
be suitable for cultivation along with recommended doses of amendments viz. pressmud @ 5
tonnes ha -1, fortified pressmud @ 2.5 tonnes ha-1 or daincha as in situ green manure (6.25 tonnes
ha-1 ).
Rice IR 20, TRY 1, CO 43
Maize CO 1
Sunflower CO 2
Groundnut TMV 2, TMV 7
Soybean CO 1
Sugarcane COC 92061,COC 671, COC 6304, COC 91064
Fodder crops Cumbu-Napier hybrid, Paragrass,Guinea grass
Certain oil seed crops like gingelly and castor, pulses like greengram and blackgram were
found to be sensitive for effluent irrigation.
TREATED TANNERY EFFLUENT IRRIGATION

Leather industry is one of the major foreign exchange earners in India. Though the export of
leather and leather products earn more than Rs. 7000 crores per year besides providing direct
241
employment to more then one million people, it is also one of the major sources of pollution. It is
estimated that approximately 17,000 tonnes of hides and skins are daily converted into leather. This
process uses about 35-40 litres of water per kg of leather processed. This implies 680 million litres of
waste water are being generated per day. The effluent and sludge disposed from these industries
enfield into rivers and on the land has led to extensive degradation of productive land since the
tannery effluent typically consist of high concentration of salt (sodium, chloride and sulphates etc.,)
and chromium (Cr) and these pollute surface, subsurface land and water resources as well. The
tannery effluent varied considerably in pH (6.17-8.17) EC (10.4-23.0 dSm -1 ), Na(2042 -24765) mg
L -1) and Cr (620 -26200 (µ g L -1 ) concentration. The tannery sludge contained higher Cr(1179 -
16158 mg kg -1 ). The salt and Cr rich tannery wastes disposal have a great impact in polluting the
environment and the continuous disposal onto the land makes the soil more alkaline.
AMENDMENTS FOR RECLAMATION OF ALKALINE SOILS

Application of Gypsum will replace the sodium ions from the soil exchange complex with Calcium
and the rate of gypsum application may be calculated based on the Exchangeable Sodium Percentage
value of soils. Organic amendments namely pressmud and FYM can be also applied @ 12.5 t/ha to
reclaim the alkaline soils.
CROPS SUITED FOR CULTIVATION IN TANNERY AFFECTED (ALKALINE) SOILS

Cereals : Rice (TRY 1, CO 43, Paiyur 1 and ASD 16)
Millets : Ragi (CO 12 and CO 13)
Oilseeds : Sunflower (CO 4, Morden) & Mustard
Cash crops : Sugarcane (COG 94076, COG 88123 and COC 771)
Vegetables : Brinjal, Bhendi, Chillies, Tomato (PKM 1)
Flowering crops : Jasmine, Neerium, Tuberose
Trees : Eucalyptus, Casuarina and Acacia
PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOR CHISEL TECHNOLOGY

The occurrence of hard pans at shallow depth is the most prevalent soil physical constraint in
soils. The agricultural crops are denied of the full benefits of the soil fertility and nutrient use due to
this constraint. The sub-soil hard pans are characterised by high bulk density (1.8 g cc-1) which in
turn lowers infiltration, water storage capacity, available water and movement of air and nutrients,
with concomitant adverse effect on the yield of crops. This problem is predominantly present in six
districts of Tamil Nadu viz., Coimbatore, Erode, Dharmapuri, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Salem
particularly under rainfed farming affecting a total of 3.8 lakh hectares of land.
TECHNOLOGY
Plough the field with chisel plough at 50 cm interval in both the directions viz., horizontally and
vertically. Chiselling helps to break the hard pan in the sub soil besides it ploughs upto 45 cm depth.
Chisel plough is a heavy iron plough which goes up to 45 cm depth, thereby shatters the hard pans.
It is usually drawn by the tractor. Fabrication of chisel plough has been done by the Department of
Farm Machinery, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
® Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM/pressmud/composted coir pith evenly on the surface.
® Give two ploughings using a country plough for intercropping the added manures.
® The broken hard pan and incorporation of manures make the soil to conserve more moisture.
VEGETATIVE BARRIERS FOR SOIL MOISTURE CONSERVATION
For better in situ moisture conservation in drylands of Vertisols, raise vegetative barriers of
vettiver or lemon grass across the slope and along the contours at 0.5 m vertical interval.
CONTROL OF NUT GRASS AND BERMUDA GRASS IN UNCROPPED FIELD
Of the eighteen Worlds’s worst weeds, these two weeds viz., Nut grass (Korai) and Bermuda
grass (Arugampul) rank first and second in the severity of damage caused to the crops. As far their
242
Surge Irrigation
control, these weeds were elusive as several chemicals tested in the past were only partially effective.
Now an integrated approach has been evolved to combat these weeds.
These weeds can be controlled during off season with glyphosate. Glyphosate should be sprayed
at 5-10 ml per litre of water when Korai or arugampul are in 3-4 leaf stages. Addition of 10 gm of
Ammonium sulphate per litre of spray fluid and teepol will improve the herbicide efficacy.
The chemical being systemic enters the plant system and kills the weed including the underground
rhizome/stolons in about 15 days. After a fortnight gap, the field may be summer ploughed once to
expose the secondary rhizomes/stolons in the soil. Spraying should be repeated when the secondary
tubers put forth the growth. Sowing of crops can be taken up a month after using the chemical. The
herbicide, glyphosate being non selective translocated, care should be taken to avoid spray drift.
SURGE IRRIGATION
COST FREE SURGE IRRIGATION FOR FIELD CROPS
Surface method is still important due to its less cost and other feasibilities. Furrow irrigation is
the most important method. “Basin furrow” method is the most useful due to accommodation of 5 to
6 furrows with a common opening for water entry. Often the furrow length is 5 to 10 meters. Hence
there is a land loss of 17 to 20 percent due to the presence of cross channels and equilizers within
the basin furrow. There is Agronomical need and dialectical demand to evolve into a new method to
avoid land loss, to achieve water economy and labour economy for irrigation.
SURGE IRRIGATION
Surge irrigation is the possible alternative for furrow irrigation. “Surge irrigation is the delivery of
water intermittently by “ON-OFF” fashion relatively over short span of time. Surge irrigation facilitates
quick water front advance and relatively even distribution of soil moisture from head reach to tail end
of the furrow. Surface sealing of furrow bed is accomplished by soil particle displacement, migration,
re-orientation and deposition on the furrow bed.
COSTLY AUTOMATED SURGE SYSTEM

Automated surge irrigation system of U.S.A. costs $ 36 per metre length. For a field size of
100 X 100 metre, it costs $ 3600. This is cost prohibitive under Indian conditions and in other
developing countries.
COST FREE SURGE IRRIGATION

A cost free (or low cost) surge method was evolved at the Department of Agronomy Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Cost free surge method involves placing short inlet pipes of 50 cm length with a diameter of 6
cm. Water enters into the furrow through inlet pipe at a flow rate of 1 to 1.5 lps. There by water
delivery is accomplished gently without turbulence. Based on the quantum of flow and permissible
quantum one set of furrows are opened and another set of furrows are closed for specified time. The
operation is repeated till the water front advance reaches near the tail end.
CROPS TESTED
(1) Maize, (2) Sunflower (two varieties), (3) Sorghum (Greater millet)
Optimum length, ON-OFF time and flow rate (Land slope 0.5 to 0.6% existing slope) (Soil:
Heavy and Medium soils)
Crop Length
Maize (Row spacing : 60 cm) 100 M 150 M 200 M
Quantum of flow 1.0 lps 1.5 lps 1.5-2 lps
“ON-OFF” time 10 mts 15 mts 15-20 mts
Sorghum row spacing (45 cm Double row 90/2 = 45 cm) 100 M
Sunflower varieties 90/2=45 cm 60/2=30 cm
243
Quantum of flow 1.0 lps
“ON-OFF” time 10 mts
This technology could be applied to all field crops in lift irrigated areas with row spacing of 30 cm
and above.
ADVANTAGES
Water Saving 30-40 percent
Land saving 17-20 percent
Labour saving 40 percent
ONE PROBLEM
There is a problem of depression of crop growth in the penultimate area due lesser soil moisture
status. Penultimate (sector) depression can be overcome by placing a hydrophilic weir at 75 metre
in a length of 100 metre. Coconut epicarp or materials like wooden planks can be used for this
purpose.
SIDE VIEW OF RIDGES AND FURROWS AND SURGE IRRIGATION

RIDGES AND FURROWS
SURGE IRRIGATION
244
Surge Irrigation
SURGE IRRIGATION WITH INLET PIPE SINGLE/DOUBLE ROW
SINGLE ROW
Ridge
→| 60 CM |← →| 60 CM |←
Ù
Ù
→| 60 CM |←
Furrow
DOUBLE ROW
→| 60 CM |← 30 CM
→| |←
→| 60 CM |←
245
AGROMETEOROLOGY
CROP PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
DRYLAND
1. Length of growing season :
The length of growing season is defined as the period between the onset of sowing rains and
cessation of rainfall. Based on this , the growing season for different agroclimatic regions is as
follows :
Name of the Zone Length of growing season (days)

1. North Eastern zone 165-180
2. North Western zone 170-190
3. Western zone 90-110
4. Cauvery Delta zone 100-120
5. Southern zone 85-120
6. High rainfall zone 250-270
7. Hilly zone 290-330
Refinement is made through water tolerance study
2. Climate of Tamil Nadu
South West Monsoon
Arid Semi arid Humid
(MI=(-) 66.7 to (-) 100) (MI=(-) 66.7 to (-) 33.3) (MI= 20 to 80)
Coimbatore Kanchipuram The Nilgiris
Tiruchirapalli Cuddalore
Madurai Dharmapuri
Ramanathapuram Salem
Tirunelveli Pudukottai
Thanjavur
Kanyakumari
North East Monsoon
Dry sub humid Moist sub humid Humid MI= 20 to 80 Perhumid
MI= (-) 33 to 0 MI= 0 to 20 MI= 20 to 80 MI= 100 and above
Coimbatore Triuchirapalli Kanchipuram The Nilgiris
Dharmapuri Pudukottai Vellore
Salem Madurai Tiruvannamalai
Ramanathapuram Cuddalore
Villupuram
Thanjavur
Kanyakumari
3. RAINFALL PATTERN IN TAMIL NADU
The rainfall pattern of Tamil Nadu based on the criteria of rainfall quantity and season of
precipitation is given below :
A> 30 cm rainfall per month
B= 30-20 cm rainfall per month
C= 20-10 cm rainfall per month
D= 10-5 cm rainfall per month
E < 5 cm rainfall per month
Three distinct seasons have been considered
Pre monsoon season : February to may
Monsoon season : June to September
246
Agrometeorology
Post monsoon season : October to January
Considering the distribution of rainfall within a season, a standard pattern is developed. This is
explained through the following example
A 2 B 2 (C 1 B 1 A 1 E 1) C 2 D 1 E 1
where is,
i) Alphabets in bracket denote rainfall is monsoon season months.
ii) Left to bracket denote rainfall is pre-monsoon months.
iii) Right to bracket denote rainfall is post monsoon months.
iv) Alphabets represent the quantity of rainfall
v) Numerical suffix gives the number of months.
TABLE 9.2 RAINFALL PATTERN IN TAMIL NADU
Rainfall Taluks in which the pattern is seen
E 4 (E 4) C 2 E 2 Aruppukottai, Paramakudi, Muthukulathur, Thiruvadanai, Sathur,
Srivilliputhur, Kovilpatti, Vilathikulam, Sankaran kovil, Thoothukudi,
Srivaikuntam, Udumalpet, Coimbatore, Dharapuram, Palladam,
Gobichettipalayam, Bhavani, Erode, Avinashi, Uthamapalayam, Palani,
Kodaikanal, Vedasandur, Dindugul, Nilakottai, Usilampatti, Thirumangalam,
Periakulam, Karur
E 4 ( E 4) B 1 C 2 E 1 Tiruchendur, Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Ramanathapuram
E 4 (E 4) A 1 B 2 E 1 Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Lalgudi, Musiri
E 4 ( C 1 E 3) C 2 E 2 Thuraiyur, Kulithalai, Tiruchirappalli, Manapparai, Pollachi, Agastheswaram
E 4(C 1E 3) A 1B 1C 1E 1 Mayavaram, Nannilam
E 4 ( C 2 E 2) C 1 E 3 Vaniyambadi, Thirupathur, Uthankarai, Thirukoilur, Kallakurichi, Perambalur,
Kulathur, Alangudi, Thirumayam, Harur, Athur, Thanjavur, Arathangi,
Arakkonam, Walajapet, Cheyyar, Arani, Polur, Chengam,
Thiruvannamalai,,Gudiyatham, Vellore, Thiruthani, Madurai North, Madurai
South, Melur, Thirupathur, Sivaganga, Chengam, Wandavasi.
E 4 (C 2E 2) B 1C 2E 1 Virudhachalam, Ariyalur, Udayarpalayam, Kumbakonam, Papanasam,
Mannargudi, Pattukottai, Orathanadu, Tenkasi, Shencottai, Thiruvallur,
Sriperumpudur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Maduranthagam, Tindivanam,
Villupuram.
E 4(C 2E 2)A1B 1C1E 1 Ponneri, Saidapet, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi.
C1E 3(C 1E 3)C1E3 Hosur, Denkanikottai,
C1E 3(C2E2)C1E3 Omalur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Mettur, Salem, Rasipuram, Sangagiri,
Thiruchengodu, Namakkal.
PRE MONSOON SOWING
Based on the probability of receiving sowing rains, Pre monsoon dry seeding weeks have been
fixed for the different districts of Tamil Nadu, where dry seeding is feasible in Vertisols.
Name of the Districts Sowing STD week Dates

1. Coimbatore & Erode 37 to 38 Sep 10 to 23
2. Dharmapuri 38 to 39 Sep 17 to 30
3. Vellore 36 to 37 Sep 3 to 16
4. Ramanathapuram 40 to 41 Oct 1 to 14
5. Thoothukudi 39 to 40 Sep 24 to Oct 7
6. Virudhunagar 38 to 39 Sep 17 to 30
5. WATER BALANCE STUDY
247
Water balance study was conducted for the two taluks of Tamil nadu based on the Water
Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI). It is suggested that sorghum can be sown during 36 th Std
week against 16 th STD week. The data from the table indicate that if it is sown 16 th STD week, the
crop may suffer due to soil moisture. This result is valid for sorghum crop for Manapparai Taluk.
Manapparai - Sorghum crop
Manapparai (16th week sowing) Manapparai (36th week sowing)
STD week Date WRSI STD week Date WRSI
16 April 16 - 22 100.00 36 Sep 3 - 9 100
17 April 23 - 29 100.00 37 Sep 10 - 16 100
18 April 30 May 6 97.78 38 Sep 17 - 23 100
19 May 7 - 13 95.81 39 Sep 24 - 30 100
20 May 14 - 20 92.11 40 Oct 1 - 7 100
21 May 21 - 27 87.59 41 Oct 8 - 14 100
22 May 28 - Jun 3 81.80 42 Oct 15 - 21 100
23 June 4 - 10 74.58 43 Oct 22 - 28 100
24 June 11 - 17 66.13 44 Oct 29 - Nov 4 100
25 June 18 - 24 54.06 45 Nov 5 - 11 100
26 June 25 - July 1 48.29 46 Nov 12 - 18 100
27 July 2 - 8 43.93 47 Nov 19 - 25 100
28 July 9 - 15 43.93 48 Nov 26 - Dec 2 100
Similar study was undertaken for Namakkal Taluk for Groundnut sowing:
The result indicates that rainfed Groundnut sowing can be taken in the order of 28 th STD week,
26 th STD week, 23 th STD week.
The dates are given in the table :
Namakkal Namakkal Namakkal

(16th week sowing) (23rd week sowing) (28th week sowing)
STD Date WRSI STD Date WRSI STD Date WRSI
week week week
16 April 16 - 22 100 23 June 4 - 10 100 28 July 9 - 15 100
17 April 23 - 29 100 24 June 11 - 17 99.95 29 July 16 - 22 100
18 April 30 May 6 100 25 June 18 - 24 99.34 30 July 23 - 29 100
19 May 7 - 13 100 26 June 25 - July 1 95.97 31 July 30 - Aug 5 100
20 May 14 - 20 100 27 July 2 - 8 94.68 32 Aug 6 - 12 100
21 May 21 - 27 100 28 July 9 - 15 94.22 33 Aug 13 - 19 100
22 May 28 - Jun 3 100 29 July 16 - 22 92.82 34 Aug 20 - 26 100
23 June 4 - 10 100 30 July 23 - 29 92.92 35 Aug 27 - Sep 2 100
24 June 11 - 17 100 31 July 30 - Aug 5 92.82 36 Sep 3 - 9 100
25 June 18 - 24 100 32 Aug 6 - 12 92.74 37 Sep 10 - 16 100
26 June 25 - July 1 96.87 33 Aug 13 - 19 91.03 38 Sep 17 - 23 100
27 July 2 - 8 91.27 34 Aug 20 - 26 91.03 39 Sep 24 - 30 100
28 July 9 - 15 91.27 35 Aug 27 - Sep 2 91.03 40 Oct 1 - 7 100
29 July 16 - 22 90.52 36 Sep 3 - 9 91.03 41 Oct 8 - 14 100
248
Agrometeorology
30 July 23 - 29 90.52 37 Sep 10 - 16 91.03 42 Oct 15 - 21 100
31 July 30 - Aug 5 90.52 38 Sep 17 - 23 91.03 43 Oct 22 - 28 100
6. MEDIUM RANGE WEATHER FORECAST

In Tamil nadu, about 55.4 per cent of the arable land depends entirely on rainfall for its crop
productions. Since rainfall varies in space and time, there is risk in farming for dryland crop production.
Proper understanding of the climate and issuing weather forecast based on the dynamic nature of
atmosphere would help is multiple ways. Four different weather forecasts are presently made. They
are now casting, short range, medium range, long range.
Among the four forecasts, the weather forecast given under medium range seems to serve the
purpose of the farmers. Since it provides enough time to the farmers to change the agricultural
operations based on anticipated weather change under dryland environment.
In this context, a project on the establishment of national centre for Medium Range Weather
Forecast (NCMRWF) and Development of Agrometeorological service was approved by the
Government of India and implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is
mission mode. Currently local weather forecast based on direct Model output of General Circulation
Model (GCM) is prepared by NCMRWF and given to 27 experimental agromet advisory service units
located at different State Agricultural Universities (SAU) including five in Tamil Nadu, three under
TNAU (Coimbatore, Kovilpatti and Aduthurai) and two under Tamil Nadu veterinary and Animal
Science University (Chennai and Namakkal). In turn the SAU prepare weather based agro advisory
bulletin and communicate to the farmers for making decisions on Agricultural activities based on
anticipated weather change. The forecast covers, cloud cover, rainfall, wind speed, wind directions,
maximum temperature, and minimum temperature.
v v v v v
249
IMPROVED BULLOCK DRAWN IRON PLOUGH
LOW DRAFT CHISEL PLOUGH
250
Farm Implements & Machinery
FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY

I. LAND PREPARATION IMPLEMENTS
1. IMPROVED IRON PLOUGH
a. Function
Dry ploughing in all types of soils. The plough is provided with a mould board as on optional
attachment for soil inversion.
b. Specification
i. Type : Bullock drawn implement
ii. Power requirement : A pair of bullocks
iii. Overall dimensions : 3500 x 250 x 900 mm
iv. Weight : 17 kg.
v. Capacity : 0.5 ha/ day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 500/-
d. Cost of operation
Rs. 50/ ha.
2. LOW DRAFT CHISEL PLOUGH

a. Function
For deep tillage. The implement could be used for deep tillage upto a depth of 40cm of 40 cm
for opening hard soil pan.
b. Specification
i. Type : Mounted implement
ii. Power requirement : 35 to 45 hp tractor
iv. Weight : 42 kg.
v. Capacity : 1.4 ha /day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 5,000/-
Rs.350/ ha.
251
TRACTOR DRAWN CHANNEL FORMER
TRACTOR DRAWN TRENCHER
252
3. TRACTOR DRAWN CHANNEL FORMER
a. Function
To form irrigation channels of bunds size 300 mm and 800 mm channel size at required intervals
in ploughed soil. The channel size can be adjusted.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35 to 45 hp Tractor
iv. Weight : 190 kg.
v. Capacity : 3000 m run per hr.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 6,000/-
Rs. 5 per 100 m run
4. TRACTOR DRAWN TRENCHER

a. Function
To form rectangular trench of 300 x 300 mm The two bottoms throw the removed soil in opposite
directions and form vertical walls one on each side of the trench. Useful for making trenches in
banana field for laying drip irrigation pipe lines and drainage channels.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35 to 45 hp Tractor
v. Capacity : 1700 m run per hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 7,000/-
Rs. 9 per 100 m run
253
POWER TILLER OPERATED TERRACER CUM LEVELLER
BROADCASTER
254
5. POWER TILLER OPERATED TERRACER CUM LEVELLER
a. Function
For land levelling, terracing, bund forming and for forming soil and water conservation structures.
b. Specification
a. Type : Power tiller front mounted
b. Power requirement : 8 to 10 hp power tiller
c. Overall dimension : 780 x 1000 x 580 mm
d. Weight : 35 kg.
e. Capacity : 0.08 m3
c. Cost of the unit
Rs.3,500/-
Cost of moving 1 m3 of soil is Rs.3.30
II. SOWING IMPLEMENTS

1. BROADCASTER
a. Function
The centrifugal type unit that is hung in front of the operator, broadcast seeds and granular
fertilizers. The material is put in the hopper in batches of 3 to 5 kg and the operator has to walk while
rotating the handle. The material is spread over a 3.5 to 10 m width.
b. Specification
i. Type : Manually operated
ii. Power requirement : One labour
iv. Weight : 3.6 kg.
v. Capacity : 4 ha / day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 1,500/-
Rs. 15 per ha
255
IMPROVED GORRU
BULLOCK DRAWN SEED PLANTER
256
2. IMPROVED GORRU
a. Function
Line sowing and fertilizer application for crops like groundnut, sorghum, cowpea, bengal gram,
green gram, black gram etc. in three rows simultaneously.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : A pair of bullocks, and operator and two persons
iv. Weight : 45 kg.
v. Capacity : 1 ha /day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 1,500/-
Rs. 190/ ha.
3. BULLOCK DRAWN SEED PLANTER

a. Function
Line sowing of crops like groundnut, sorghum, cowpea, bengal gram, green gram, blackgram,
etc. in three rows simultaneously.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : A pair of bullocks
iv. Weight : 65 kg.
v. Capacity : 1 ha/ day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 3,500/-
Rs. 130/ha.
257
TRACTOR DRAWN SEED PLANTER
BROAD BED FORMER-CUM-SEED PLANTER
258
4. TRACTOR DRAWN SEED PLANTER
a. Function
This planter can be mounted to tractor drawn cultivator which is commercially available. This is
useful for line sowing of crops like groundnut, sorghum, maize, pulses and paddy. Suitable for
sowing larger area in less time before the moisture is depleted in the dry tracts.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35 hp tractor
iii. Overall dimensions : 2350 x 1125 x 1150 mm.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 9,500/- (Planter attachment to the cultivator)
Rs. 300/ha.
5. BROAD BED FORMER-CUM-SEED PLANTER

a. Function
For forming broad beds and line sowing simultaneously, the crops like groundnut, sorghum,
maize and pulses. Suitable for low rainfall regions.
b. Specification
v. Capacity : 3 ha/day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs.20,000/-
d. Capacity
Rs. 400/ha.
259
BASIN LISTER CUM SEED PLANTER
RIDGER SEEDER FOR COTTON
260
6. BASIN LISTER CUM SEED PLANTER
a. Function
For forming 1250 x 30 x 15 sized basins and the line sowing simultaneously of the crops like
groundnut, sorghum, maize and pulses. Suitable for low rainfall regions.
b. Specification
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 25,000/-
Rs. 400/ha.
7. RIDGER SEEDER FOR COTTON

a. Function
For tilling, ridge forming and sowing delinted cotton simultaneously on the sides of the ridges at
the required depth.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35 to 45 hp tractor
v. Capacity : 3.5 ha/day
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 22,500/-
Rs. 340/- ha.
261
DIRECT PADDY SEEDER FOR WETLAND
PADDY TRANSPLANTER
262
8. DIRECT PADDY SEEDER FOR WETLAND

a. Function
For sowing pre-germinated paddy seeds in rows directly in well puddled and levelled soil.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Two labourers
iv. Weight : 12kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 3,000/-
Rs. 275/ha.
9. PADDY TRANSPLANTER
a. Function
For transplanting mat type paddy seedlings in 6 rows in puddle and levelled soil
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Two labourers. One for operation and another for
transporting mat seedlings
iv. Weight : 16 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 3,500/-
Rs.450/ha.
263
LONG HANDLED WEEDER
ENGINE OPERATED WEEDER
264
III INTERCULTURAL EQUIPMENTS

1. LONG HANDLED WEEDER
a. Function
For weeding in row crops for removing shallow rooted weeds. It has been designed ergonomically
for easy operation. Useful in dryland and gardenland crops is ideal at a soil moisture content of 8 to
10 per cent.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : A man labourer
iv. Weight : 3 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 350/-
Rs. 800/ha.
2. ENGINE OPERATED WEEDER

a. Function
For weeding in between rows of crops like tapioca, cotton, sugarcane, maize, orchards, coconut
and arecanut plantations.
b. Specification
i. Type : Engine operated
ii. Power requirement : 3 hp petrol start kerosene run engine, one operator
and two labourers for weeding in between plants
iv. Weight : 90 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 30,000/-
Rs. 275/ha.
265
BATTERY OPERATED LOW VOLUME SPRAYER
SPRAYER
FOR
COCONUT TREE
266
IV PLANT PROTECTION EQUIPMENTS

1. BATTERY OPERATED LOW VOLUME SPRAYER
a. Function
For spraying chemicals on crops like paddy, groundnut, pulses and vegetables. It requires 50
litres of water per hectare.
b. Specification
i. Type : Knapsack
ii. Power requirement : 6 V rechargeable battery
iv. Weight : 17 kg. with pesticide
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 1500/-
Rs. 65/ha.
2. SPRAYER FOR COCONUT TREE

a. Function
To spray chemicals in tall coconut trees upto a height of 65 feet. Rotary and oscillary movement
of nozzle, and up and down movement of the telescopic pipe enables to reach any target in the
canopy.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 200kg.
v. Capacity : 10 trees per hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 35,000/-
Rs. 10 per tree
267
INSECT TRAP ATTACHMENT TO POWER SPRAYER
CORCYRA MOTH COLLECTOR
268
3. INSECT TRAP ATTACHMENT TO POWER SPRAYER
a. Function
To control crop insect pests without insecticides by effectively trapping the insects like hopper,
midges, white flies and ash weevils. It will be useful for the control of dreadful i n s e c t s
especially during outbreak.
b. Specification
i. Type : Knapsack
ii. Power requirement : A power sprayer
iv. Weight : 15 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs.250/-
Rs. 170/ ha.
4. CORCYRA MOTH COLLECTOR

a. Function
For mass production of biological control agents. Used for collection of corcyra moth with
minimum health hazard. Productivity is increased as collection time is reduced. Ensured collection
of moth without damage.
b. Specification
i. Type : Vacuum cleaner principle
ii. Power requirement : 1/4 hp motorised blower
iv. Weight : 2 kg.
v. Capacity : 4600 moths per hour
c. Cost of unit
Rs. 1,000/- excluding source of vacuum
Rs. 5/ hr.
269
CORCYRA EGG SCALE SEPARATOR
PADDY HARVESTER
270
5. CORCYRA EGG SCALE SEPARATOR
a. Function
For mass production of biological control agents by hygienic means. It works on the principle of
aspiration column. The egg-scale mixture is placed on a fine wire mesh and air is blown through it
evenly. The lighter scales are separated and collected.
b. Specification
i. Type : Vacuum cleaner principle
ii. Power requirement : 0.1 hp electric motor
iv. Weight : 10 kg.
v. Capacity : 200 ml of eggs per hour
c. Cost of unit
Rs. 2,000/-
Rs.10/hr.
V. HARVESTING AND THRESHING MACHINES

1. PADDY HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting and winnowing non-lodging paddy varieties. It is a self propelled unit and width
of coverage is 0.75 m.
b. Specification
i. Type : Engine operated
ii. Power requirement : 3 HP kerosene engine, 1 operator and 2 women
labourers to collect and bundle the cut crop
iv. Weight : 30 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs.30,000/-
Rs. 260/ha
271
FODDER SORGHUM HARVESTER
GROUNDNUT HARVESTER
272
2. FODDER SORGHUM HARVESTER
a. Function
For cutting and winnowing the fodder sorghum and other crops like maize, gingelly, palmrosa,
etc. The width of cut is 1.0 m.
b. Specification
i. Type : Engine operated -walking behind
ii. Power requirement : 5 HP diesel engine
iv. Weight : 75 kg.
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 21,000/- (without prime mover)
Rs. 200/ha.
3. GROUNDNUT HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting and winnowing groundnut crop at soil moisture levels of 8-15%.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35-45 HP tractor
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 20,000/-
Rs.660/-
273
GROUNDNUT THRESHER
CASTOR SHELLER
274
4. GROUNDNUT THRESHER
a. Function
For threshing and separating groundnut pods. Suitable for freshly harvested and high moisture
groundnut crop.
b. Specification
i. Type : Motor of Tractor PTO operated
ii. Power requirement : 5 hp
iv. Weight : 350 kgs.
v. Capacity : 200 kg pods/hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 30,000/-
Rs.32 per quintal
5. CASTOR SHELLER
a. Function
For shelling castor pods and separating castor kernels. It can either be operated manually or by
electric motor. When operated by electric motor both shelling and cleaning are done simultaneously
b. Specification
i. Type : Manual or electric
ii. Power requirement : Manual -Two labours
Electric 0.5 hp and one labour
iv Weight : 65 kg.
v. Capacity : Manual -50 kg. pods /hour
Electric -200 kg. pods /hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 4,000/-
Rs. 25 per quintal (manual)
Rs. 10 per quintal (electric)
275
HAND CUM PEDAL OPERATED CHAFF CUTTER
POWER OPERATED CHAFF CUTTER
276
VI. OTHER EQUIPMENTS

1. HAND CUM PEDAL OPERATED CHAFF CUTTER
a. Function
To cut the chaff into bits for easy assimilation by animals. It is ideal for cutting green fodder, dry
fodder and paddy straw. Uniform sized bits can be obtained.
b. specification
ii. Power requirement : Two persons
iv. Weight : 40 kg.
v. Capacity : 300 kg. green fodder /hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs.1,500/-
Rs. 10/hr.
2. POWER OPERATED CHAFF CUTTER

a. Function
To cut the chaff into bits for easy assimilation by animals. It is ideal for cutting green fodder, dry
fodder and paddy straw. Uniform size and required length of chaff bits, can be obtained.
b. Specification
i. Type : Power operated
ii. Power requirement : 2 hp
iv. Weight : 40 kg.
v. Capacity : 750 kg. green fodder /hour
250 kg. dry fodder/hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs .9,500/-
Rs. 25/hr.
277
MULBERRY STEM CUTTER
POWER TILLER OPERATED HEAVY DUTY AUGER DIGGER
278
3. MULBERRY STEM CUTTER

a. Function
To cut the mulberry stem for planting without damage
b. Specification
i. Type : Hand cum pedal operated unit
ii. Power requirement : One person
iv. Weight : 26 kg.
v. Capacity : 2400 stems per hour
c. Cost of the Unit
Rs.1500/-
Rs.10 / hr
4. POWER TILLER OPERATED HEAVY DUTY AUGER DIGGER

a. Function
To dig holes for planting tree saplings. Front mounted to any power tiller with slight modification.
It can dig holes of 30 cm diameter upto a depth of 45 cm.
b. Specification
i. Type : Worm gear box driven, operated manually
worm gear transmission ratio -1:10
ii. Power requirement : 8 to 10 hp power tiller
iii. Overall dimension : 1100 x 670 x 1830 mm
iv. Weight : 60 kg.
v. Capacity : 20 holes per hour
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 15,000/-
Rs. 65/hr.
279
POWER TILLER OPERATED

DIRECT DRIVEN
AXIAL FLOW PUMP
GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR
(HAND OPERATED)
280
5. POWER TILLER OPERATED DIRECT DRIVEN AXIAL FLOW PUMP
a. Function
For pumping water from low heads for irrigation/drainage. The pump can be attached to the
front of the power tiller through an adjustable swivelling system which can incline suction pipe to the
desired level, thereby different depths of suction can be achieved.
b. Specification
I. Type : Power tiller operated
ii. Power requirement : 8 to 10 hp power tiller
v. Capacity : 3500 litres per minute
c. Cost of the Unit
Rs. 6,000/-
Rs. 61/hr.
AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

I. SHELLING / DECORTICATING / DEHUSKING EQUIPMENT
1. GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (HAND OPERATED)
a. Function
To shell the groundnut kernels from pods. Shelling is carried out by rubbing action of the
rocking assembly. Sieves can be replaced based on pod size and variety.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
(Length x Breadth x Height) : 1150 x 500 x 1320 mm
ii. Capacity : 100 kg/hr
iii. Power required : Nil
iv. Labour required : Three persons
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 2,000/-
Rs. 15.5/hr
281
GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR
(POWER OPERATED)
1. FLY WHEEL
2. CONNECTING ROD
3. FEED HOPPER
4. OSCILLATING SECTOR
5. SIEVE
6. HUSK OUTLET
7. KERNELS OUTLET
8. BLOWER
9. ELECTRICAL MOTOR
(DIMENSION IN MM)
HUSKER SHELLER
FOR MAIZE
1. FEED HOPPER
2. ROTOR
3. BLOWER
4. AUGER
5. AUGER CASING
6. MOTOR
7. GRAIN ELEVATOR
8. MAIZE OUTLET
9. HUSK AND DUST OUTLET
10. CONCAVE SIEVE
282
2. GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (POWER OPERATED)

a. Function
To shell the groundnut kernels from pods. Shelling is carried out by rubbing action of the oscillating
sector. Sieves can be replaced based on pod size and variety.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
iii. Power required : 1.0 hp electric motor
iv. Labour required : One
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 15,000/-
Rs. 14.60 /hr
3. HUSKER SHELLER FOR MAIZE

a. Function
Dehusking and shelling of maize cobs along with sheath. The shelled kernels can be directly
collected in bags at any convenient height.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
ii. Capacity : 10 t.cobs/day
iii. Power required : 7.5. Hp electric motor (3 phase)
iv. Labour required : Two
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 65,000/-
Rs . 27/hr
283
MAIZE SHELLER
Dimension in mm
1. BLOWER
2. BEVEL
3. FEED HOPPER
4. COMPRESSION SPRING
5. THRESHING DISC
6. SIEVE
7. HUSK
8. GRAIN OUTLET
9. MOTOR
COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE
Dimension in mm
1. MOTOR
2. MAIN FRAME
3. MAIN SHAFT
4. STAINLESS STEEL VESSEL
5. AGITATOR
6. SHUTTER
7. SEED OUTLET
284
4. MAIZE SHELLER
a. Function
To shell the desheathed maize cobs and clean the separated kernels
b. Specification
i. Dimension
iii. Power required : 1.0 hp
iv. Labour required : One
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 15,000/-
Rs. 7.00/hr
5. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE

a. Function
To delint the cotton seed for sowing. Delinting is done in batches by treating with commercial
sulphuric acid and the treated seeds are washed with water.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
iii. Power required : 1 hp electric motor
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 20,000/-
Rs.16.30 / hr
285
GRAIN WINNOWER
Dimension in mm
1. OSCILLATING BOX
2. FEED HOPPER
3. MOTOR
4. BLOWER
5. GRAIN OUTLET
6. SIEVES
SEED CLEANER CUM

GRADER
Dimension in mm
1. IMPURITIES OUTLET
2. MOTOR
3. FEED INLET
4. FEED ROLLER
5. VIBRATORY SCREENS
6. NYLON BURSHES
7. ECCENTRIC
8. BLOWER
9. STAND
10. GRAIN OUTLET
286
II CLEANING AND GRADING EQUIPMENT

1. GRAIN WINNOWER
a. Function
Continuous type winnower to clean threshed grains of all crops
b. Specification
i. Dimension
iii. Power required : 1.0 hp electric motor (3 phase)
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 15,000/-
Rs. 20/hr
2. SEED CLEANER CUM GRADER (CRIPPEN MODEL)

a. Function
Suitable for cleaning and grading of seeds like Paddy, Cholam, Cumbu, Maize etc.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
ii. Capacity : 1500 kg/day
iii. Power required : 2.0 hp
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 1,00,000/-
Rs. 25.00/hr
287
SEED CLEANER CUM GRADER (Petkus model)

1. Big stones outlet 2. Feed hopper 3. Big impurities outlet 4. Sieves
5. Dust outlet 6. Aspirator 7. Big impurities outlet 8. Trash outlet
9. Graded seed outlet 10. Eccentric 11. Small impurities outlet 12. Motor
MINI DHALL MILL
Dimension in mm
1. FEED HOPPER
2. FEED CONTROL SHUTTER
3. SCREW AUGER
4. MAIN BODY
5. MOTOR
6. STAND
7. OUTLET
8. HAND WHEEL
9. LOCK NUT
10. GRINDING DISC
11. RUBBER PAD
288
3. SEED CLEANER CUM GRADER (PETKUS MODEL)

a. Function
Suitable for cleaning and grading of seeds like Paddy, Cholam, Maize, Cumbu etc.
b. Specification
i. Dimension
ii. Capacity : 4000 kg/ day
iii. Power required : 7.5 HP
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 75,000/-
Rs. 24.50/hr
III. MILLING/EXTRACTION EQUIPMENT

1. MINI DHAL MILL
a. Function
To split all kinds of pulses into dhal after premilling treatments. By simple replacement of the
abrasion disc into cast iron serrated disc this unit can be used for pulverising dry grain into flour.
b. specification
i. Dimension
iii. Power required : 0.5 hp electric motor
iv. Labour required : One person
c. Cost of the unit
Rs. 5,000/-
Rs. 10/hr
289
DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
290
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION ENGINEERING

1. DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM
A. FUNCTION
The system controls the supply of water to the plants by a network of tubes with water under
pressure.
B. EQUIPMENTS / COMPONENTS
i. The Head unit consists of a pump or over head tank.
ii. Mainline 50 mm, 63 mm and 75 mm HDPE or PVC pipes are used
iii. Submain 45 mm, 50 mm HDPE pipes are used.
iv. Laterals 12 mm and 16 mm LLDPE pipes are used.
v. Drippers - pressure compensating type 2 lph, 4 lph, 8 lph are more suitable
vi. Filter unit : Sand filter for coarse particle detention. Mesh filter ( 120 micron) for fine particle
detention.
vii. Fertiliser unit: A fertiliser tank with ventury setup is used for applying liquid or dissolved
fertilisers. Pressure gauges 0.5 to 2.5 Ksc and gate valve depending on pipe size are also
essential for the system to control and monitor the flow.
C. SALIENT FEATURES
I. 50 to 65% water saving compared to control method.
ii. Crop attains early maturity.
iii. Crop quality and yield increased.
iv. Requires least land levelling.
v. Poor quality water can be used.
D. COST
The cost of the system varies with change in crop spacing. The cost for various crops are given
in table (1). Water requirement (lit/day) increase in yield and water saving (percent), are given in
Table(2)
TABLE.1. COST OF DRIP SYSTEM
Crops Spacing (m) Cost Rs / ha

Coconut 7.5 x 7.5 25,000
Grapes 3.0 x 1.5 40,000
Mango 10.0 x 10.0 24,000
Guava 5.0 x 5.0 34,000
Sapota 10.0 x 10.0 24,000
Pomegranate 5.0 x 5.0 34,000
Banana 2.0 x 2.0 45,000
Vegetables 0.3 x 0.6 55,000
291
BROAD BEDS AND FURROWS
CONTOUR BUND
292
Table 2. Water Saving and Yield Benefits in drip system
Crops Water Requirement lpd/plant Percentage

Drip Conventional Increase in Water saving
yield
Coconut 75 -100 200 - 300 30 45
Grapes 25 - 45 90 -100 23 48
Mango 30 - 50 90 -150 23 40
Guava 22 - 30 70 -100 40 50
Sapota 20 - 30 70 -100 40 50
Pomegranate 20 - 40 60 - 130 98 45
Banana 8 -12 30 - 40 52 45
Lemon 10 - 20 25 - 65 40 60
Papaya 5-8 18 - 26 75 68
Brinjal 1-2 4-8 14 53
Bhendi 1-2 4-6 16 40
Tomato 1-2 4-6 50 39
Chillies 1-2 3-6 44 62
Gourds 1-2 3-6 15 54
2. BROAD BEDS AND FURROWS

a. FUNCTION
To control erosion and to conserve soil moisture in the soil during rainy days.
b. GENERAL INFORMATION
The broad bed and furrow system is laid within the field boundaries. The land levels taken and
it is laid using either animal drawn or tractor drawn ridgers.
c. COST
Approximate cost for laying beds & furrows is Rs.800 / ha.
d. SALIENT FEATURES
I. Conserves soil moisture in dryland
ii. Controls soil erosion.
iii. Acts as a drainage channel during heavy rainy days.
3. CONTOUR BUND
a. FUNCTION
To intercept the run off flowing down the slope by an embankment.
It helps to control run off velocity. The embankment may be closed or open, surplus arrangements
are provided wherever necessary.
c. COST
Approximate cost of laying contour bund is Rs.1400 / ha.
d. SALIENT FEATURES
i. It can be adopted on all soils
ii. It can be laid upto 6% slopes.
iii. It helps to retain moisture in the field.
293
TYPES OF BENCH TERRACES
294
4. BENCH TERRACING
a. FUNCTION
It helps to bring sloping land into different level strips to enable cultivation.
It consists of construction of step like fields along contours by half cutting and half filling. Original
slope is converted into level fields. The vertical & horizontal intervals are decided based on level
slope.
c. COST
Approximate cost for laying the terrace is Rs.1600 / ha.
d. SALIENT FEATURES
i. Suitable for hilly regions.
ii. The benches may be inward sloping to drain off excess water.
iii. The outward sloping benches will help to reduce the existing steep slope to mild one.
iv. It is adopted in soils with slopes greater than 6%
295
NEW VARIETIES
1. RICE - CO 47
SPECIAL FEATURES
l Short duration
l Semi dwarf
l Suitable for Sornavari, Kar, Kuruvai
l Medium slender, translucent white
l Resistant to blast
Parentage : IR50 / CO 43
Duration : 110 - 115 days
Season : Sornavari/Kar/Kuruvai:
Yield : 5832 kg/ha. superior in yield by 7.0% over ADT 36, 5.9% over ASD18
and by 21.1% over IR 50
Area of adoption : Suitable for the districts of Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Salem,
Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erode, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur and
Thoothukudi districts.
2. REDGRAM-VAMBAN 2
SPECIAL FEATURES
l Medium duration type
l High yielding
l Resistant to sterility mosaic disease
l High protein (20.3%)
Parentage : ICPL 341xBhavanisagar Local
Duration : 170-180 days
Season : June/August
Yield : 1049kg/ha-superior in yield over SA 1 by 20% and CO 6 by 12.1%
Area of adoption : Entire Tamilnadu
296
New Varieties
3. REDGRAM -APK 1
SPECIAL FEATURES
l Short duration
l High yielding
l Suitable for Kharif, Rabi and Summer
l Resistant to sterility mosaic
Parentage : Pureline selection from ICPL 87101
Season : Kharif, Rabi, and Summer
Yield : 906 kg/ha - Superior in yield over Vamban 1 by 34.2%
Area of adoption : Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Siva-ganga, Madurai, Theni, Tuticorin,
Tirunelveli, Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Dharmapuri and Coimbatore districts.
GREENGRAM -CO 6
SPECIAL FEATURES
l Short duration
l High yielding
l Reistant to yellow mosaic virus
l Suitable for Kharif and Rabi seasons
Parentage : WGG 37 x CO 5
Duration : 62 - 67 days
Season : June - July, Sept - October and February - March
Yield : 982kg/ha-superior in yield over CO 5 by 20.4% KM 2 by 20.7%.
Area of adoptiion : All greengram tracts of Tamilnadu.
297
5. GROUNDNUT - CO 3
SPECIAL FEATURES
l Bunch type
l Bold kernels suited for export
l Possesses dark green foliagge
l Oil content (49.2%)
l Shelling out turn (71.4%)
l Moderately resistant to Bud necrosis
Parentage : VRI 3 (VG 55) x JL 24
Duration : 105 days
Season : Kharif (rainfed), Rabi/Summer (irrigated)
Yield : Rainfed: 1750kg/ha-Superior in yield over VRI 2 and CO 2 by 17%
Irrigated: 2150kg/ha-Superior in yield over VRI 2 by 24% and over
CO 2 by 28%.
Area of adoption : Entire Tamil Nadu.
6. GROUNDNUT - ALR 3
SPECIAL FEATURES
l High yielding, Bunch type
l Haulms remain green till harvest
l Resistant to rust and tolerant to late leaf blight
l High oil content (50%) Shelling out turn (69%)
Parentage : [(R-33-1xICG (FDRS) 68 X (Nc Ac 17090 x ALR 1)]

Duration : 110 - 115 days.
Season : Rainfed : April - May and June - July Irrigated : Dec - Jan.
Yield : Rainfed : 1683kg/ha-Superior in yield over ALR 2 by 51%
Irrigated : 1886 kg/ha -Superior in yield over ALR 2 by 29%.
Area adoption : Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli and
Thoothukudi districts.
298
New Varieties
7. COTTON-MCU 12
SPECIAL FEATURES
l High yielding than MCU 5 and LRA 5166
l Medium duration
l Fibre properties equal to MCU 5 and superior to LRA 5166
l Spinnability to 60's counts
l Suited for winter Cambodia tract
Parentage : LRA 5166 x MCU 11

Duaration : 150-160 days
Season : Aug-Feb.
Yield : 1574 kg/ha-Superior in yield over MCU 5 by 23.1% and LRA 5166 by
24.5%
Area of Adoption : Winter irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu.
8. SUGARCANE - COC 99061

SPECIAL FEATURES
l Mid late variety
l Non lodging, non flowering, erect, medium thick cane
l High cane, CCS and sugar yield
l Good ratooner
l Moderately resistant to red rot
Parentage : CO 6806 xCO 740

Season : Mid late
Yield : Cane : 130.3 t/ha-Superior in yield over CO 8021 by 5.9% CO 85019 by
8.75% and COG 93076 by 6.72%
CCS(%) : 11.94 Sugar : 15.59 t/ha
Area of adoption : Entire Tamilnadu
299
9. PUDIA SOUNDEL (INTRODUCTION)
SPECIAL FEATURES
l High fodder yield
l Tolarent to Psyllid pest
l Low mimosine and tannin content
l Highly palatable for cattle, goat and sheep
Parentage : Leucaena diversifolia K 186 (Introduction from Australlia)

Duration : Perennial tree fodder
Season : Throughout the year
Yield : 40 t/ha/yr under rainfed condition
Area of adoption : Dry areas/ waste lands of entire Tamil Nadu.
10. BUTTON MUSHROOM - OOTY 1

SPECIAL FEATURES
l The buttons are pure white, round and 5 - 7 cm in diameter.
l It is compact, hard and withstands storage upto 5 days under room temperature and 10 days
under refrigerated conditions
l High yielding
l The colour apperance, flavour, texture, taste and overall acceptability are very good.
l It contains 7.49% crude fat, 11.55% crude protein and 11.00% crude fibre.
l Longer time for opening of the sporophore, a plus point for growers and traders.
Parentage : Collected from local forests and isolated

Duration : 90 days
Season : In hills from March October
Yield : 1.376 kg of buttons/10 kg substrate
Area of adoption : The Nilgiris district
300

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COCONUT

COTTON FARM IMPLEMENTS

O/o. COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE TNAU

Printed at Agricultural Information Unit Press:

dimension and is gaining momentum after the implementation of liberalisation policy.

owing to the revolution in the field of agriculture during the past.

Production Guide in tune with the latest developments.

of new findings, refinement of existing technologies etc.

varietal choice, nutrient and pest management etc., at farm level.

over the country but also from aborad.

Crop Page No.

10 OYSTER MUSHROOM 213

11 MILKY MUSHROOM 215

15 AGRO FORESTRY 224

16 INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM 235

17 SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS &

18 CHISEL TECHNOLOGY 242

19 SURGE IRRIGATION 243

21 FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY

22.AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS

23.SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

24.NEW VARIETIES 296

Parentage TN 1 x CO 29 Triveni x IR 20 TN1X CO 29

Grain size (mm)

Parentage Kannagi X Cul.2032 IR 1721-14 x IR 2153-14 X

Grain size (mm)

Parentage Dasal x IR 20 Pankaj x Jagan- IR 1561-228/1

Grain size (mm)

Parentage Taichung 65/2 CO 25 X IR 8 IR 8/W 1263

Grain size (mm)

PARTICULARS TPS 1 PMK 1 PY 4 (JAWAHAR)

Parentage IR 8 X Kattisamba CO 25 X ADT 31 IR 8 X H 4

PARTICULARS ADT 38 TPS 2 ADT 39

PARTICULARS CO 45 ASD 18 MDU 4

Grain size (mm)

Parentage CO 31/C22 Dwarf mutant RP 31-492/LMN

PARTICULARS MGR (CORH 1) ADT 42 PMK 2

Parentage IR62829A/ AD9246/ IR13564-

Duration(Days) 115 115 110-115

PARTICULARS ASD 20 CO 46 ADT 43

3. SELECTION OF SUITABLE NURSERY AREA

11. WATER MANAGEMENT

13. PEST MANAGEMENT

16. AGE OF SEEDLINGS

9. APPLICATION OF ZINC SULPHATE

10. DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

12. NEEM TREATED UREA AND COALTAR TREATED UREA

13. BASAL APPLICATION OF GYPSUM

2. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS IN THE MAIN FIELD

Medium and low fertility High fertility

SOIL TYPE SUMMER WINTER

2. WEED MANAGEMENT - PRE-EMERGENCE

8. TOP DRESSING THE BALANCE QUANTITY OF N

9. SPRAYING ZINC SULPHATE

10. LATE HAND WEEDING

6. MANURES AND MANURING

DIRECT SEEDING IN RICE CULTIVATION

SEMI DRY RICE

8. SPRAYING OF INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES

II. SELECTION OF SEEDS

Parentage (Multiple cross derivative Pureline selection Hybrid derivative of

Area (Districts) Western Zone Salem, Namakkal Southern districts of