Agronomy of Field Crops

CROP
PRODUCTION
GUIDE
2005
DEPT.OF AGRICULTURE, GOVT.OF TAMIL NADU TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Chennai - 5 Coimbatore - 3
1
CROP PRODUCTION GUIDE - 2005
CONTENTS
Crop Page No.

1 RICE
2 MILLETS
Sorghum
Cumbu
Ragi
Maize
Small Millets
3 WHEAT
4 PULSES
Redgram
Blackgram
Greengram
Cowpea
Horsegram
Bengalgram
Garden Lab lab (Avarai)
Field Lab lab (Mochai)
Soya bean
Sword bean
5 OILSEEDS
Groundnut
Sesame
Castor
Safflower
Sunflower
Coconut
Oilpalm
Niger
6 FIBRE CROPS
Cotton
Jute
Agave
7 SUGARCANE
8 SWEET SORGHUM
9 TROPICAL SUGARBEET
10 JATROPHA CURCAS
11 FORAGE CROPS
Fodder Cholam
Fodder Cumbu
Fodder Maize
Neelakolukattai
Guinea grass
2
Deenanath grass
Cumbu Napier Hybrids
Lucerne – Kudiraimasal
Hedge Lucerne – Velimasal
Fodder Cowpea
Muyalmasal
Leucaena – Soundal
12 OYSTER MUSHROOM
13 MILKY MUSHROOM
14 COMPOSTING
15 SERICULTURE
16 AGRO FORESTRY
17 INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM
18 WEEDS
19 SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS &

THEIR MANAGEMENT
20 CHISEL TECHNOLOGY
21 SURGE IRRIGATION
22 MICRO IRRIGATION
23 AGROMETEOROLOGY
24 FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY
I. Land preparation implements
II. Sowing implements
III. Inter-cultural equipments
IV. Plant Protection equipments
V. Harvesting and thrashing machines
VI. Other equipments
25 AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS
I. Threshing / Shelling/Decorticating/Dehusking pulping
equipments
II. Cleaning & Grading equipments
III. Milling/Extraction equipments
IV. Milling and extraction equipments
V. Equipments and technology for value addition
26 BIO-ENERGY
27 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
ENGINEERING
3
RICE (Oryza sativa L.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
I. SEASON AND VARIETIES
District/Season Month Varieties
1. Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur
Sornavari (April -May) ADT 36, IR 36, IR 50, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 17, IR 64, ASD
18, ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT43, CO 47, TRY (R)2*,
ADT (R) 45, ADTRH 1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, ADT 40, PY 4, ADT 39, TRY 1,
ASD 19, ADT(R) 44, CORH 2
Late Samba (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 43, TRY 1, ADT (R)46,
CORH 2
Navarai (Dec -Jan) ADT 36, ADT 37, ASD 16, IR 64, ASD 18, ADT 42, ADT 43
MDU 5, ASD 20
Dry (July - Aug) PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM 11, PMK (R) 3, TKM (R) 12
Semi-dry (July - Aug) IR 20, TKM 10, PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM 11, TKM (R) 12,
PMK (R) 3
2. Vellore/Tiruvannamalai
Sornavari (April-May) IR 64, ADT 36, IR 50, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 17, ASD 18,
ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45,
ADT RH1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) Ponmani, ADT 40, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43,
Paiyur 1, PY 4, CO 45, TRY 1, ASD 19, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec -Jan) ADT 36, IR 20, ADT 39, CO 43, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18,
ADT 42, MDU 5, CO 47, ASD 20, TRY (R)2*
3. Cuddalore/ Villupuram
Sornavari (April -May) ADT 36, IR 50, ASD 16, IR 64, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R)2*, ADTRH 1,
ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Ponmani, PY 4, ADT 38, TRY 1,
ASD 19, ADT (R) 44, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec-Jan) ADT 36, IR 20, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 39, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT
42, MDU 5, ASD 20, TRY (R)2*
4. Tiruchirappalli/Karur/Perambalur
Kuruvai (Jun -Jul) ADT 36, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, ADT 37, ASD 18, ADT 42,
MDU 5, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45 (except Karur),
TRY (R)2*, ADTRH 1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, ADT 40, Ponmani, TRY 1,
ASD 19, ADT (R) 44
Late Samba / Thaladi (Sep -Oct) IR20, WhitePonni, ADT39, CO43, TRY1, ASD19, ADT(R)46,
Navarai (Dec -Jan) ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD 20,
TRY (R)2*
5. Thanjavur/Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur
Kuruvai (Jun -Jul) ADT 36, IR 50, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42,
MDU 5, ADT 43, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R) 2*, ADTRH 1, ADT (R)
47, ,ADT (R) 48
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Ponmani, ADT 38, TRY 1,
ASD 19, ADT (R) 44, CORH 2
Late Samba / Thaladi (Sep -Oct) ADT 38, IR 20, CO 43, Ponmani, ADT 39, TRY 1, ASD 19,
ADT (R)46,
Navarai (Kullankar) (Dec -Jan) ADT 36, ADT 37, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20, TRY (R)2*
6. Pudukottai
Kuruvai (Jun -Jul) ADT 36, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD 20,
ADT 43, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R) 2*, ADTRH 1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, Ponmani, TRY 1, ASD 19,
4
ADT (R) 44, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, ADT 38, ADT 39, TRY 1, ASD 19, CO 43, ADT (R)46
Dry (Jul -Aug) ADT 36, PMK 2, TKM 10, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
Semi-dry (Jul -Aug) ADT 36, PMK 2, TKM 10, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
7. Madurai/Dindigul/Theni
Kar (May - Jun) ADT 36, IR 50, IR 36, IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT
42, MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45 (Dindigul
only), TRY (R) 2*, ADTRH 1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 42, CO 43, ADT 38, ADT 40,
MDU 4, TRY 1, ASD 19, ADT (R) 44, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, MDU 3, ADT 39, MDU 4, CO 43,
ASD 19, TRY 1, ADT (R)46
Navarai (Dec -Jan) IR 64, ADT 36, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20, TRY (R) 2*
Semi-dry (Jul -Aug) PMK 2, TKM 10, MDU 5, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
8. Ramanathapuram
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, MDU 3, ASD 19, TRY 1,
ADT (R) 44, CORH 2
Rainfed & Semidry (Jul -Aug) ASD 17, ADT 36, PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
9. Virudhunagar
Samba (Sep-Oct) CO 43, TRY 1, IR 20, ADT (R)46, ADT 39, CORH 2
Dry (Jul -Aug) ADT 36, PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
10. Sivaganga
Semi-dry (Jul –Aug) ADT 36, IR 36, ADT 39, PMK 2, MDU 5, TKM (R) 12,
PMK (R) 3
11. Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
Early Kar (Apr - May) IR 50, ADT 36, IR 64, ADT 42, ADT 43, ADT 45, CO 47, ADT
(R) 47
Kar (May -Jun) ASD 16, ASD 17, ASD 18, ADT 42, ADT 43, CO 47,
ADT (R) 45, TRY (R) 2*, ADTRH 1, ADT (R) 47
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) White Ponni, IR 20, ADT 39, ASD 19, TRY 1, ADT (R)46,
CORH 2
Pishanam/Late Pishanam (Sep-Oct.) ASD 18, ASD 16, ASD 19, CO 43, TRY 1, ADT (R)46
Semi Dry (July- Aug) MDU 5, ADT 36, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
12. Kanyakumari
Kar (May –Jun) ADT 36, IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 17, ASD 18, ADT 42,
MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, ADT 45, CO 47, ADTRH 1, ADT (R)
47
Pishanam / Late Samba / (Sep – Oct) White Ponni, IR 20, Ponmani, CO 43, TRY 1, TPS 2, TPS 3,
Thaladi ADT (R) 44, ADT 39, ASD 18, ASD 19, MDU 5, ADT (R) 46
Semi-dry (Jul – Aug) ADT 36, ASD 17, PMK 2, TKM (R) 12, PMK (R) 3
13. Salem, Namakkal
Kar (May - Jun) IR 50, ADT 36,IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ASD18, ADT 42, MDU
5, ASD 20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R)2*, ADTRH
1, ADT (R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, White Ponni, Bhavani, CO 43, MDU 4, TRY 1,
ASD 19, ADT (R) 44
Navarai (Dec - Jan) IR 20, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 18, ASD 19, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20, TRY (R)2*
14. Dharmapuri/ Krishnagiri
Kar (May -Jun) IR 50, IR 64, ASD 16, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43,
ASD 18, MDU 4, ASD 19, PAIYUR 1, ADT 42, TRY 1,
MDU 5, ASD 20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADTRH 1, TRY (R)2*, ADT
(R) 47
Navarai (Dec- Jan) IR 64, ADT 37, ASD 16, ADT 36, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20, TRY (R)2*
Samba/Late Samba (Aug - Oct) TRY 1, Bhavani, IR 20, White Ponni, CO 43, MDU 4, ASD 19,
5
ADT (R) 44, ADT (R) 46
15. Coimbatore
Kar (May - Jun) IR 50, ADT 36, ASD 16, IR 64, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD
20, ADT 43, CO 47, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R)2*, ADTRH 1, ADT
(R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, CO 43, White Ponni, ADT 39, MDU 4, TRY 1, ASD 19,
Bhavani, ADT(R) 44, CORH 2
Late Samba/Thaladi (Sep - Oct) IR 20, ADT 39, ADT(R) 46, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec -Jan) IR 20, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, TRY1, MDU 5, ASD
20, TRY (R) 2*
16. Erode
Kar (May - Jun) IR 50, ASD 16, IR 64, ADT 36, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5, ASD
20, ADT 43, CO, 47, ADT (R) 45, TRY (R)2*, ADTRH 1, ADT
(R) 47
Samba (Aug) IR 20, Bhavani, CO 43, White Ponni, ADT 39, TRY 1, CO 46,
ADT (R) 44
Late Samba (Sep - Oct) IR 20, White Ponni, ADT 39, CO 43, TRY 1, CO 46, ADT (R)
46, CORH 2
Navarai (Dec – Jan) IR 20, ADT 36, IR 64, ASD 16, ASD 18, ADT 42, MDU 5,
ASD 20
17. The Nilgiris
Samba (Jul -Aug) IR 20, CO 43, TRY 1, ADT (R) 44
* suitable for salt affected soils
Note of Caution of the varieties: IR 50 and ADT43 are recommended for Kar, Sornavari and Kuruvai
seasons and should not be grown during cold weather period. ASD19 and White Ponni are also
susceptible to blast and care should be taken on plant protection measures.
II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES

PARTICULARS PY 4 (JAWAHAR) IR 20 BHAVANI
Parentage IR 8 X H 4 IR 262 X TKM 6 Peta x BPI 76
Duration (Days) 145 - 150 130 -135 130 - 135
Average Yield (kg/ha) 5330 5000 5000
1000 grain wt (g) 24.8 19 21.5
Grain L/B ratio 3.1 3 4.72
Grain type Long bold Medium slender Long Slender
Morphological Characters
Habit Semi dwarf, erect Semi-dwarf Medium tall
Leaf sheath Green Green Green
Septum Green Cream Cream
Ligule Colourless White Colourless
Auricle Colourless White Colourless
Panicle Long drooping Medium compact Long compact
Husk colour Straw Straw Straw
Rice colour White White White
Abdominal white Absent Absent Absent
Grain size (mm)
Length 9.3 8.2 9.6
Breadth 3 2.7 2.03
Thickness 1.8 2 1.5
II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

PARTICULARS ADT 36 IR 50 IR 64
Parentage Triveni x IR 20 IR 2153-14 X IR 5657-33-2-1/
6
IR 28 X IR 36 IR 2061-465-1-5-3
110 105(Summer)
Duration (Days) 115 – 120
130 (Winter)
1000 grain wt (g) 20.6 20.35 23.1
Grain L/B ratio 3.1 3.9 3.25
Grain type Medium Long Slender Long slender
Habit Erect Erect Semi dwarf
Septum Green Green White
Ligule Colourless Colourless Light green
Auricle Colourless Colourless Light green
Intermediate,
Panicle Long compact Long & drooping
well exerted
Grain size (mm)
Length 7.8 8.9 10.1
Breadth 2.5 2.3 2.9
Thickness 2 1.8 2.2
PARTICULARS CO 43 Ponmani White Ponni

Parentage Dasal x IR 20 Pankaj x Jagannath Taichung 65/2
Mayang Ebos-80
Duration (Days) 135 - 140 155 - 160 135 - 140
1000 grain wt (g) 20 23.5 16.4
Grain type Medium slender Short bold Medium slender
Habit Erect Erect Medium tall
Septum Green Green Green
Ligule White, longer White White
Auricle Colourless Colourless Colourless
Panicle Long drooping Medium drooping Long drooping
Grain size (mm)
Length 8.1 6.9 8
Breadth 2.3 3.1 3
Thickness 1.8 2.1 2
7
PARTICULARS IR 36 MDU 3 CO 47
Parentage IR 1561-228/1 IR 8/W 1263 IR 50 / CO 43

IR 244/O.nivara./ CR
94-13
Duration (Days) 120 120 - 125 110-115
1000 grain wt (g) 21 23.1 20.6
Grain type Medium Long Slender Medium slender
Habit Dwarf Erect Semi dwarf Erect
Septum Cream Cream Yellow
Ligule Colourless White Acute to acuminate, white
Auricle Colourless White, 2-Clefted Colourless
Panicle Compact Medium Compact Compact
Grain size (mm)
Length 8.85 9.4 7.7
Breadth 3.07 2.4 2.3
Thickness 2.18 1.6 1.7
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,
just exerted
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
8
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

PARTICULARS ASD 18 MDU 4 PMK 2
Parentage ADT 31/IR 50 AC 2836/Jagannath IR13564-
149-3/ASD 4
Duration (Days) 105 - 110 120 - 125 110-115
1000 grain wt (g) 21.8 22.9 22.1
Grain L/B ratio 3.2 4 2.53
Grain type Medium slender Long slender Medium bold
Habit Semi dwarf(90cm) Erect, tall Erect
Leaf sheath Pale Green Green Green
Septum Light green Green Cream
Ligule White clefted Colourless Palegreen
Auricle Pale green Colourless Palegreen
Panicle Medium, compact Compact, Medium Medium, compact
exerted
Husk colour Straw Yellow straw
Rice colour White White Dull white
Abdominal white Slightly present Absent Present
Grain size (mm)
Length 8.64 9.12 7.8
Breadth 2.7 2.26 3
Thickness 2.2 — 2
9
PARTICULARS TKM 10 TPS 3 ADT 42
Parentage CO 31/C22 RP 31-492/LMN AD9246/ ADT29
Duration (Days) 135 135 -140 115

1000 grain wt (g) 23.2 23.2 24.8
Grain type Medium slender Short Bold Long, slender
Habit Semi tall Semi dwarf/erect Semi-dwarf
Septum Green Cream Cream
Ligule Colourless — White
Auricle Colourless — Palegreen
Panicle Compact Long Intermediate
Husk colour Light brown Straw straw
Occasionally
Abdominal white Present Present
present
Grain size (mm)
Length 9 7.96 9.32
Breadth 2.53 3 2.58
Thickness 1.75 2 1.89
PARTICULARS ASD 19 TRY 1 MDU 5
Parentage Lalnakanda/ IR578-172-2-2/ O.glaberrima x
IR 30 BR-1-2-B-1 Pokkali
Duration(Days) 127 (120-132) 135-140 95 - 100
1000 grain wt(g) 18.39 24 21.1
Grain/L/B ratio 3.06 2.6 3.12
Grain type Short, slender Medium Medium slender
Morphological characters
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
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 -
10
PARTICULARS ASD 20 CO 46 ADT 43
Parentage IR 18348/IR25863/ T7/IR 20 IR 50/White ponni
IR 58
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 Tall 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
Abdominal white Absent Absent Very occasionally
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
PARTICULARS TKM 11 ADTRH 1 CORH 2

Parentage C22/BJ1 IR 58025 A/IR 66 R IR 58025 A/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 Occasionally
-
present 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
11
PARTICULARS ADT (R) 44 ADT (R) 45 ADT (R) 46

IET 14099-IR56/
Parentage IR50 / ADT 37 ADT38 / CO 45
OR142-99
Duration(Days) 148 110 135
Average Yield (Kg / ha) 6214 5400 6656
1000 grain wt(g) 23.9 17.5 23.8
Grain type Short Bold Medium slender Long Slender
Habit Medium Tall Semi dwarf, erect Erect, semi-dwarf
Leaf sheath Light Green Green Green
Septum Cream Cream Cream
Ligule White White Long white
Auricle - - Pale green
Panicle Long Compact Compact Intermediate
Abdominal white Present Absent Absent
Grain size(mm)
Length 8.07 8.00 9.58
Breadth 2.95 2.16 2.46
Thickness 2.06 1.97 1.95
PARTICULARS TKM (R)12 TRY (R)2 PMK (R)3

Parentage TKM 9/ TKM 11 IET 6238 / IR 36 UPLRi 7/ CO 43
Duration(Days) 115-120 115-120 110-115
Average Yield (Kg/ ha) 3043 5362 3025
1000 grain wt(g) 18.3 22.8 26.10
Grain type Medium slender Long slender Long Bold
Habit Erect Semi-dwarf erect Erect
Septum Cream Light green -
Ligule White distinct Pale green
Auricle Dull white Hairy light brown -
Panicle Medium compact Compact Intermediate
Golden yellow with

Husk colour Straw Straw
brown streaks
Abdominal white Present Absent -
Grain size(mm)
Length 7.5 9.1 6.75
Breadth 3.1 2.6 2.38
Thickness 2.3 1.7 2.08
12
PARTICULARS ADT (R) 47 ADT (R) 48

Parentage ADT 43/ Jeeragasamba IET 11412/ IR 64
Duration(Days) 118 94-99
Average Yield (Kg/ ha) 6200 4800
1000 grain wt(g) 13.5 22.0
Grain/L/B ratio 2.72 3.25
Grain type Medium slender Long slender
Habit Semidwarf erect Semidwarf erect
Leaf sheath Green Green
Septum - Cream
Ligule - Acute, prominent
Auricle Light green -
Panicle Long com droopy Intermediate
Husk colour straw straw

Rice colour White white
Abdominal white Occassionally present Occassionally present
Grain size(mm)
Length 7.20 9.15
Breadth 2.20 2.54
Thickness 1.80 1.90
III RICE SEASONS OF TAMIL NADU

Month of Season Duration Districts
sowing (Days)
Dec - Jan Navarai < 120 Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore,
Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Nagapattinam, Madurai, Theni, Salem, Namakkal,
Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore,Erode and
Pudukkottai.
Apr - May Sornavari <120 Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore,
Villupuram, Namakkal, Dharmapuri
Apr - May Early Kar <120 Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Erode,
May - June Kar Coimbatore, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Salem,
Namakkal, Dharmapuri.
June - July Kuruvai <120 Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur,
Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Erode
July - Aug. Early Samba 130 to 135 Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Madurai, Theni,
Ramanathapuram, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erode,
Pudukkottai, The Nilgiris
August Samba 130 - 135 All districts
and >150
Sep - Oct Late Samba 130 - 135 Tiruvallur, Madurai, Theni, Coimbatore, Erode
Thaladi/Pishanam
Sep -Oct Late Pishanam 130 - 135 Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Kanyakumari
Tirunelveli , Thoothukudi
Oct - Nov Late Thaladi 115 -120 Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur,
CROP MANAGEMENT
13
SYSTEMS OF RICE CULTIVATION IN TAMIL NADU
Rice is cultivated under puddled and un-puddled lowland situations in Tamil Nadu.
‘Transplanting’ and ‘direct wet seeding’ are the two environments under puddled lowland. Whereas, un-
puddled lowland cultivation undergoes different environments like, dry seeding exclusively with rainfall,
locally called as ‘rainfed rice’, with supplemental irrigation during peak vegetative and reproductive
phases by the rain water collected / harvested in tanks (‘semi-dry rice’) and also assured irrigation from
canal after 30-45 days of dry situation (also called semi-dry rice) . They are grouped as follows:
1. Transplanted puddled lowland rice

2. Direct seeded lowland rice
a. Wet seeded rice in puddled soil
b. Dry seeded rice in un-puddled soil
i) Rainfed
ii) Semi dry - supplemental irrigation
iii) Semi dry - canal irrigation* (contingent crop)
3. Dry seeded upland rice – This system of rice cultivation is there in areas with high rainfall (like
Assam and NE frontiers of India) where the land is sloping and terraced and there is no
possibility for bunding to stagnate the water. Grain yield is poor due to loss of nutrients and soil
mainly caused by water erosion. Moisture availability is mostly at saturation or at wet range.
There is very limited area Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu.
4. Deep water rice cultivation exits in certain pockets of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur idstricts.
These areas are not always seen with deep water situation. Varieties suitable for that situation
can yield better grain yield.
1. TRANSPLANTED PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

TRANSPLANTED RICE
1.1. Nursery management
1.1.1. Wet nursery
Nursery area
Select 20 cents (800 m2) of land area near to water source for raising seedlings for one hectare.
Seed rate
30 kg for long duration
40 kg for medium duration
60 kg for short duration varieties and
20 kg for hybrids
Seed treatment
a. Treat the seeds in Carbendazim or Pyroquilon or Tricyclozole solution at 2 g/l of water for 1 kg of
seeds. Soak the seeds in water for 10 hrs and drain excess water.
b. This wet seed treatment gives protection to the seedlings up to 40 days from seedling disease
such as blast and this method is better than dry seed treatment.
c. If the seeds are required for sowing immediately, keep the soaked seed in gunny in dark and
cover with extra gunnies and leave for 24hrs for sprouting.
d. 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 overnight. Decant the excess
water and allow the seeds to sprout for 24hrs and then sow.
e. Seed treatment with Azospirillum: Three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum and 3 packets
(600g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets (1200g/ha)of Azophos. In bioinoculants 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).
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers
Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents can be mixed together for seed soaking
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible
Forming Seedbeds
Mark plots of 2.5m breadth with channels 30cm wide all around the seedbeds.
Length of the seed bed may vary from 8 to 10m according to soil and slope of the land.
Collect the puddled soil from the channel and spread on the seedbeds or drag a heavy stone
14
along the channel to lower it, so that the seed bed is at a higher level.
Level the surface of the seedbed, so that the water drains into the channel.
Sowing
Sow the sprouted seeds uniformly on the seedbed, having thin film of water in the nursery.
Water Management
Drain the water 18 to 24hrs after sowing
Care must be taken to avoid stagnation of water in any part of the seedbed.
Allow enough water to saturate the soil from 3rd to 5th day. From 5th day onwards, increase the
water depth to 1.5cm depending on the height of the seedlings.
Thereafter maintain 2.5cm depth of water.
Weed Management
Apply any one of the pre-emergence herbicides viz., Pretilachlor + safener 0.3kg/ha, on 3rd or 4th
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.
Nutrient management
Apply 1tonne of fully decomposed FYM or compost to 20cents nursery and spread the manure
uniformly on dry soil.
Basal application of DAP is recommended when the seedlings are to be pulled out in 20-25 days
after sowing in less fertile nursery soils.
For that situation, before the last puddling, apply 40kg of DAP and if not readily available, apply
straight fertilizers 16kg of urea and 120kg of super phosphate.
If seedlings are to be pulled out after 25 days, application of DAP is to be done 10 days prior to
pulling out.
For clayey soils where root snapping is a problem, 4kg of gypsum and 1kg of DAP/cent can be
applied at 10 days after sowing.
1.1.2. Dry nursery
Dry ploughed field with fine tilth is required.
Nursery area with sand and loamy soil status is more suitable for this type of nursery.
Area 20cents.
Plots of 1 to 1.5 m width of beds and channels may be formed. Length may be according to
the slope and soil. Raised beds are more ideal if the soil is clayey in nature.
Seed rate and seed treatment as that of wet nursery.
Sowing may be dry seeding. Seeds may be covered with sand and finely powdered well
decomposed farm yard manure.
Irrigation may be done to wet the soil to saturation.
Optimum age for transplanting – 4th leaf stage
This type of nursery is handy in times of delayed receipt of canal water.
1.2 Main Field Management
1.2.1. Land preparation
Plough the land during summer to economize the water requirement for initial preparation of
land.
Flood the field 1 or 2days before ploughing and allow water to soak in. Keep the surface of
the field covered with water.
Keep water to a depth of 2.5cm at the time of puddling.
Special technologies for problem soils:
a) For fluffy paddy soils: compact the soil by passing 400kg 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
workers during puddling.
b) 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 transplanting.
Mix 37.5kg of Zinc sulphate per ha with sand to make a total quantity of 75kg and spread the
mixture uniformly on the leveled field. Do not incorporate the mixture in the soil. Rice under
sodic soil responds well to these practices.
15
c) For saline soils with EC values of more than 4 dS/m, provide lateral and main drainage
channels (60cm deep and 45cm 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 37.5 kg/ha at planting
d) For acid soils apply lime based on the soil analysis for obtaining normal rice yields. Lime is
applied 2.5t/ha before last ploughing. Apply lime at this rate to each crop up to the 5th crop.
1.2.2. Stand Establishment
Optimum age of seedlings for quick establishment
Optimum age of the seedlings is 18-22 days for short, 25-30 days for medium and 35-40 days for
long duration varieties.
Pulling out the seedlings
Pull out the seedlings at the appropriate time (4th leaf stage).
Pulling at 3rd leaf stage is also possible. These seedlings can produce more tillers, provided
enough care taken during the establishment phase (See section 1.8 Integrated Crop
Management (ICM) - Rice-SRI) through thin film of water management and perfect leveling of
main field.
Transplanting after 5th and higher order leaf numbers will affect the performance of the crop
and grain yield. Then they are called as ‘aged seedlings’. Special package is needed to
minimize the grain yield loss while planting those aged seedlings.
Root dipping
Prepare the slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 5 packets (1000g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 10 packets of (2000g/ha) of Azophos inoculant in 40 lit. of water and dip
the root portion of the seedlings for 15 - 30 minutes in bacterial suspension and transplant.
Planting seedlings in the main field
Soil Medium and low fertility High fertility
Duration Short Medium Long Short Medium Long
Spacing (cm) 15x10 20x10 20x15 20x10 20x15 20x20
Hills / m2 66 50 33 50 33 25
Transplant 2-3 seedlings/hill for short duration and 2 seedlings/hill for medium and long
duration varieties
Shallow planting (3 cm) ensures quick establishment and more tillers.
Deeper planting (> 5cm) leads to delayed establishment and reduced tillers.
Line planting permits rotary weeding and its associated benefits.
Allow a minimum row spacing of 20 cm to use rotary weeder.
Fill up the gaps between 7th and 10th DAT.
Management of Aged seedlings*
* Which developed tillers / underwent node elongation in the nursery itself and
* About half of its leaf producing capacity may be already over.
Follow the spacing recommended to medium and low fertility soil
Plant one or two seedlings per hill
Avoid cluster planting of aged seedlings, which are hindering the formation of new tillers.
New tillers alone are capable of producing normal harvestable panicle. Weak panicle may appear
in the mother culm within three weeks after transplanting and vanishes well before harvest.
To encourage the tiller production, enhance the basal N application by 50% from the
recommended and thereafter follow the normal schedule recommended for other stages.
Gap filling
Fill the gaps if any within 7 - 10 days after planting.
1.2.3. Nutrient management
Application of organic manures
Apply 12.5 t of FYM or compost or green leaf manure @ 6.25 t/ha.
If green manure is raised @ 20 kg /ha in situ, incorporate it to a depth of 15 cm using a green
manure trampler or tractor.
In the place of green manure, press-mud / composted coir-pith can also be used.
Stubble incorporation
Apply 22 kg urea / ha at the time of first puddling while incorporating the stubbles of previous
16
crop to compensate immobilization of N by the stubbles.
This may be done at least 10 days prior to planting of subsequent crop. This
recommendation is more suitable for double crop wetlands, wherein, the second crop is
transplanted in succession with short turn around period.
Biofertilizer application
Broadcast 10 kg of soil based powdered BGA flakes at 10 DAT for the dry season crop.
Maintain a thin film of water for multiplication.
Raise azolla as a dual crop by inoculating 250 kg/ha 3 to 5 DAT and then incorporate during
weeding for the wet season crop.
Mix 10 packets (2000 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 10 packets (2000g/ha)of Phosphobacteria or
20 packets (4000g/ha) of Azophos inoculants with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil and broadcast
the mixture uniformly in the main field before transplanting and
Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf 1) at 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil and
broadcast the mixture uniformly before transplanting.
Application of inorganic fertilizers
Apply fertilizer nutrients as per soil test recommendations
N dose may be through Leaf Color Chart (LCC)
P & K may be through Site Specific Nutrition Management by Omission plot technique (Ref.
Appendix II)
If the above recommendation are not able to be followed, adopt blanket recommendation as
follows:
Nutrients N P2O5 K2O
(kg/ha)
Short duration varieties (dry season)
a) Cauvery delta & Coimbatore tract 150 50 50
b) For other tracts 120 40 40
Medium and long duration varieties (wet season) 150 50 50
Hybrid rice 175 60 60
Low N responsive cultivars (like Improved White
75* 50 50
Ponni)
*For Ponni, N should be applied in three splits at AT, PI and H stages** in addition to GLM or FYM
application.
**Phenological stages of rice (days after sowing)
Stages Short (105) Medium (135) Long (150)
Active Tillering (AT) 35-40 50-55 55-60
Panicle Initiation (PI) 45-50 70-75 85-90
Heading (H) 70-75 100-105 115-120
Split application of N and K

Apply N and K in four equal splits viz., basal, tillering, panicle initiation and heading stages.
Tillering and Panicle initiation periods are crucial and should not be reduced with the
recommended quantity.
N management through LCC may be adopted wherever chart is available as given below
N management through LCC
Time of application is decided by LCC score
Take observations from 14 DAT in transplanted rice or 21 DAS in direct seeded rice.
Repeat the observations at weekly intervals up to heading
Observe the leaf colour in the fully opened third leaf from the top as index leaf.
Match the leaf color with the colours in the chart during morning hours (8-10 am).
Take observation in 10 places.
LCC critical value is 3.0 in low N response cultures like White Ponni and 4.0 in other cultivars
and hybrids
When 6/10 observations show less than the critical colour value, N can be applied @ 35kg
N/ha in dry season and 30kg N/ha in wet season per application per ha.
Application of P fertilizer
17
P may be applied as basal and incorporated.
When the green manure is applied, rock phosphate can be used as a cheap source of P fertilizer.
If rock phosphate is applied, the succeeding rice crop need not be supplied with P. Application of
rock phosphate + single super phosphate or DAP mixed in different proportions (75:25 or 50:50)
is equally effective as SSP or DAP alone.
Application of zinc sulphate
Apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate mixed with 50 kg dry sand just before transplanting.
It is enough to apply 12.5 kg zinc sulphate /ha, if green manure (6.25 t/ha) or enriched FYM,
is applied.
If deficiency symptom appears, foliar application of 0.5% Zinc sulphate + 1.0% urea can be
given at 15 days interval until the Zn deficiency symptoms disappear.
Application of gypsum
Apply 500 kg of gypsum/ha (as source of Ca and S nutrients) at last ploughing.
Foliar nutrition
Foliar spray of 1% urea + 2% DAP + 1% KCl at PI and 10 days later for all varieties.
Nutrient deficiency / toxicity symptoms
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.
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.
Magnesium deficiency: Leaves are chlorotic with white tips.
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.
Zinc deficiency: Lower leaves have chlorotic particularly towards the base. Deficient plants
give a brown rusty appearance.
Neem treated urea and coal-tar treated urea
Blend the urea with crushed neem seed or neem cake 20% by weight. Powder neem cake to
pass through 2mm sieve before mixing with urea. Keep it overnight before use (or) urea can
be mixed with gypsum in 1:3 ratios, 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 coal-tar 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.
1.2.4. Weed management
Use of rotary weeder from 15 DAT at 10 days interval. It saves labour for weeding, aerates
the soil and root zone, prolongs the root activity, and improves the grain filling though efficient
translocation and ultimately the grain yield.
Cultural practices like dual cropping of rice-azolla, and rice-green manure (described in wet
seeded rice section 2.5 & 2.6 of this chapter) reduces the weed infestation to a greater
extent.
Summer ploughing and cultivation of irrigated dry crops during post-rainy periods reduces the
weed infestation.
Pre-emergence herbicides
Use Butachlor 1.25kg/ha or Anilophos 0.4kg/ha as pre-emergence application. Alternatively,
pre-emergence application of herbicide mixture viz., Butachlor 0.6kg + 2,4 DEE 0.75kg/ha, or
Anilophos + 2, 4 DEE ‘ready-mix’ at 0.4kg/ha followed by one hand weeding on 30 - 35 DAT
will have a broad spectrum of weed control.
Any herbicide has to be mixed with 50kg of dry sand on the day of application (3 - 4 DAT) and
applied uniformly to the field with thin film water on the 3rd DAT. Water should not be drained
for next 2 days from the field (or) fresh irrigation should not be given.
Post - emergence herbicides
If pre-emergence herbicide application is not done, hand weeding has to be done on 15 th
DAT.
2,4-D sodium salt (Fernoxone 80% WP) 1.25 kg/ha dissolved in 625 litres with a high volume
18
sprayer, three weeks after transplanting or when the weeds are in 3 - 4 leaf stage.
1.2.5. Water management
Puddling and leveling minimizes the water requirement
Plough with tractor drawn cage wheel to reduce percolation losses and to save water
requirement up to 20%.
Maintain 2.5cm of water over the puddle and allow the green manure to decompose for a
minimum of 7 days in the case of less fibrous plants like sunnhemp and 15 days for more
fibrous green manure plants like Kolinchi (Tephrosia purpurea).
At the time of transplanting, a shallow depth of 2cm of water is adequate since high depth of
water will lead to deep planting resulting in reduction of tillering.
Maintain 2 cm of water up to seven days of transplanting.
After the establishment stage, cyclic submergence of water (as in table) is the best practice
for rice crop. This cyclic 5cm 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.
Critical stages of water requirement in rice are a) panicle 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.
During booting and maturity stages continuous inundation of 5cm and above leads to
advancement in root decay and leaf senescence, delay in heading and reduction in the
number of filled grains per panicle and poor harvest index.
Provide adequate drainage facilities to drain excess water or strictly follow irrigation schedule
of one day after disappearance of ponded water. Last irrigation may be 15 days ahead of
harvest.
Precautions for irrigation

The field plot can be 25 to 50 cents depending on the source of irrigation.
Field to field irrigation should be avoided. Field should be irrigated individually from a
channel.
Small bund may be formed parallel to the main bund of the field at a distance of 30 to 45cm
within the field to avoid leakages of water through main bund crevices.
To minimize percolation loss, the depth of stagnated water should be 5cm or less.
In water logged condition, form open drains, about 60cm in depth and 45cm width across the
field.
Care should be taken not to allow development of cracks.
In canal command area, conjunctive use of surface and ground water may be resorted to for
judicious use of water.
In double cropped wetland of command area, raise groundnut / pulse in the place of Kuruvai
rice if water is a constraint or go for rice cultivation as described in 5. Dry Seeded Irrigated
Un-Puddled Lowland Rice.
1.3. Insect management: See Crop Protection Chapter
1.4. Disease management: See Crop Protection Chapter
1.5. Harvesting
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.
When 80% 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.
Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehusk a few grains. If the rice is
clear and firm, it is in hard dough stage.
19
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.
Dry the grains to 12% moisture level for storage. Grain yield in rice is estimated only at 14%
moisture for any comparison.
Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to
escape monsoon rains.
1.6. SEEDLING THROWING METHOD OF STAND ESTABLISHMENT
20 days old seedlings of short duration rice varieties
Requirement of seedlings will be approximately 20% more than the line planting or equal to
random planting.
The seedlings are thrown into the puddled leveled field by labour without using force.
Suitable for all seasons except Thaladi or heavy rain season.
50% labour shaving as compared to line planting and 35% to random planting.
Up to 7-10 days of seedling throwing care should be taken to maintain thin film of water (similar
to wet seeded rice).
Other cultural operations are same as in transplanted rice
Grain yield will be equal to line planted crop and 10-12% higher than random planted crop.
1.7. TRANSPLANTED HYBRID RICE
Seed rate 20 kg per hectare

Nursery Basal application of DAP at 2 kg/cent of nursery area. Sparse sowing of seeds at
one kg/cent of nursery area will give robust seedlings with 1-2 tillers per seedling
at the time of planting. If the soil is heavy, apply 4 kg gypsum/cent of nursery
area, 10 days before pulling of seedlings.
Age of seedling 20 to 25 days
Spacing (cm) 20 x 10 (50 hills/m2) or 25 x 10 (40 hills/m2) according to soil fertility
Seedlings/ hill One (along with tillers if already produced)
Fertilizer 175:60:60 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ha
Other package of practices: same as in transplanted rice varieties.
1.8. INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT (ICM) - RICE (SRI)

1.8.1. Season
Dry season with assured irrigation is more suitable.
Difficulty in crop establishment may be seen in areas with heavy downpour (NE Monsoon
periods of Tamil Nadu)
1.8.2. Varieties
Hybrids and varieties with heavy tillering
1.8.3. Nursery
1.8.3.1. Seed rate
7- 8 kg for single seedling per hill
12 -15 kg for two seedlings per hill wherever difficulty in establishment of rice is seen
1.8.3.2. Mat nursery preparation
Preparation of nursery area: Prepare 100 m2 nurseries to plant 1 ha. Select a level area
near the water source. Spread a plastic sheet or used polythene gunny bags on the shallow
raised bed to prevent roots growing deep into soil.
Preparation of soil mixture: Four (4) m3 of soil mix is needed for each 100 m2 of nursery. Mix
70% soil + 20% well-decomposed pressmud / bio-gas slurry / FYM + 10% rice hull.
Incorporate in the soil mixture 1.5 kg of powdered di -ammonium phosphate or 2 kg 17-17-17
NPK fertilizer.
Filling in soil mixture: Place a wooden frame of 0.5 m long, 1 m wide and 4 cm deep divided
into 4 equal segments on the plastic sheet or banana leaves. Fill the frame almost to the top
with the soil mixture.
20
Pre-germinating the seeds 2 days before sowing: Soak the seeds for 24 h, drain and
incubate the soaked seeds for 24 h, sow when the seeds sprout and radical (seed root)
grows to 2-3 mm long.
Sowing: Sow the pre-germinated seeds weighing 90 -100 g / m-2 (100g dry seed may weigh
130g after sprouting) uniformly and cover them with dry soil to a thickness of 5mm. Sprinkle
water immediately using rose can to soak the bed and remove the wooden frame and
continue the process until the required area is completed.
Watering: Water the nursery with rose can as and when needed (twice or thrice a day) to
keep the soil moist. Protect the nursery from heavy rains for the first 5 DAS. At 6 DAS,
maintain thin film of water all around the seedling mats. Drain the water 2 days before
removing the seedling mats for transplanting.
Spraying fertilizer solution (optional): If seedling growth is slow, sprinkle 0.5% urea + 0.5%
zinc sulfate solution at 8-10 DAS.
Lifting seedling mats: Seedlings reach sufficient height for planting at 15 days. Lift the
seedling mats and transport them to main field.
1.8.4. Main field preparation
Puddled lowland prepared as described in transplanted section
Perfect leveling is a pre-requisite for the water management proposed hereunder
1.8.5. Transplanting
1-2 seedlings of 15 days old
Square planting of 22.5 x 22.5 cm (9 x 9 inch)
Fill up the gaps between 7th and 10th DAT.
Transplant within 30 minutes of pulling out of seedlings.
There may be difficulty in crop establishment in areas with heavy downpour (North East
Monsoon periods of Tamil Nadu)
1.8.6. Irrigation management
Irrigation only to moist the soil in the early period of 10 days
Restoring irrigation to a maximum depth of 2.5cm after development of hairline cracks in the
soil until panicle initiation
Increasing irrigation depth to 5.0cm after PI one day after disappearance of ponded water
Using rotary weeder / Cono weeder
Moving the weeder with forward and backward motion to bury the weeds and as well to
aerate the soil at 7-10 days interval from 10-15 days after planting on either direction of the
rows and column.
Manual weeding is also essential to remove the weeds closer to rice root zone.
As per transplanted rice.
Use of LCC has more advantage in N management.
Green manure and farm yard manure application will enhance the growth and yield of rice in
this system approach.
1.8.9. Other package of practices as recommended to transplanted rice
STCR based fertilizer recommendation for transplanted rice (for some selected districts) is given in
the Appendix I.
2. WET SEEDED PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

WET SEEDED RICE
2.1. Area
Direct wet seeding can be followed in all the areas wherein transplanting is in vogue.
2.2. Season
As that of translated rice
2.3. Field preparation
On receipt of showers during the months of May - July repeated ploughing should be carried
out so as to conserve the moisture, destroy the weeds and break the clods.
21
After inundation puddling is to be done as per transplanting. More care should be taken to level
the field to zero level.
Stagnation of water in patches during germination and early establishment of the crop leads to
uneven crop stand.
Land leveling has say over efficient weed and water management practices.
Provision of shallow trenches (15cm width) at an interval of 3m all along the field will facilitate
the draining of excess water at the early growth stage.
2.4. Varieties
All the varieties recommended for transplanting can do well under direct wet seeded conditions
also. However, the following varieties are more suited.
Varieties Duration (days) Time of sowing
Ponmani 160 to 165 1st to 30th August
Co 43, IR20, ADT 38 ADT 39, Ponni, Improved 125 to135 1st to 30th September
White Ponni
ADT 36, ADT 37 105 to 110 1st to 10th October
2.5. Sowing
Follow a seed rate of 60 kg / ha
Pre-germinate the seeds as for wet nursery
Seed treatments as adopted for transplanted rice
Sow the seeds by drum seeder or broadcast uniformly with thin film of water.
Dual cropping of rice-green manure is economic for nutrient budget and efficient for grain
production. For this method use ‘TNAU Rice-Green manure seeder’.
2.6. After cultivation
Thinning and gap filling should be done 14 - 21 days after sowing, taking advantage of the
immediate rain.
If dual cropped with green manure, incorporate the green manure when grown to 40cm height
or at 30 days after sowing, whichever is earlier, using Cono-weeder.
Green manure incorporated fields may be operated again with rotary weeder a week later in
order to aerate the soil and to exploit organic acids formed if any.
2.7. Manures and fertilizer application

For direct wet seeded lowland rice, the recommendation is same at that of transplanted rice.
Apply N and K as 25% each at 21 DAS, at active tillering, PI and heading stages.
If N applied through LCC, use the critical value 3 for broadcasted and 4 for line sown drill
seeded rice.
Entire P as basal applied in the last plough or at the time of incorporation of green manure/
compost.
Biofertilizers as recommended to transplanted rice may be followed wherever feasible and
moisture available.
Micro nutrient, foliar application and biofertlizers as recommended to transplanted rice.
2.8. Weed management

In wet seeded rice, pre-emergence application of pretilachlor 0.75kg/ha on 8 DAS or
pretilachlor + safener (Sofit) at 0.45kg/ha on 3-4 DAS followed by one hand weeding on 40
DAS.
2.9. Water management
During first one week just wet the soil by thin film of water.
Depth of irrigation may be increased to 2.5cm progressively along the crop age.
Afterwards follow the schedule as given to transplanted rice.
Other package of practices
As recommended in transplanted rice
22
3. DRY SEEDED RAINFED UN-PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE
RAINFED RICE
The crop establishment, growth and maturity depend up on the rainfall received. There will be
standing water after crop establishment for a minimum period of few days to a maximum up to grain
filling, depending up on the rainfall. This type of cultivation in Tamil Nadu is called as ‘rainfed rice’, with
the assumption that the soil moisture will be under unsaturated (dry) condition during establishment or
entire growth period, with reference to tropical climate.
3.1. Area
Coastal districts of Tamil Nadu like Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram,
Virudhunagar, Sivagangai and Kanyakumari.
3.2. Season
June – July – (Coastal northern districts)
September – October (Coastal southern districts)
Dry plough to get fine tilth taking advantage of rains and soil moisture availability.
Apply gypsum at 1 t/ha basally wherever soil crusting and soil hardening problem exist.
Perfect land leveling for efficient weed and water management.
Provide shallow trenches (15 cm width) at an interval of 3m all along the field to facilitate
draining excess water at the early growth stage.
3.4. Varieties
Short duration varieties as mentioned in season and varieties including local land races
suitable for those tracts.
3.5. Sowing
Seed rate: 75kg/ha dry seed for any recommended variety.
Seed hardening with 1% KCl for 16 hours (seed and KCl solution 1:1) and shade dried to
bring to storable moisture. This will enable the crop to withstand early moisture stress.
On the day of sowing, treat the hardened seeds first with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/kg
of seed and then with Azophos 2000g or Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 600g each per
ha seed, whichever is available.
Drill sow with 20 cm inter row spacing using seed drill.
The seeds can also be sown behind the country plough
Depth of sowing should be 3 - 5 cm and the top soil can be made compact with leveling
board.
Pre-monsoon sowing is advocated for uniform germination.

Azospirillum inoculants 10 packets (2000g/ha) and Phosphobacteria 10 packets (2000g/ha)
or 20 packets (4000g/ha) of Azophos mixed with 25 kg of FYM may be broadcasted uniformly
over the field just after the receipt soaking rain / moisture.
Thinning and gap filling should be done 14 - 21days after sowing, taking advantage of the
immediate rain
Spray Cycocel 1000 ppm (1 ml of commercial product in one lit. of water) under water deficit
situations to mitigate ill-effects.
Foliar spray of Kaolin 3% or KCl 1% to overcome moisture stress at different physiological
stages of rice.
Blanket recommendation : 50:25:25 kg N:P2O5:K2O /ha
Apply a basal dose of 750 kg of FYM enriched with fertilizer phosphorus (P at 25 kg/ha)
Apply N and K in two equal splits at 20 - 25 and 40 - 45 days after germination.
If the moisture availability from the tillering phase is substantial, three splits (25 kg N and 12.5
kg K at 20-25, 40-45 and 60-65 DAG) can be adopted.
N at PI may be enhanced to 40 kg, if the tiller production is high (may be when the estimated
LAI is greater than 5.0) and moisture availability ensured by standing water for 10 days.
Basal application of FeSO4 at 50 kg/ha is desirable for iron deficient soil.
23
Foliar spray of 1% urea + 2% DAP + 1%KCl at PI and 10 days later may be taken up for
enhancing the rice yield if sufficient soil moisture is ensured
First weeding can be done between 15 and 21 days after germination.
Second weeding may be done 30 - 45 days after first weeding.
Apply pendimethalin 1.0kg/ha on 5 days after sowing or Pretilachlor + safener (Sofit)
0.45kg/ha on the day of receipt of soaking rain followed by one hand weeding on 30 to 35
days after sowing.
3.11. Harvesting
Same as that for wet rice cultivation
4. DRY SEEDED RAINFED UN-PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE WITH

SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION
Semi dry rice
It is called as semi-dry rice. Crop establishment is as that of rainfed rice but the rain water
collected in village tank (Kanmai) is supplemented to protect the crop during peak vegetative and
reproductive phases. Interaction between applied nutrients and crop is positive here due to better
moisture availability than rainfed rice and hence varieties may be improved ones and nutrient levels may
be higher than the previous system.
4.1. Area
Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam/
Tiruvarur and Pudukottai.
4.2. Seasons
July to August - Kanchipuram/Tiruvallur, Kanyakumari
August - Nagapattinam/Tiruvarur, Pudukottai
September to October - Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga
Provide shallow trenches (15 cm width) at an interval of 3m all along the field to facilitate draining
excess water at the early growth stage.
4.4. Varieties
Short duration varieties as mentioned in season and vanities including local land races
suitable for those tracts.
Since there is supplemental irrigation high yielding improved short duration varieties can yield
more yield than the land races.
4.5. Sowing
board.
24
Thinning and gap filling should be done 14-21days after sowing, taking advantage of the
immediate rain
stages of rice. .
Blanket recommendation : 75:25:37.5 kg N:P2O5:K2O /ha
Apply a basal dose of 750 kg of FYM enriched with fertilizer phosphorus (P at 25 kg/ha)
Apply N & K in three splits at 20-25, 40-45 and 60-65 days after germination.
Each split may follow 25kg N and 12.5 kg K2O.
If the moisture availability is substantial, split application at panicle initiation may be done with
40 kg N and 12.5 kg K2O.
If the moisture availability is substantial, the split at 40-45 DAS (panicle initiation) may be
applied up to 40kg N and 12.5kg K2O to enhance the growth and the grain yield.
Basal application of ZnSO4 at 25kg/ha and FeSO4 at 50/ha is desirable wherever Zinc and
iron deficiency were noted.
moisture available.

First weeding should be done between 15 and 21 days after germination.
days after sowing.
The crop is irrigated from 30-35 days onwards, utilizing water impounded in the tanks.
Irrigation may be to a depth of 2.5 -5.0cm only. Follow the schedule of one day after
disappearance of ponded water in order to save water and to bring additional area under this
type of rice cultivation.
4.12. Harvest
It is same as that of transplanted rice.
These areas are more suitable for combine-harvester
5. DRY SEEDED IRRIGATED UN-PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

Also be called ‘semi-dry rice’
It is a contingent plan to command areas, anticipating the release of water; rice crop can be
established under rainfed condition up to a maximum of 45 days as that of previous two situations. Filed
is converted to wet condition on receipt of canal water. Conversion depends up on receipt of canal water
and nutrient management is decided according to the period of irrigation.
5.1. Area
Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts
5.2. Season
Samba / Thaladi seasons command areas.
Provide shallow trenches (15 cm width) at an interval of 3m all along the field to facilitate draining
25
excess water at the early growth stage.
5.4. Varieties
Medium duration varieties, if sown in August and short duration varieties beyond September,
as mentioned in season and vanities.
Since there is assured irrigation from canal, high yielding improved short or medium duration
varieties can be cultivated depending up on the situation (month of sowing, nearness to
canal, depth of standing water during NEM etc).
5.5. Sowing
board.
Pre-monsoon sowing with medium duration variety is an advantage for higher grain yield and
as well to manage the heavy rainy season.
Thinning and gap filling should be done 14 - 21 days after sowing, taking advantage of the
immediate rain.
Apply FYM/compost at 12.5 t/ha or 750 kg of FYM enriched with 50 kg P2O5 as basal dose
in clay soils of Nagapattinam / Tiruvarur district.
N and K in three splits at around 20-25, 40-45 and 60-65 days for short duration varieties or
four splits for medium duration varieties at around 20-25, 40-45, 60-65 and 80-85 days after
germination is suitable.
Each split may follow 25kg N and 12.5 kg K2O.
If the moisture availability is substantial and canal water received from tillering phases itself,
the split at panicle initiation (40-45 DAS in short duration and 60-65 DAS in medium duration)
may be applied up to 40kg N and 12.5kg K2O to enhance the growth and the grain yield.
To induce tolerance under short and prolonged drought situation in Kuruvai season, apart
from seed treatment, foliar spray with 1% KCl + CCC at 500ppm during vegetative stage is
effective in mitigating the drought and in increasing the yield.
Basal application of ZnSO4 at 25kg/ha and FeSO4 at 50 kg/ha is desirable wherever Zinc and
iron deficiency were noted.
moisture available.
First weeding should be done between 15 and 21 days after germination.
days after sowing.
5.9. Other special cultural practices
26
stages of rice.
For delayed water release in LBP area, irrigating rice to 5cm depth three days after
disappearance of pounded water and growing ADT 38 rice can be resorted to if the release of
water is delayed up to September.
The first top dressing should be applied immediately after the receipt of sufficient rain or canal
water.
Hand weeding, thinning and gap filling should be done before N-fertilizer application.
Subsequent top dressings in two or three splits should be done before heading.
As that of irrigated rice when canal water is used for irrigation
Possibility of subsequent conversion towards deep water situation is seen in this tract, then
variety should be specific for those areas.
5.13. Harvest
As that of transplanted rice. This area is more suitable to combine harvester.
5.14. DEEP WATER RICE
Cultivation is like the methods described in this section except the harvest. Harvest may
some times restricted only to panicle because of the standing water even after maturity.
DRY SEEDED UPLAND RICE

Establishment
As that of section 3 to 5.
Area
There are small batches in and around Dharmapuri district. Rainfall availability in these tract is
better than the rainfed rice cultivated in other parts of Tamil Nadu. There is no bund to stagnate
the water. Moisture availability is there but crop growth depends on the nutrient status.
Other Cultural practices
As recommended to semi-dry rice (sec. 4)
Nutrient may be split applied depending up on the growth.
LCC based N application is more suitable for this tract.
Intercropping
Blackgram for every four rows of rice.
Grain Yield
Grain yield depends up on the moisture availability and nutrient status.
Appendix – I
Site Specific Nutrient Management through Omission Plot Techniques

An omission plot receives all nutrients except the omitted nutrient (0 P or 0 K). The objective of P
and K omission plots is to develop a site-specific P and K fertilizer recommendation. The difference in
grain yields between a fully fertilized plot and a P or K omission plot illustrates the deficit between the
crop demand for P or K and indigenous supply of P or K, from soil, rain water etc., the deficit has to be
met by fertilizer application.
Guidelines for establishing and managing omission plots

Establish omission plots both in dry season as well as wet season (high yielding season of any
region is more preferable)
Measure four plots of 5 m 5 m size each within a farmer’s field. Do not place the plots in a
corner of the field. Separate each plot by about 3 m distance from the next plot to minimize risk of
fertilizer movement between the plots.
Construct bunds of sufficient height surrounding each plot to prevent water flow between the plots
and the adjacent field. Maintain the bunds nicely throughout the crop season to avoid fertilizer
27
and water contamination from one plot to another or from outside the plot. Provide guard channel
all around the plot.
All the crop management practices including pest management should be under optimal
conditions and uniform in the treatment plots.
Apply fertilizers to the plots strictly as per the treatment with the involvement of the farmers.
Fig. 1. Field layout of omission plot trial
NPK PK NK NP
IRRIGATION
CHANNEL
Plot size for each of treatments 1, 2, 3 & 4 = 5 m 5 m ( 25 m2 )
a. For heavy textured soil

T1 = + NPK - 193 g Urea, 940 g SP, 350 g MOP
T2 = + PK - 940 g SP and 350 g MOP
T3 = + NK - 193 g Urea and 350 g MOP
T4 = + NP - 193 g Urea and 940 g SP
b. For light textured soil
T1 = + NPK - 193 g Urea, 940 g SP, 400 g MOP
T2 = + PK - 940 g SP and 400 g MOP
T3 = + NK - 193 g Urea and 400 g MOP
T4 = + NP - 193 g Urea and 940 g SP
SP – Super phosphate full basal,

MOP – Muriate of Potash in two splits 50 % basal and 50 % at PI
Urea - Applied in 4 splits at basal, AT, PI and FF stages each time 193 g
As the Omission Plot technique is only an experimentation for fertilizer calibration we should apply N on
blanket basis without using LCC in order to avoid risk in N supply based on color combination
Apply Zinc Sulphate @ 65 g/25 m2 uniformly to all the plots
Determination of grain yield

Harvest all the hills of a central 5-m2 area of each treatment plot separately and properly label each
harvested sample.
Thresh and clean the harvested grain. Record the grain yield at 14% moisture level.
Convert the sample weight to yield in t ha-1.
Determine the P and K response
P response = Yield in NPK plot – Yield in P omission plot
K response = Yield in NPK plot – Yield in K omission plot
From the P and K response, P & K requirement of the field will be calculated based on the ready
reckonar table as suggested by Fairthurst and Witt (2002), as in the table below.
Note: The N omission plot yield (0 N Plot) is only to understand the indigenous N supplying capacity of
the soil and to decide on the need for basal N application. If the N omission plot yield is < 3.0 t/ha, apply
20-30 kg N/ha basally within 14 DAT, or if the yield is > 3.0 t, there is no need to give basal N application.
28
Recommended P2O5 rates according to target yield and P limited plot
Target yield (t/ha) 4 5 6 7 8
Yield in ‘0’ P plot Fertilizer P2O5 (kg/ha)
3 20 40 60
4 15 25 40 60
5 0 20 30 40 60
6 0 0 25 35 45
7 0 0 0 30 40
8 0 0 0 0 35
Example:
Experiment Yield (t/ka)
P2O5 fertilized 6
P omitted 5
Calculated P2O5 (kg/ha) to get an yield of 6 t/ha 30
Recommended K2O rates according to target yield and K limited plot

Target yield (t/ha) 4 5 6 7 8
Yield in ‘0’ K plot Fertilizer K2O (kg/ha)
3 30 60 90
4 0 35 65 95
5 0 20 50 80 110
6 0 0 35 65 95
7 0 0 0 50 80
8 0 0 0 0 65
Example:
Experiment Yield (t/ka)
K2O fertilized 6
K omitted 5
Calculated K2O (kg/ha) to get an yield of 6 t/ha 50
Appendix II
STCR based fertilizer recommendation for transplanted rice
Coimbatore STL Jurisdiction
Soil : Alfisol (Noyyal series) Season : Kharif Yield : 6.0 t ha-1
type target
Basic data for Fertiliser Prescription Equations
Basic Data
Fertiliser Prescription Equations
NR (kg/q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.76 20.76 40.12 32.10 FN = 4.39 T - 0.52 SN - 0.80 ON
P 0.41 29.35 18.50 18.13 FP2O5 = 2.22 T - 3.63 SP - 0.98 OP
K 1.50 19.83 61.50 44.65 FK2O = 2.44 T - 0.39 SK - 0.72 OK
Ready reckoner of fertiliser doses at varying soil test values for specific yield target
Nutrients required (kg ha-1) - target of 6.0 t
Initial soil tests (kg ha-1)
S. No. ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 16 180 170 75 76
2 190 18 190 165 68 72
3 200 20 200 159 61 68
4 210 22 210 154 53 64
5 220 24 220 149 46 60
6 230 26 230 143 39 56
7 240 28 240 138 32 52
8 250 30 250 133 24 49
29
9 260 32 260 128 17 45
10 270 34 270 123 10 41
11 280 36 280 118 3 37
Soil : Alfisol (Noyyal series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

type target
Basic Data
NR (kg/q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.71 20.69 36.95 33.20 FN = 4.63 T - 0.56 SN - 0.90 ON
P 0.47 32.87 23.67 10.20 FP2O5 = 1.98 T - 3.18 SP - 0.99 OP
K 1.94 26.18 75.42 50.17 FK2O = 2.57 T - 0.42 SK - 0.67 OK
Nutrients required (kg ha-1) for an yield
S. No. target of 6.0 t ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 16 180 177 68 78
2 190 18 190 172 62 74
3 200 20 200 166 55 70
4 210 22 210 160 49 66
5 220 24 220 155 43 62
6 230 26 230 149 36 57
7 240 28 240 144 30 53
8 250 30 250 138 24 49
9 260 32 260 132 17 45
10 270 34 270 127 11 41
Erode, Coimbatore, Salem & Trichy STL Jurisdiction

Soil : Inceptisol (Irugur series) Season : Kharif Yield : 6.0 t ha-1
type target
Basic Data
NR CS (%) CF (%) CO (%) Fertiliser Prescription Equations
(kg/q)
N 1.82 31.27 35.13 34.43 FN = 5.19 T - 0.89 SN - 0.98 ON
P 0.84 72.92 37.11 17.81 FP2O5 = 2.27 T - 4.50 SP - 1.09 OP
K 2.14 33.55 68.81 58.00 FK2O = 3.11 T - 0.59 SK - 1.02 OK
Nutrients required (kg ha-1)- target of 6.0 t
S.No. ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 150 8 150 178 100 98
2 160 10 160 169 91 93
3 170 12 170 160 82 87
4 180 14 180 151 73 81
5 190 16 190 142 64 75
6 200 18 200 133 55 69
7 210 20 210 124 46 63
8 220 22 220 115 37 57
9 230 24 230 106 28 51
10 240 26 240 97 19 45
Soil : Inceptisol (Irugur series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

type target
30
Basic Data
NR kg/ q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.75 24.31 35.75 25.74 FN = 4.88 T - 0.68 SN - 0.72 ON
P 0.92 56.98 44.87 44.42 FP2O5 = 2.06 T - 2.91 SP - 2.27 OP
K 1.92 26.12 66.42 32.55 FK2O = 2.89 T - 0.47 SK - 0.59 OK
S.No. ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 150 8 150 191 100 103
2 160 10 160 184 94 98
3 170 12 170 177 89 94
4 180 14 180 171 83 89
5 190 16 190 164 77 84
6 200 18 200 157 71 79
7 210 20 210 150 65 75
8 220 22 220 143 56 70
9 230 24 230 137 54 65
10 240 26 240 130 48 61
Kovilpatti STL Jurisdiction

Soil type : Inceptisol (Manakkarai Seaso : Kharif Yield target : 6.0 t ha-1
series) n
Basic Data
(kg/q)
N 1.54 21.90 36.20 28.5 FN = 4.25 T - 0.60 SN - 0.79 ON
P 0.53 37.60 19.60 7.6 FP2O5 = 2.71 T - 4.39 SP - 0.89 OP
K 1.94 25.04 50.90 34.5 FK2O = 3.83 T - 0.60 SK - 0.82 OK
S.No ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 12 180 147 110 122
2 190 14 190 141 102 116
3 200 16 200 135 93 110
4 210 18 210 129 84 104
5 220 20 220 123 75 98
6 230 22 230 117 66 92
7 240 24 240 111 58 86
8 250 26 250 105 49 80
9 260 28 260 99 40 74
10 270 30 270 93 31 68
11 280 32 280 87 23 62
Soil : Inceptisol (Manakkarai Seaso : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

type series) n target

Basic Data
(kg/q)
N 1.62 21.02 36.24 28.63 FN = 4.47 T - 0.58 SN - 0.79 ON
P 0.46 27.84 17.29 6.74 FP2O5 = 2.66 T - 3.68 SP - 0.89 OP
31
K 2.06 27.26 50.49 34.22 FK2O = 4.08 T - 0.65 SK - 0.82 OK
S.No ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 12 180 164 115 128
2 190 14 190 158 108 121
3 200 16 200 152 101 115
4 210 18 210 146 93 108
5 220 20 220 140 86 102
6 230 22 230 135 79 95
7 240 24 240 129 71 89
8 250 26 250 123 64 82
9 260 28 260 117 57 76
10 270 30 270 111 50 69
11 280 32 280 106 42 63
Aduthurai STL Jurisdiction

Soil : Vertisol (Kalathur series) Season : Kharif Yield : 6.0 t ha-1
type target
Basic Data
NR (kg/ q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.68 23.80 31.75 28.26 FN = 5.29 T - 0.75 SN - 0.89 ON
P 0.87 40.40 52.70 17.92 FP2O5 = 1.65 T - 1.76 SP - 0.78 OP
K 1.65 18.70 60.50 41.14 FK2O = 2.73 T - 0.37 SK - 0.82 OK
S.No Initial soil tests (kg ha-1) Nutrients required (kg ha-1)- target of 6.0 t ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 16 180 182 71 97
2 190 18 190 174 67 93
3 200 20 200 167 64 90
4 210 22 210 159 60 86
5 220 24 220 152 57 82
6 230 26 230 144 53 79
7 240 28 240 137 50 75
8 250 30 250 129 46 71
9 260 32 260 122 43 68
10 270 34 270 114 39 64
11 280 36 280 107 36 60
Soil : Vertisol (Kalathur series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

type target

Basic Data
NR (Kg/ q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.72 21.42 32.18 23.49 FN = 5.34 T - 0.67 SN - 0.73 ON
P 0.92 39.10 48.20 14.73 FP2O5 = 1.90 T - 1.86 SP - 0.70 OP
K 1.84 17.80 65.42 43.25 FK2O = 2.81 T - 0.33 SK - 0.80 OK
32
S.No ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 16 180 199 84 110
2 190 18 190 193 81 106
3 200 20 200 186 77 103
4 210 22 210 179 73 100
5 220 24 220 173 69 96
6 230 26 230 166 66 93
7 240 28 240 159 62 90
8 250 30 250 152 58 86
9 260 32 260 146 55 83
10 270 34 270 139 51 80
11 280 36 280 132 47 77
Aduthurai STL Juristiction

Soil : Vertisol (Adanur series) Season : Kharif Yield : 7.0 t ha-1
type target
Basic Data
NR (kg/ q) CS (%) CF (%) CO (%)
N 1.56 16.3 56.0 49.84 FN = 2.80 T - 0.29 SN - 0.89 ON
P 0.68 28.2 50.4 39.30 FP2O5 = 1.35 T - 1.28 SP - 1.78 OP
K 1.64 22.6 65.6 61.99 FK2O = 2.50 T - 0.42 SK - 1.14 OK
Initial soil tests (kg ha-1) Nutrients required (kg ha-1)- target of 7.0 t ha-1
S.No
N P K N P2O5 K2O
1 180 16 180 144 74 99
2 190 18 190 141 72 95
3 200 20 200 138 69 91
4 210 22 210 135 66 87
5 220 24 220 132 64 83
6 230 26 230 129 61 78
7 240 28 240 126 59 74
8 250 30 250 123 56 70
9 260 32 260 121 54 66
10 270 34 270 118 51 62
11 280 36 280 115 48 57
Note: Wherever GLM is applied @ 6.25 t ha-1 38, 13 and 33 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O and for the addition of
azospirillum & phosphobacteria each @ 2 kg ha-1 15 and 10 kg of N & P2O5 respectively could be reduced
from the recommended fertiliser nutrient doses.
References:
Selvakumari , G., Santhi,R., Natesan,R and Mathan, K. K. 2000. Compendium of research on soil test
crop response studies and rationalized fertilizer recommendations for crops in Tamil Nadu. Dept of
SS&AC, TNAU, Coimbatore-3: pp 93
33
CROP PROTECTION
A) Pest management
i) Nursery
An area of 800 sq.m. (20 cents) nursery is required for planting one ha of main field. Forty litres of
spray fluid is necessary for spraying the nursery area.
Pests Management strategies

Army worm  Drain water from the nursery
Spodoptera mauritia  Spray any one of the following:
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 80 ml
Endosulfan 35 EC 80 ml during late evening
Thrips  Sampling: Wet your palm with water and pass over the foliage in 12
Stenchaetothrips biformis places in the nursery. If thrips population exceeds 60 numbers in 12
passes or if rolling of 1/2 area of first and 2nd leaves in 10% of
seedlings is noticed,
 Spray any one of the following:
Phosphamidon 40 SL 50 ml
Monocrotophos 36 SL 40 ml
Endosulfan 35 EC 80 ml
Green leafhopper  Sampling: Take 25 net sweepings in the nursery area. If the
Nephotettix nigropictus population exceeds 60 for 25 sweepings or 20/m2 by actual counting,
N. cincticeps  Spray any one of the following:
N. virescens Fenitrothion 50 EC 80 ml
Phosphamidon 40 SL 50 ml
Fenthion 100 EC 40 ml
Quinalphos 25 EC 80 ml
Phosalone 35 EC 120 ml
 Maintain 2.5 cm of water in the nursery and broadcast anyone of
the following in 20 cents
Carbofuran 3G 3.5 kg
Phorate 10 G 1.0 kg
Quinalphos 5 G 2.0 kg
Caseworm  Mix 250 ml of kerosene to the standing water
Parapoynx stagnalis  Dislodge the cases by passing a rope and drain water
 Collect the cases and destroy
Quinalphos 25 EC 80 ml.
ii) Main field

 Remove/destroy stubbles after harvest
 Keep the fields free from weeds
 Trim field bunds
 Provide effective drainage, if required
 Avoid use of excessive ‘N’ fertilizers.
 Avoid close planting, especially in BPH and leaffolder prone areas and seasons.
 Leave 30 cm space at every 2.5 M
 Use irrigation water judiciously
 Use light traps to monitor pest incidence
 Remove egg masses of stem borer
 In BPH prone areas/seasons, avoid use of synthetic pyrethroids, methyl parathion and quinalphos
and use recommended chemical at recommended doses.
 Use insecticides based on ETLs.
Economic threshold level for important pests
34
Pests ETL
Stem borer 2 egg masses/m or 10% dead hearts
2
Leaffolder 10% leaf damage at vegetative phase and 5% of flag leaf damage at
flowering
Gall midge 10% silver shoots
Whorl maggot 25% damaged leaves
Thrips 60 numbers in 12 passes or rolling of the first and second leaves in 10% of
seedlings.
Brown planthopper 1 hopper/ tiller in the absence of predatory spider and 2 hoppers /tiller
when spider is present at 1/hill.
Green leafhopper 60/25 net sweeps or 5/hill at vegetative stage or 10/hill at flowering or 2/hill
in tungro endemic area
Earhead bug 5 bugs/100 earheads at flowering and 16 bugs/100 earheads from milky
stage to grain maturity

Stem borer  25% of existing ETL for insecticides (2 egg masses/m2) is the action
Scirpophaga incertulas threshold level (ATL) for release of the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma
japonicum for the management of the rice yellow stem borer. 25% of
ETL adopted for application of insecticide is the ATL for spraying Neem
seed kernel extract to control stem borer.
 Spray any one of the following insecticides :
Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml/ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml/ha
Fenitrothion 50 EC 1000 ml/ha
Phosalone 35 EC 1500 ml/ha
Quinalphos 25 EC 1000 ml/ha
Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
Profenophos 50 EC 1000 ml/ha
Leaffolder  Release both Trichogramma chilonis (for leaffolder) and T.

Cnaphalocrocis medinalis japonicum (for stem borer) thrice @ 1,00,000/ha each (if moth activity
is noticed) and spray Bacillus thuringiensis @ 1.0 kg/ha when the
stem borer / leaffolder crosses ETL.
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 250 ml/ha
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha
Neem seed kernel extract 5% 25 kg/ha
Gall midge  Release Platygaster oryzae parasitised galls at 1 per 10 m2 on 10 days
Orseolia oryzae after transplanting (DAT)
 Spray any one of the following :
35
Thrips  Spray any one of the following :
Stenchaetothrips biformis Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml /ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 500 ml /ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml / ha
Brown planthopper  Avoid excessive use of nitrogen
Nilaparvata lugens  Control irrigation by intermittent draining
 Set up light traps during night or yellow pan traps during day time
 Drain the water before use of insecticides and direct the spray towards
the base of the plants.
 Apply any one of the following :
Carbaryl 10 D 25 kg/ha
Methyl demeton 25 EC 1000 ml/ha
Acephate 75 SP 625 gm/ha
Carbofuran 3G 17.5 kg/ha
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 350 ml/ ha
Neem oil 3% 15 lit/ha
Iluppai oil 6% 30 lit/ha
. Neem seed kernel extract 5% 25 kg/ha
White backed  Phosphamidon 40 SL 1000 ml/ha.
planthopper
Sogatella furcifera
Green leafhopper  Apply insecticides twice, 15 and 30 days after transplanting.
Nephotettix nigropictus Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
N. cincticeps Phosphamidon 40 SL 1000 ml /ha
N. virescens Fenthion 100 EC 500 ml/ha
 The vegetation on the bunds should also be sprayed with the
insecticides
 Set up light traps to attract and control the leafhopper vectors as well
as to monitor the population.
 Kill the leafhoppers attracted to light trap by spraying any one of the
insecticides every morning.
Mealy bug  Spray any one of the following:
Brevennia rehi Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Black bug  Spray any one of the following :
Scotinophora lurida Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
Acephate 75 SP 625 g/ha
Earhead bug  Dust any one of the following at 25 kg/ha twice, the first during
Leptocorisa acuta flowering and second a week later :
Quinalphos 1.5 D
Fenitrothion 2 D
Carbaryl 10 D
Malathion 5D
KKM 10 D
The new KKM dust formulation consists of 10% of Acorus
calamus rhizome powder and 90% of flyash which is a waste
product from Thermal Power Station. This dust formulation repels
the rice earhead bug.
 Spray any one of the following twice as above
36
Malathion 50 EC 500 ml/ha
Notchi or Ipomoea or Prosopis leaf extract 10%
Termite  Apply chopped paddy straw treated with quinalphos 1.5 D 50 kg/ha
Anacanthotermus viarum
Mite  Apply dicofol 18.5 EC 1250 ml/ha.
Oligonychus oryzae
Rat  Poison bait at 1 part zinc phosphide with 49 parts popped corn/rice/dry
Rattus rattus rufuscens, fish or warfarin 0.5% 1 part with 19 parts of popped corn/rice/dry fish
Rattus meltada or bromodialone 0.25 w/w (1:49) at 0.005%. Mix one part of
bromodialone + 49 parts of bait and keep inside the field.
 Setting up of owl perches
IPM module
 Pseudomonas fluorescens – Seed treatment (10 g/kg), seedling dip (2.5 kg/ha), main field
application (2.5 kg/ha)
 Pest and disease management in nursery (preferably neem seed kernel extract 5% or Neem oil
2%)
 Integrated Nutrient Management
Use of neem cake coated urea (5 : 1)
Inclusion of green manures / biofertilizers
‘N’ management by Leaf Colour Chart (LCC)
‘K’ application – basal (50%) + one top dressing (50%)
 Adoption of cultural practices
Variety selection
Spacing based on season, variety and location (endemic / hot spot)
Rogueing space (1’ for every 8’)
 Water management – alternate wetting and drying and submergence of recommended level
during critical periods only
 Release of biocontrol agents, when the moth activity is noticed
Trichogramma japonicum for stem borer @ 1,00,000 (5 cc) / ha at weekly interval for 3
times
Trichogramma chilonis for leaffolder @ 1,00,000 (5 cc) /ha at weekly interval for 3 times
Set up bird (owl) perches at 40 to 50 /ha
 Application of botanicals especially Neem seed kernel extract 5% against leaffolder
 ETL based insecticide / fungicide application (No synthetic pyrethroids)
 Integrated rodent management
Narrow bund maintenance (45 x 30 cms)
Zinc phosphide baiting (49 : 1)
Trapping with Thanjavur bow trap (100 nos./ha)
Baiting with bromodialone
Insecticide Resistance
In case of control failures monitor the insecticide resistance with the following discriminating dose
screen.
Rice leaffolder- Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

(IV instar larvae of 20-30 mg weight and 15-18 mm)
1. Monocrotophos topical 0.3375 µg
2. Quinalphos topical 0.5112 µg
3. Chlorpyriphos topical 1.1405 µg
37
4. Phosphamidon topical 5.3979 µg
Resurgence
Repeated application of the following insecticides can cause resurgence of insect pests
 Nilaparvata lugens : acephate, azinphosmethyl, BPMC, carbofuran, chlorpyriphos,
cypermethrin, deltamethrin, diazinon, ethopenprox, fenitrothion, fenthion, fenvalerate, methomyl,
methylparathion, monocrotophos, permethrin, perthane, phorate, phosalone, phosphamidon,
quinalphos, thiometon, triazophos, vamidothion
 Nephotettix virescens : deltamethrin, phorate
 Sogatella furcifera : cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate
 Cnaphalocrocis medinalis : carbofuran, phorate
RTD Management
 To control the vector, green leafhopper in the main field, spray two rounds of any one of the
insecticides viz., monocrotophos 36 SL (1000 ml/ha), phosphamidon 40 SL (1000 ml/ha), fenthion
100 EC (500 ml/ha) on 15 and 30 days after transplanting. The vegetation on the bunds should also
be sprayed with the insecticides.
 Set up light traps to attract and control the leafhopper 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.
B) Disease management
Disease management in nursery

Dry seed treatment  Thiram or captan or carboxin or carbendazim at 2 g/kg of seeds.
 Treat the seeds at least 24 hours prior to soaking for sprouting.
The treated seeds can be stored for 30 days without any loss in
viability.
Wet seed treatment  Carbendazim or Tricyclozole at 2 g/lit of water for 1 kg of seed.
 Soak the seeds in the solution for 2h
 Drain the solution, sprout the seeds and sow in the nursery bed.
 This wet seed treatment gives protection to the seedlings up to 40
days from seedling disease such as blast and this method is better
than dry seed treatment
or
 Treat the seeds with talc based formulation of P. Fluorescens
(Pf1)@ 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.
Seedling dip with  Stagnate water to a depth of 2.5cm over an area of 25m 2 in the
Pseudomonas fluorescens main field.
 Sprinkle 2.5 kg of the talc based formulation of Pseudomonas
fluorescens ( Pf1) 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.
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.

Biofertilizers and biocontrol agents can be mixed together for seed soaking.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
i.)NURSERY DISEASES
Name of the Disease Management stratergies
38
Blast  Spray any one of the following: (for 20 cents)
Pyricularia grisea  Edifenphos 50 EC 25 ml
(Magnaporthe grisea)  Carbendazim 50 W 25g
Brown spot  Spray any one of the following: ( for 20 cents)
Drechslera oryzae  Edifenphos 50 EC 40 ml
(Cochliobolus miyabeanus)  Mancozeb WP 80 g
Tungro  Apply Carbofuran 3G @ 3.5kg at 10 DAS or
Rice tungro Bacilliform virus  Spray 2 rounds (10 and 20 DAS) with any one of the following
Rice tungro Spherical virus insecticides to control the vector (Nephotettix virescens) in 20
Vector cents area
Nephotettix virescens  Monocrophos 36 WSC 40ml
N. nigropictus  Phosphomidan 85 WSC 40ml
N. parvus  Fenthion 100 EC 40 ml
N. malayanus
Recilia dorsalis
ii.) Main Field
Name of the Disease Management
Blast  Cultural method
Pyricularia grisea  Remove collateral weed hosts from bunds and channels
(Magnaporthe grisea)  Use only disease free seedlings.
 Avoid excess nitrogen
 Apply N in three split doses (50% basal, 25% in tillering phase and
25% N in panicle initiation stage)
 Use resistant variety CO 47.
 Biological
 Spray P. fluorescens ( Pf1) formulations @ 0.2% (1 kg) dissolved in
500 litres of water for one hectare, commencing from 45 days after
transplanting at 10 days interval for 3 times depending on the disease
severity.
 Chemical
 Spray after observing initial infection of the disease,
 Edifenphos 50 EC 500 ml or Carbendazim WP 250 g or Tricyclozole
75 WP 500 g or Iprobenphos (IBP) 500ml/ha.
Brown spot  Spray any one of the following:
Drechslera oryzae  Edifenphos 50 EC 500 ml
(Cochliobolus miyabeanus)  Mancozeb 1000 g/ha when grade reaches 3. If necessary, repeat 15
days later.
Sheath rot  Cultural

Saroclodium oryzae  Apply Gypsum @ 500 kg/ha at two equal splits
once basally and another at active tillering
stage.
 Botanicals
 NSKE (5%)
 Neem oil 3%
 Ipomoea leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha)
 Prosopis leaf powder extract (25 kg/ha). First spray at boot leaf stage
and second 15 days later
 Chemical
 Spray any one of the following:
 Carbendazim 250 g /ha
 Edifenphos 500 ml /ha
 Mancozeb 1000g/ha
39
Sheath blight  Cutlural
Rhizoctonia solani  Apply Neem cake at 150 kg/ha
(Thanatophorus cucumaris)  Botanical
 Foliar spray with Neem oil at 3% (15 lit /ha)
starting from disease appearance.
 Biological Control
 Soil application of P. fluorescens talc based formulation at 30 DAT
@ 2.5 Kg/ha and foliar spray (0.2%) at boot leaf and 10 days later
@ 1 Kg/ha.
 Chemcial
 Carbendazim 250 g /ha
 Iprobenphos ( IBP) 500 ml/ha
 Edifenphos 500 ml / ha
Rice grain discoloration  Chemcial
1. Helminthosporium oryzae  Spray any one of the following
2. Alternaria tenuis  Carbendazim + Thiram + Mancozeb (1:1:1) 0.2% at the time of
3. Fusarium moniliforme 50% flowering stage.
4. Sarocladium oryzae
*
* In addition to the above the following are also found to be associated with the grain discoloration
viz.,Cladosporium herbarum,Curvularia lunata,C. pallescens,Cephalosporium oryzae,F. semitectum,F.
solani,Gailarchia oryzae,H. rostratum,H. tetramera,Nigrospora oryzae,Periconia sp.,Pryenochaeta
sp.,Rhizoctonia solani,Trichoconis padwickii
Bacterial leaf blight  Botanical / others

Xanthomonas oryzae pv.  Spray neem oil 3% or NSKE 5%
oryzae  Spray fresh cowdung extract 20% twice (starting from initial
appearance of the disease and another at fortnightly interval)
 Chemical / antibiotics
 Spray Streptomycin sulphate + Tetracycline combination 300 g +
Copper oxychloride 1250 g/ha. If necessary repeat 15 days later.
Bacterial leaf streak  Botanical / others
Xanthomonas oryzae pv.  Spray fresh cowdung water extract at 20%
oryzicola
Rice tungro disease  Physical methods
 Light traps are to be set up to attract and control the leaf hopper
Vector vectors as well as to monitor the population.
Nephotettix virescens  In the early morning, the population of leafhopper alighting near
N. nigropictus the light trap should be killed by spraying/dusting the insecticides.
N. parvus This should be practiced every day.
N. malayanus  Spray Two rounds of any one of the following insecticides
Recilia dorsalis  Monocrotophos 36 WSC (1000 ml/ha)
 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.
 Special detection technique
 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.
 Washed in water and when examined. Tungro infected leaves
develop dark blue streaks.
40
Rice yellow dwarf  Cultural method
Phytoplasma  Plough the stubbles as soon as the crop is harvested to prevent
Vector the survival of yellow dwarf pathogen during off-season.
Nephotettix virescens
N. nigropictus
C) Nematode management
Sl.No Nematode pest Control measures

1 Rice root nematode, Treat Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 g/kg seed or Apply
Hirschmanniella oryzae Carbofuran 3G 33 kg/ha in 2 cm standing water or Carbofuran
3G @ 3.5 kg/20 cent nursery required for 1 ha.
2 White tip nematode, Spray Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1250 ml or Phosphamidon 85
Aphelenchoides besseyi WSC 300 ml/ha or Monocrotophos 36 WSC at 1 l/ha
immediately after the emergence of boot leaf
3 Rice root and White tip Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens (10 g/kg seed)
nematodes followed by foliar spraying of the same @ 1 kg/ha thrice at 45,
55 and 65 DAT.
RICE SEED PRODUCTION

Land requirement
Previous crop should not be the different variety of paddy, if same variety it should be passed
production of certified procedure.
Isolation
Adopt 3m all around the field
Pre-sowing seed management
For rainfed rice or direct sowing harden the seeds by soaking the seeds in equal volume of 1%
KCl solution for 20 h and dry back the seeds to original moisture content.
In dormant cultivars, break the dormancy by soaking the seeds in equal volume 0.1 N conc.HNO 3
or in 0.5% KNO3 for a duration of 12 -16h. The seeds are to be dried to original moisture content.
Grade the seeds using specific gravity adopting salt water (egg flotation grading) to remove ill
filled and immatured seed.
Blanket fertilizer recommendation
Short duration : NPK @ 120:40:40 kg ha-1
Medium duration: NPK @ 150:50:60 kg ha-1
Long duration: NPK @ 150:50:80 kg ha-1
Zinc deficient soils
Apply ZnSO4 @ 30 kg ha-1
Roguing space
Leave a roguing space of 30 cm between the beds size of 150 cm
Foliar application
DAP 2% at panicle emergence stage.
Harvesting
When 90% of the panicle are in straw colour with the moisture content of 20% for short and
medium duration varieties and 17% moisture for long duration varieties harvest the crop as once
over harvest.
Threshing
Thresh the ear-heads at 16-17% moisture content either manually or using mechanical threshers.
Drying
Dry the seeds to 12-13% moisture content for short term storage and 8-9% moisture for long term
storage.
Seed Treatment
Treat the seeds with carbendazim / Thiram @ 2g kg-1 of seed using 5 ml of water kg-1 of seed.
Storage
41
For short term storage (9-12 month) store the seeds with 12-13% moisture content in gunny bag.
For medium term storage (12-36 months) store the seed in HDPE bag or polylined gunny bag
with 10-12% seed moisture
Mid storage correction
Adopt hydration – dehydration treatment with disodium hydrogen phosphate (3.59g dissolved in
100 liters of water) to improve the viability and vigour when the germination of seed reduce to 5-
10% lesser than MSCS level (Minimum Seed Certification Standard).
Other management practices
As in crop production technique
Hybrid seed production Techniques (ADTRH 1 and CORH 2)

Land Requirement
Select fertile land with good drainage and irrigation.
Previous crop should not be the different varieties / hybrids of paddy
Isolation
Space isolation : 100 mt
Time isolation : 25 days (later)
Barrier isolation : Either a distance of 30 m with vegetative barrier or Plastic sheet with 2mt
height
Staggered sowing
Sowing Time (Western zone)
Dec – Jan
CORH 2
Restorer (R) line, the male parent should be sown 3, 6 and 9 days later than sowing of male
sterile (A) line, the female parent
ADTRH 1
'R' line should be sown 14,17and20 days after the sowing of'A' line
June – July
CORH 2
Sowing of R line 0,3 and 6 days after 'A' line sowing
ADTRH – 1
'R' line should be sown 12, 15 and 18 days after 'A' line sowing
Planting Ratio : 8:2 to 10:2 (Female : Male)
Border rows: 4 rows all around the field
Main field Management

Spacing
Between 'A' lines 10 cm : between 'R' lines 30 cm ; between A and 'R' line 20 cm : within rows 15 cm.
Planting Design
Two paired row @ 2-3 seedling / hill
Fertilizer application
150 : 60 : 60 kg NPK / ha. N and K applied in 3 split doses viz., basal, active tillering and panicle
initiation
Foliar spray
2% DAP at panicle differentiation stage.
Panicle exertion
Spray GA3 @ 45 – 60g/ha.
Spray 40% of GA3 at 5-10% panicle emergence stage (based on tillers)
Spray the remaining 60% of GA3 at 24 h after first spray
Note: GA3 should be dissolved in 70% alcohol
Supplementary pollination
Rope pulling or shaking the pollen parent with the help of two bamboo sticks at 30-40% of
spikelets opening stage. The process is repeated for 3 – 4 times during the day time (10 am to 1
pm) at an interval of 30 min. This has to be repeated for 7 – 10 days during flowering period.
Harvesting
42
'R' line should be harvested first and removed from the field
Grading
For getting better seed quality, the seeds should be size graded using 1.3 mm x 19 mm oblong sieve.
The size graded seeds may be upgraded by density grading using gravity separator. Heavy and
medium fractions with (90 – 92% recovery) could be selected for seed purpose
Drying
Moisture content should be reduced to 12 – 13%
Seed Treatment
Treat with carbendazim @ 2g/kg or halogen mixture (CaOCl2 + CaCO3 mixture at 1:1 ratio) @ 3g
/kg of seed.
Sun dry the seeds to reduce the moisture content to 12-13% with adequate stirring
Storage
As that of varieties
43
MILLETS
SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICTS/SEASON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur
1. Thaipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, COH 4
2. Chithiraipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, COH 4,
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai
1. Thaipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, COH 4, BSR 1
3. Adipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, COH 4, Paiyur 1
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, Paiyur 2
Cuddalore, Villupuram
3. Adipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO(S) 28, BSR 1
Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Perambalur
1. Thaipattam COH 4, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
Kanyakumari
1. Thaipattam CO (S) 28
2. Chithiraipattam CO (S) 28
Salem, Namakkal
1. Thaipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
3. Adipattam CO (S) 28, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, Paiyur 2, BSR 1
Dharmapuri
1. Thaipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
2. Chithiraipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
3. Adipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, Paiyur 2
Coimbatore
3. Adipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28
Erode
3. Adipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, Paiyur 2
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, Paiyur 2
Pudukottai
1. Thaipattam BSR 1, COH 4
2. Chithiraipattam BSR 1, COH 4
3. Adipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, K Tall, BSR 1, COH 4
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, K Tall, BSR 1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni
44
3. Adipattam CO 26, CO(S) 28, COH 4, K 11, BSR 1, COH 4, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, CO(S) 28, K Tall, K 11, BSR 1, APK 1
Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar
1. Thaipattam CO 26, CO (S) 28, COH 4
3. Adipattam BSR 1, COH 4, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam CO 26, K 11, K Tall, BSR 1, APK 1
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
3. Adipattam K Tall, K 11, CO 26, CO(S) 28, BSR 1, APK 1
4. Puratasipattam K Tall, CO 26, CO (S) 28, K 11, BSR 1, APK 1
Note: Thaipattam: January - February; Chithiraipattam: April - May; Adipattam: June - July;
Puratasipattam: September - October.
II. PARTICULARS OF SORGHUM VARIETIES

PARTICULARS CO 26 CO (S) 28 COH 4
Parentage Derivative of Derivative of 296A X TNS30
MS 8271x IS 3691 CO 25 x SPV 942
Duration (days) 105 - 110 100-105 105 - 110
Area (Districts) All districts All districts All districts
Season (Pattam)
Rainfed Adi, Puratasi Adi, Puratasi …
Irrigated Thai, Chithirai Thai, Chithirai Thai, Chithirai
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed 4500 2493 ...
Irrigated 6000 4568 6500
Fodder yield kg/ha
Rainfed 14000 12600 ...
Irrigated 19000 17700 20000
Stalk Juicy, Sweet Juice Juicy
Height (cm) 160 - 190 220-240 200 - 215
Sheath colour Green Tan Green
Node Green Green Green
Midrib Dull white Dull white White
Earhead shape Long cylindrical Cylindrical Elliptic
Compactness Semi compact Semi compact Semi Compact
Grain colour Pearly white White Pearly white
Special features -- -- Less incidence of leaf
diseases, grain mould and
sugary diseases
II. PARTICULARS OF SORGHUM VARIETIES (CONTD...)

PARTICULARS PAIYUR 1 K Tall K 11
Parentage CO 19 X CO 24 2219A x IS3541 K 7 x A 6552
Duration (days) 145 - 150 90 110-115
Area (Districts) North east and north Southern districts and Southern districts
western districts other districts
Season (Pattam)
Rainfed Adi, Puratasi Adi, Puratasi Puratasi
Irrigated ... Thai, Chithirai …
45
Grain yield kg/ha
Rainfed 1000 3750 1560
Irrigated ... 4250 --
Straw yield kg/ha
Rainfed 9000 11250 10360
Irrigated ... 13250 --
Stalk Juicy Juicy Thin, Juicy and
Sweet
Height (cm) 300 254 220-260
Sheath colour Green Brown Reddish purple at
maturity
Node Green Green Green, glabrous
Midrib White Dull white Dull white
Earhead shape Lax panicle … Erect, loose panicle,
Compactness Open Lanceolate Semi open Semiopen
Grain colour Pearly white Cream pearly Red colour, partially
covering the grain
Special features Tolerant to drought, -- Tolerant to drought
non lodging, Resistant to lodging,
photosensitive non shattering
II. 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, parts of Tamil Nadu
Salem, Trichirappalli
Perambalur, Karur and
Dindigul)
Season (Pattam)
Rainfed Adi-puratasi Puratasi Adi, Puratasi
Irrigated Thai-Chitirai
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 2500 - 3500 2113
Irrigated 6000 – 6500 …
Fodder Yield(kg/ha)
Rainfed 8600 8789
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 features Fertilizer responsive, Dual purpose red grain Non-lodging
moderate resistance to sorghum suited to rainfed
earhead bug, shoot fly and tract of Salem Namakkal
stem borer. districts. Tolerant to downy
mildew and charcoal rot
46
diseases.
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. 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 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
150 plants for 10 m2, leaving only one healthy plant per hill.
II. 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.
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 2 m 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 inter-space 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 at 2g/kg of seed.
ii. Treat the seeds with three packets (600 g) / ha of Azospirillum and 3 packets (600g) of
phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200g) using rice kanji as binder.
5. SOWING AND COVERING THE SEEDS

1. Make shallow rills, not deeper than 1 cm on the bed by passing the fingers vertically over it.
2. Broadcast 7.5 kg of treated seeds evenly on the beds.
3. Cover by leveling the rills by passing the hand lightly over the soil.
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:
47
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
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.
III. MAIN FIELD PREPARATION FOR IRRIGATED CROP
1. PLOUGHING
Plough the field with an iron plough once (or) twice. 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 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000g/ha) and
10 packets (2000 g/ha) of phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000g/ha) on the unploughed field
and incorporate the manure in the soil. 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 at 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 N @ 50:25:25 % at 0, 15 and 30 DAS 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 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) and 10 packets (2000g/ha) of
phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000g/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 N @ 50:25:25 % at 0, 15 and 30 DAS and full dose of P 2O and K2O5 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
48
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 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.
viii. Soil test based fertilizer recommendation may be adopted in Western and North Western Zone
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.
IV. 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 of Azospirillum (1000g/ha) and 5 packets (1000g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 10 packets of Azophos (2000 g/ha) 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

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.
3. WEED MANAGEMENT
i. Apply the pre-emergence herbicide Atrazine 50 WP - 500 g/ha on 3 days after sowing as spray on
49
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.
Hoe and hand weed on the 10th day of transplanting if herbicides are not used. Hoe and weed
iv. between 30 - 35 days after transplanting and between 35 - 40 days for a direct sown crop, if
necessary.
4. 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.
5. DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
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
V. 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
50
STAGES Days of Transplanting/Sowing of
No. of Irrigation Crop
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: This should be done before 75% of soil moisture is lost from available water.
Spraying 3% Kaolin (30 g in one litre of water) during periods of stress will mitigate the ill effects.
V. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING

Consider the average duration of the crop and observe the crop. When the crop
i.
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.
In the case of tall varieties, cut the stem at 10 to 15 cm above ground level and
v.
afterwards separate the earheads and stack the straw.
vi. Dry the earheads.
Thresh using a mechanical thresher or by drawing a stone roller over the earheads or
vii.
by using cattle and dry the produce and store.
RATOON SORGHUM CROP

1. 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.
2. HOEING AND WEEDING
51
i. Remove the weeds immediately after harvest of the main crop.
ii Hoe and weed twice on 15th and 30th 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 the application of N on 45th day.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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 provided the rainfall is
evenly distributed.
4. FIELD PREPARATION
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 @ 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 chiseling to get an additional
yield of about 30% over control.
iii. To conserve the soil moisture sow the seeds in flat beds and form furrows between crop rows
during inter cultivation or during third week after sowing.
5. SEED RATE
15 kg/ha
6. SEED TREATMENT
Direct sown crop

Seed hardening ensures high germination. The seeds are pre-soaked in 2% potassium
dihydrogen phosphate solution for 6 hours in equal volum and then dried back to its original moisture
content is shade and are used for sowing.
i) 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/kg with gruel.
52
ii) Halogenise the seeds containing CaOCl, CaCO3 and arappu leaf powder @ 5:4:1 ratio or iodine
based (containing 2 mg of Iodine in 3 g of CaCO 3) formulation @ 3g/kg packed in polylined cloth
bag to maintain seed viability for more than 10 month.
iii) Soak the seeds in 2% (20 g in one litre of water) potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 500 ppm of
CCC (500 mg 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.
iv) Treat the seeds with three packets of azospirillum (600 g) and 3 packets of phosphobacteria or 6
packets of Azophos (1200 g/ha). In the main field, apply 10 packets of azospirillum 2000 g/ha and
10 packets (2000g/ha) of phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) with
phosphobacteria 2 kg with 25 kg FYM + 25 kg soil.
7. SOWING
Sow the seeds well before the 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.
8. SPACING
45 x 15 cm or 45 x 10 cm.
9. FERTILIZER
Apply 12.5 t/ha of Composted Coir pith + NPK at 40:20:0; Apply 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.
10. 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.
11. CROPPING SYSTEM

The most profitable and remunerative sorghum based cropping system adopted is sorghum with
cowpea, redgram, lab-lab, blackgram.
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.
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.
Intercropping of soyabean with sorghum in the ratio 4:2 is recommended for kharif seasons.
For sorghum - blackgram intercropping system as well as sole cropping, application of 20 kg N and
53
20 kg P2O5/ha through enriched FYM and treating the seeds with Azospirillum is recommended for
Aruppukottai region.
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.
The intercropping system, fodder sorghum (K 7) + Fodder cowpea (CO 5) at 3:2 ratio is found
profitable for rainfed Vertisols of Aruppukottai.
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 gave higher yield even at 50
per cent of the recommended level of fertilizer application.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pre-treatment of seeds
Dissolve 0.5 g of gum in 20 ml of water. Add 4 ml of chlorpyriphos 20 EC or monocrotophos 36
WSC or phosalone 35 EC. To this add one kg of seed, pellet and shade dry.
Pests ETL
Shoot fly 1 egg/plant in 10% of plants in the first two weeks of sowing or 10 % dead hearts
Mite 5 mites/cm2 of leaf area
Stemborer 10% damage
Grain midge 5 / earhead
Earhead bug 10 / earhead
Earhead caterpillar 2 / earhead
Pest management strategies

Shoot fly  Take up early sowing of sorghum immediately after the receipt of
Atherigona soccata South West or North East monsoon to minimise the shoot fly
incidence.
 Use seeds pelleted with insecticides
 Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 10 g/kg of seeds
 In case of direct seeding, use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg/per
hectare and remove the shoot fly damaged seedlings at the time of
thinning or raise nursery and transplant only healthy seedlings.
 Plough soon after harvest, remove and destroy the stubbles.
 Set up the TNAU low cost fish meal trap @ 12/ha till the crop is
30 days old.
Spray one of the following for an area of 120 m2 nursery :
In main field for direct sown crop spray any one of the following :
Neem Seed Kernal extract 5%
Azadirachtin 1%
 Soil application of phorate 10 G 10 kg/ha at the time of sowing
Mite  Spray any one of the following :
Oligonychus indicus Wettable sulphur 3.75 kg/ha
Dicofol 18.5 EC 1500 ml/ha.
 Direct the spray fluid towards the under surface of the leaves.
Aphids  Spray any one of the following :
Rhopalosiphum maidis Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
54
Melanaphis sacchari Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Stemborer  Sowing the lab lab / cowpea as an intercrop to minimise stemborer
Chilo partellus sesamia damage (Sorghum: Lab lab /cowpea 4:1).
inferens  Set up of light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults
of stem borer, grain midge and earhead caterpillars
 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/ha
Endosulfan 4 G 15 kg/ha
Phorate 10 G 8 kg/ha
Carbofuron 3 G 17 kg/ha
Carbaryl 4 G 20 kg/ha
Endosulfan 4 D 10 kg/ha
Phosalone 4 D 10 kg/ha
Phenthoate 2 D 5 kg/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1.00 kg/ha (500 l spray fluid/ ha).
Grain midge  Sett up of light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults
Contarinia sorgicola of stem borer, grain midge and earhead caterpillars.
 Apply any one of the following on 3rd and 18th day after
panicle emergence :
Malathion 5 D 25 kg/ha
Neem seed kernel extract 5%
Azadirachtin 1%
 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.
Earhead bug  Apply any one of the following on 3rd and 18th day after
Calocoris angustatus panicle emergence :
Azadirachtin 1%
 For the earhead bug and sugary disease predominance, spray
twice with Malathion 50 EC 500 ml/ha. plus ziram 1.25 kg/ha in
500 lit of water at 10% heading and 9days after.
Earhead caterpillar  Set up of light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults
Helicoverpa armigera of stem borer, grain midge and earhead caterpillars.
 Set up sex pheromone traps at 12/ha to attract male moths of
Helicoverpa armigera from flowering to grain hardening. Two
applications of NPV at 10 days interval at 1.5 X1012 POB 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.
 Apply any one of the following on 3rd and 18th day after
panicle emergence :
Storage  Treat the seeds with
Rice weevil Monocrotophos 36 WSC 4 ml/kg of seed.
Sitophilus oryzae Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 4 ml/kg of seed.
55
Resurgence
Repeated application of the insecticide fenvalerate can cause resurgence of the aphid,
Rhopalosiphum maidis.
RATOON SORGHUM CROP

CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
 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.
 Fallow the plant protection measures as recommended for the control of stemborer, earhead
midge and earhead bug for the main crop.
B. Disease Management
Nursery practices
Seed treatment Treat the seeds 24h prior to sowing with Carbendazim or Captan or
Thiram 2g/kg of seed or Metalaxyl+Mancozeb 4g/ kg of seed
Main field
Name of the Disease Management (Dosage / ha)
Rust Spray Mancozeb at 1kg/ha. Repeat fungicidal application after 10 days
Puccinia purpurea
Ergot or Sugary disease  Cultural method
Sphacelia sorghi  Sowing period to be adjusted so as to prevent heading during
Claviceps purpurea rainy season and severe winter.
 Chemcial
 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
 Mancozeb – 1000g/ha
 Propiconazole 500ml/ha
Head Mould  Spray any one of the fungicides like Mancozeb or Captan @
Fungal complex Fusarium, 1000g+ Aureofungin sol. 100 g/ha in case of intermittent rainfall
Curvularia, Alternaria, during earhead emergence and repeat if necessary a week later.
Aspergillus and Phoma sp.
 Cultural method
Downy Mildew Rogue infected plants upto 45 days after
Peronosclerospora sorghi sowing
Spray any one of the fungicides like
Metalaxyl 500 g or Mancozeb 1000g/ha afternoticing the
symptoms of foliar diseases, for both transplanted and direct sown
crops.
Charcoal Rot  Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4g/Kg of seed.
Macrophomina phaseolina
CUMBU (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br. )

CROP IMPROVEMENT

Districts/Season Varieties/Hybrid
1. IRRIGATED
i. Chithiraipattam (March-April)
56
All pearl millet growing districts except Nilgiris CO 7, CO (Cu) 9, X 7, ICMV 221
ii. Masipattam (January-February)

All pearl millet growing districts except the Nilgiris, CO 7, CO (Cu) 9, X 7, ICMV 221
2. RAINFED
i. Adipattam (June-July)
CO 7, CO (Cu) 9, X 7, ICMV 221
ii. Purattasipattam (September -October) CO 7, CO (Cu) 9, X 7, ICMV 221
II. PARTICULARS OF CUMBU HYBRIDS AND VARIETIES

PARTICULARS CO 7 X7 CO (Cu) 9 ICMV 221
(CO 6 x PK L111 A x Selection from
Parentage ICRISAT Composite
560) PT 1921 PT 1890 ICMV 93752
Season-irrigated/
Both Both Both Both
rainfed
Duration (Days) 90 - 100 90 80-85 75-80
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 2500 - 2800 2513 2354 13% >ICTP 8203
Irrigated 3000 - 3500 3295 2865 --
Plant height (cm) 130 - 145 155 - 180 186-222 140-200
Tillers (No.) 6 - 10 4-7 3-6 More tillering
Pigmentation Green Non- pigmented -- --
Hairiness Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Absent
Days to 50% bloom 65 - 70 50 - 55 50-55 50-55
Shape of earhead Conical/ Candle Candle to Semicompact to
cylindrical/ cylindrical compact lanceolate
spindle to oblanceolate
Bristles Nil — Absent Usually non bristled
Length of earhead 22 - 26 25 - 35 33-39 --
(cm)
Breadth of earhead 3-4 — 8-10 Wide in girth
(cm)
Grain colour Slate colour Slate Grey seed with Dark grey
yellow base
1000 grains weight 6.8 - 7.2 8.0 - 9.0 9-11 10-15
(gm)
Special features Resistant to Resistant to Resistant to Resistant to downy
downy mildew downy mildew downy mildew mildew
57
CROP MANAGEMENT
II. NURSERY
1. PREPARATION OF LAND
For raising seedlings to plant one ha select 7.5 cents near a water source. Water should not
i.
stagnate.
ii. Plough the land and bring it to the fine tilth.
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 one 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 (600g) of the Azospirillum inoculant and 3 packets
(600g) of phosphobacteria or 6 packets (1200g) of azophos.
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 / cent) and use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg
per ha in shootfly endemic area and transplant only healthy seedlings.
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.
7. IRRIGATION TO 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
58
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
12ml ; Methyl demeton 25 EC 12 ml, Dimethoat 30 EC 12 ml.
Note: 1. The seedlings should not be kept in nursery for more than 18 days. Otherwise the
establishment and yield will be affected adversely.
2. Ensure that cracks should not develop in the nursery. This can be avoided by properly
adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.
III. 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 0.5m interval, first in one direction then in the direction
perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years.
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) and 10 packets (2000g) of phosphobacteria (or) 20 packets (4000g) of azophos with 25kg
of soil and 25 kg of FYM.
3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS/BEDS

i. Form 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.
ii. If ridge planting is not followed, form beds of the size 10 m 2 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 the
recommended N in three splits as 25:50:25 per cent at 0,15 and 30 DAS and full dose of phosphorus and
potassium basally. Combined application of azospirillum and phosphobacteria or azophos 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. 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 use only 50 kg N/ha for variety, 60 kg
N/ha for hybrid, as soil application 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.
IV. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD
59
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.
iii. Plant seedlings on the side of ridge, half way from the bottom. Depth of planting should be 3
to 5 cm.
iv. Root dipping with bio-fertilizers: Prepare the slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum
inoculant and 5 packets (1000g/ha) of phosphobacteria or 10 packets of azophos (2000g/ha)
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. If pulse is intercropped, adopt a spacing of 30 x
15 cm for cumbu and 30 x 10 cm for 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. Use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg per hectare in shoot fly endemic area and
remove the shootfly damaged seedlings at the time of thinning.
iii. Where pulse seeds are to be sown, drop pulse seeds to fall 5 cm apart and cover.
2. WEED MANAGEMENT
Transplanted crop
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 nitrogen at 15 and 30 days after transplanting or direct sowing.
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.
V. WATER MANAGEMENT
Days after transplantation/sowing
STAGES Transplanted Crop Direct Sown Crop
Light Soils
i. Germination 1st day after transplanting 1st day after sowing
60
4th day 4th day
ii. Vegetative phase 15th Day 17th day
28th day 30th day
iii. Flowering phase 40th day 42nd day
52nd day 55th day
65th day 68th day
iv. Maturity phase 77th day 79th day
Total 8 irrigations 8 irrigations
Heavy Soils
i. Germination 1st day after planting 1st day after sowing
th
4 day 5th day
th
ii. Vegetative phase 15 day 15th day
th
28 day 30th day
nd
iii. Flowering phase 42 day 45th day
th
54 day 57th day
th
iv. Maturity Phase 66 day 70th day
Total 7 irrigations 7 irrigations
NOTE: This is only a guideline and the irrigation schedule is to be adjusted depending upon the prevailing
weather conditions.
VI. 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.
v. Dry the seeds below 10 per cent and mix 100 kg of grains with 1kg of activated kaolin to
reduce the rice weevil and rice moth incidence.
vi. Spray Malathion 50EC 10 ml/ lit @ 3 lit of spray fluid/100 m2 over the bags during storage
godowns,
vii. For grain purpose the grain should be dried well below 10% moisture and stored in gunny
bags.
61
CROP PROTECTION
A. PEST MANAGEMENT
Pest Management strategies
Shoot fly  Use seeds pelleted with insecticides (see sorghum)
Atherigona approximate  Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS 10 g/kg of seeds
 Set up the TNAU low cost fish meal trap 12/ha till the crop is 30
days old.
Neem Azal 1%
Ear midge  Apply any one of the following at 50 % flowering :
Geromyia pennisetti Carbaryl 10 D 25 kg/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 750 g/ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 750 ml/ha (500 l of spray fluid/ ha).
B. DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Nursery
Seed treatment  Cultural method
Removal of ergot / sclerotia to prevent primary infection
 Dissolve 1 kg of common salt in 10 litres of water.
 Drop the seeds into the salt solution.
 Remove the ergot and sclerotia affected seeds which will float.
 Wash seeds in fresh water 2 or 3 times to remove the salt on the
seeds.
 Dry the seeds in shade.
 Chemical
Thiram 75%WDP @ 2g + 5ml of water/kg of seed or Metalaxyl 6
g/kg for the control of downy mildew in the endemic area
Main field
 Spray any one of the fungicides like Carbendazim 500g or
Sugary or Ergot disease Mancozeb 1000g when 5 - 10% flowers have opened and again at
Claviceps fusiformis 50% flowering stage.
 Cultural method
Rust  Sowing during December - May result in less incidence .
Puccinia penniseti  Adopt control measures when there is rust incidence in the early
stages as spread of infection to top leaves results in poor grain
filling.
 Chemcial
 Spray any one of the following fungicides when the initial
symptoms of the diseases are noticed.
 Wettable sulphur 2500g / ha.
 Mancozeb 1000g/ha.
 Repeat application 10 days after if necessary.
62
 Cultural method
Downy Mildew  Grow downy mildew resistant varieties CO7, WCC 75
Sclerospora graminicola  Transplanting reduces disease incidence. At the time of
planting infected seedlings should be removed.
 In the direct sown crop, infested plants should be removed up
to 45 days after sowing as and when the symptoms are
noticed.
 Spray any one of the fungicides
 Metalaxyl 500 g or
 Mancozeb 1000g/ha
63
RAGI (Eleusine coracana)
IRRIGATED
CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. SEASONS AND VARIETIES

DISTRICTS/SEASON VARIETIES
Irrigated
i. Marghazipattam (Dec - Jan)

All districts except Kanyakumari & Nilgiris CO 9, CO 13, CO (Ra) 14 , TRY 1
ii. Chithiraipattam (April - May)

All districts except Kanyakumari & Nilgiris CO 9, CO 13, CO (Ra) 14
Rainfed
i. Adipattam (June - July)
All districts except Kanyakumari & Nilgiris Paiyur 1, CO 13, CO (Ra) 14
ii. Puratasipattam (September - October)

All districts except Kanyakumari & Nilgiris Paiyur 1, CO 13, CO (Ra) 14
II. PARTICULARS OF RAGI STRAINS
PARTICULARS CO 9 CO 13 CO (Ra) 14
Parentage EX 4336 x PLR 1 CO 7 X TAH 107 Malawi 1305 x CO 13
Duration (days) 100-105 95 - 100 105-110
Season
Rainfed/ Irrigated Both Both Both
Grain yield kg/ha
Irrigated 4500 3600 2892
Rainfed 3100 2300 2794
Straw yield kg/ha
Irrigated 8000 10000 8113
Rainfed 6500 7500 8503
Stem Erect Erect Erect
Height (cm) 75-80 85 - 90 115-120
Tillers 5-8 3-5 8-9
Days to 50% flowering 65-70 55 - 60 72
Ear size and shape incurved fingers Open top curved
Fingers 8-9 10 –17 9-12
Ear length (cm) 8 8-10 10-12
Grain colour White Light Brown Brown
1000 grain wt (g) 2.7 1.7 3.1
Contd..
64
Contd..
PARTICULARS Paiyur 1 TRY 1
Pureline selection from
Parentage Selection from HR 374
PR 722
Duration (days) 115-120 102
Season
Rainfed / Irrigated Rainfed Kharif irrigated Sodic/ saline soils
Grain yield kg/ha
Irrigated .. 4011
Rainfed 3125 ..
Straw yield kg/ha
Irrigated .. 6800
Rainfed 5750 ..
Stem Erect Erect
Height (cm) 110 100
Tillers 1-3 5-7
Days to 50% flowering 80 78
Ear size and shape Open Incurved
Fingers 6-8 5-8
Ear length (cm) 8 7.6
Grain colour Brown Brown
1000 grain wt (g) 2.7 2.74
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. PREPARATION OF NURSERY (IRRIGATED TRANSPLANTED CROP)

1. PREPARATION OF LAND
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. Seed treatment with Azospirillum may be done @ 3 packets/ha (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600
g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g/ha).
ii. 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.

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.
5. WATER MANAGEMENT
65
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.
6. PULLING OUT THE SEEDLINGS FOR PLANTING

Pull out seedlings on the 17th to 20th day of sowing for planting.
II. 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 PO5 and 30 kg K2O5 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 and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphorous
solubilizing bacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) 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 quantity of 50 kg/ha.
ii. Apply the mixture evenly on the beds.
iii. Do not incorporate the mixture in the soil.
III. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD

1. TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLINGS
i. Let water into the bed, level the bed, if it is not levelled.
66
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 30x10 cm for planting.
vi. Adopt 22.5 x 10 cm spacing for direct sowing.
vii. Root dipping with Azospirillum prepare slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 5
packets (1000g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 10 packets of Azophos (2000 g/ha) 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 litre of water/ha.
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. 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.
IV. 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 1 to18 1 to 20 1 to 22

(in main field)
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 37thd ay
(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
Light soils
Establishment 1 1st day 1st day 1st day
(1 – 7 days) 2 5th day 5th day 5th day
Vegetative phase 1 15th day 16th day 16th day
(8 - 20 days) 2 26th day 28th day 28th day
Flowering phase 1 36th day 36th day 36th day
(21 - 55 days) 2 45th day 45th day 45th day
3 .. 54th day 54th day
Maturity phase 1 58th day 69th day 78th day
67
(56 - 120 days) 2 70th day 85th 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.
V. 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.
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 bamboo stick or machine thresher.
ii. Precleaning and drying

Threshed seeds should be precleaned before sundrying, seeds must be dried to 12% before
grading.
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.
RAGI : RAINFED
Rainfall
Average and well distributed rainfall of 450-500 mm is optimum for rainfed ragi
Season
Finger millet is grown in different seasons in different parts of the country. As a rainfed crop, it is
normally sown in June- July in Tamil Nadu. It also grown in winter season (rabi) by planting in September
– October in Tamil Nadu and as a summer irrigated crop by planting January – February.
68
Tillage
Fall ploughing is advantageous for moisture conservation. In the month of April or May, one deep
ploughing with mould board plough followed by ploughing with wooden plough twice is necessary. Before
sowing secondary tillage with cultivator and multiple tooth hoe to prepare smooth seed bed is necessary.
Seed rate and planting

A plant population of 4 – 5 lakhs per ha is optimum for getting higher yields and higher or lower
population than the optimum will reduce the yield. Line sowing is ideal and seed drills giving spacing of
22.5 – 30 cm between rows should be used. Finger millet seeds are very small (400 seeds/g) and the
recommended seed rate of 15-20 kg per hectare will contain about 4 million seeds. Therefore, even when
seed drill is used thinning within the row leaving a spacing of 7.5 – 10 cm between plants, must be
followed.
Sowing by seed-cum-fertilizer drill is advantageous for line sowing besides efficient utilization of
applied nutrients.
Maintenance of optimum plant population is an important prerequisite for getting higher yield
under rainfed conditions. Poor germination, often, is the result of inadequate moisture after sowing in low
rainfall areas. Under these conditions, the adoption of a simple technique like seed hardening will not only
improve germination and subsequent plant stand but also impart early seedling vigour and tolerance to
drought.
The procedure of seed hardening technique is as follows.
1. Sole seeds in water for 6 hours. Use one litre water for every kg seed for soaking.
2. Drain the water and keep the seeds in wet cloth bag tightly tied for two days.
3. At this stage, the seeds will show initial signs of germination.
4. Remove seeds from the wet cloth bag and dry them in shade on a dry cloth for 2 days.
5. Use the above hardened seeds for sowing.
Manuring and fertilization

Finger millet responds well to fertilizer application especially to N and P. The recommended doses
of fertilizers vary from state to state for rainfed crop. Recommended dose of 40:20:20 kg/ha N:P:K was
applied. With judicious application of farmyard manure inorganic fertilizer efficiency is enhanced. Entire
P2O5 and K2O are to be applied at sowing, whereas nitrogen is to be applied in two or three split doses
depending upon moisture availability. In areas of good rainfall and moisture availability, 50% of
recommended nitrogen is to be applied at sowing and the remaining 50% in two equal splits at 25-30 and
40-45 days after sowing. In areas of uncertain rainfall, 50% at sowing and the remaining 50% around 35
days after sowing is recommended.
Bio-fertilizers
Treating seeds with Azospirillum brasilense (N fixing bacterium) and Aspergillus awamori (P
solubilizing fungs) @ 25 g/kg seed is beneficial. In case seeds are to be treated with seed dressing
chemicals, treat the seeds first with seed dressing chemicals and then with bio-fertilizers at the time of
sowing.
Procedures for inoculating seeds with biofertilizers

1. Bio-fertilizer culture specific to the crop is to be used @ 25 g per kg of seed.
2. Sticker solution is necessary for effective seed inoculation. This can be prepared by dissolving 25
g jaggery or sugar in 250 ml water and boiling for 5 minutes. The solution thus prepared is
cooled.
3. Smear the seeds well using the required quantity of sticker solution. Then add culture to the
seeds and mix thoroughly so as to get a fine coating of culture on the seed.
4. The culture-coated seeds is to be dried well in shade to avoid clumping of seeds.
5. Use the inoculated seeds for sowing.
Weed control
69
In line sown crop 2-3 inter-cultivations are necessary. In assured rainfall and irrigated areas
spraying 2,4-D sodium salt @ 0.75 kg.a.i./ha as post-emergent spray around 20-25 days after sowing
effectively controls weeds. Isoproturon @ 0.5 a.i/ha as pre-emergence spray is also effective in control of
weeds. In broadcast crop two effective hand weedings will minimize weeds as inter cultivations is not
possible.
Cropping systems
Crop rotation
Rotation with legumes like green / black gram / field gram / soybean / horse gram or ground nut in
southern state will minimize inorganic fertilizer application and also sustain higher yields.
Intercropping
Finger millet + Pigeon pea combinations in 8 : 2 or 6 : 2 proportion brings higher returns in Tamil
Nadu. Finger millet + field bean in 8 : 1 proportion or finger millet + blackgram or green gram in 8 : 2
proportion are the other profitable crop combinations.
CROP PROTECTION
A. PEST MANAGEMENT

Aphids  Spray any one of the following insecticides mixed in 10 litres of
Schizaphis graminum water using a high volume sprayer if dusting is not done :
Rhopalosiphum maidis Methyl demeton 25 EC 20 ml/ha
Stem borer  Spray any one of the following :
Sesamia inferens Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha (500 l spray fluid/ha).
Root aphid  Spray any one of the following :
Tetraneura nigriabdominalis Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha (500 l spray fluid/ha).
Ear head bug  Spray carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha at milky stage
Earhead caterpillar  Spray carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha at milky stage
70
i)Nursery
Seed treatment  Thiram 4 g or Captan 4 g or Carbendazim 2 g/kg of seed.
 Treat the seeds 24 hr prior to sowing.
ii)Main field
Blast  Spray any one of the fungicides
Pyricularia grisea  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.
 Treat the seeds with P. fluorescens 10 g/kg and spray the extracts
of Prosopis juliflora leaf extract (10%), Ipomoea cornea leaf extract
(10%).
 Foliar spray with Aureofungin sol 100 ppm at 50% earhead
emergence followed by a second spray with Mancozeb 1000g/ha
10 days later.
Mosaic  Cultural method
(Potyvirus)  Rogue out the affected plants.
Vector  Spray any one of the insecticide like Monocrotophos 36 WSC 700
Aphis sp. ml/ha or Methyl demeton 25EC 500 ml/ha on noticing symptoms
Ragi mottle streak and repeat twice if necessary at 20 days intervals.
(Nucleo rhabdovirus)
Vector
Cicadulina bipunctella
C. chinai
71
MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
SEASON STRAIN
1. Adipattam (July - August) CO 1, COH (M) 4, COBC 1
2. Purattasipattam (September -October) CO 1, COH (M) 4, COBC 1
3. Thaipattam (January -February) CO 1, COH (M) 4, COBC 1
MAIZE - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

PARTICULARS CO 1 COH(M) 4 COBC 1
Unit Selection from
(UMI 90 x xUMI 285) x Composite involving UMI
Parentage Indonesian popu
UMI 112 836 and UMI 836-1-2
lation Suwan 1
55 - 65
Duration (days) 105 - 110 94 (90 – 95 days)
(fresh cobs harvest)
Area of Adoption Coimbatore, Erode, Coimbatore, Dindugul,
Tirunelveli, Tanjore Erode, Salem,
and Pudukottai Virudhunagar,
All maize growing areas
Perambalur, Tuticorin,
Madurai and Theni
districts
Rainfed/Irrigated Both Both Both
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated 5200 5694 6.7 tonnes of tender cobs &
32.3 tonnes of green fodder
/ ha
Rainfed 3300 4521 3 tonnes of tender cobs per
ha.
2 to 3 cobs / plant,
Resistant to downy Shorter duration, suitable
Special features possessing delightful sweet
mildew for rainfed areas
taste and flavour
Orange flint grains Moderate resistance to Suitable for inland and
downy mildew and export market
stemborer Green fodder has good
forage value
Sheath colour Green Green Green
Node colour Green Green Green
Mid rib White White White
Cob size Big Big Small
Husk coverage Full Full Nil
Grain colour Deep orange Yellow Yellow
Nature of kernels Flint Flint Dent
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. IRRIGATED MAIZE
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.
72
Plough the field with disc plough once followed by cultivator ploughing twice, after spreading FYM
or compost till a fine tilth is obtained.
3. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS OR BEDS

i. Form ridges and furrows providing sufficient irrigation channels. The ridges should be 6m
long and 60 cm apart.
ii. If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the
availability of water.
iii. 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; full dose of P2O 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.
i. 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).
Defieciency symptoms
Nitrogen deficiency : Leaves become yellow, older leaves show drying at the tips which
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 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, which may be white or yellow.
Iron deficiency : Interveinal chlorosis. The entire crop may exhibit bleached appearance.
5. 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.
6. SEED RATE
Select good quality seeds and adopt the seed rate of 20 kg/ha for CO 1 and COH(M) 4 and 25 kg
/ha for COBC 1.
7. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 25 cm between plants in the rows which are 60 cm apart.
Population : For varieties and hybrids 6 – 7 plants / sq. m. and
For baby corn, 8 – 9 plants / sq. m.
8. SEED TREATMENT
Step 1: Use pelleted seeds with insecticides (treat one kg of seeds with Chlorpyriphos 20EC or
Monocrotophos 36 WSC or Phosalone 35 EC @ 4 ml + 0.5 gram gum in 20 ml of water) for the control of
stem borer or seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS 10 g/kg of seeds.
73
Step 2: Seed treatment with Metalaxyl or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed for the control of downy mildew and
crazy top
Step 3: Seeds treated with fungicides may be treated with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum before
sowing.
9. SOWING
i. Dibble the seeds at a depth of 4 cm along the furrow in which fertilizers are placed and cover with
soil.
ii. Put one seed per hole if the germination is assured otherwise put two seeds per hole
10. WEED MANAGEMENT

i. Apply the pre-emergence herbicide, Atrazine 50 WP at 500 g/ha (900 lit of water) at 3 days after
sowing as spray on the soil surface followed by one hand weeding on 40-45 days after sowing.
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.
11. THINNING AND GAP FILLING

i. If two seeds were sown, leave only one healthy and vigorous seedling per hole and remove the
other on the 12-15 days after sowing.
ii. Where seedlings have not germinated, dibble presoaked seeds at the rate of 2 seeds per hole
and immediately irrigate.
12. HOEING, HAND-WEEDING AND EARTHING UP

i. Hoe and hand-weed on the 30th day of sowing.
ii. 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.
13. TOP DRESSING WITH N

i. Place half of the dose of N on the 25th day of sowing along the furrows evenly
and cover it with soil.
ii. Place the remaining quarter of N on the 45th day of sowing
14. WATER MANAGEMENT

Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate irrigation
according to the requirement. Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (45 to
65 days after sowing); otherwise yield will be reduced by a considerable extent.
Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.
Germination & establishment 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 irrigation Days after sowing
Germination & establishment 3 After sowing, Life irrigation -4th,12th day
Vegetative 2 25th, 36th day
Flowering(Irrigate copiously) 2 48th, 60th day
Maturity phase (Control irrigation) 2 72nd, 85th day
Light soils
Germination & establishment 3 After sowing, Life irrigation -4th ,12thday
Vegetative Phase 3 22nd ,32nd & 40th day
Flowering phase (Irrigate copiously) 3 50th ,60th & 72nd day
Maturity phase (Controlled irrigation) 2 85th , 95th day
15. HARVESTING
74
STAGE OF HARVEST
Observe the following symptoms, taking into consideration the average duration of the crop.
i. 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.
HARVESTING THE CROP

i. Tear off the cob sheath by using the gunny needle and remove the cobs from the plant.
ii. Carry out harvest operations at a single stage for easy transportation.
THRESHING THE COBS

i. Dry the cobs under the sun till the grains are dry.
ii. Use mechanical threshers or by running the tractor over dried cobs to separate the grains from
the shank.
iii. Clean the seeds by winnowing
iv. Collect and store the dry grains in gunnies.
STACKING THE STRAW FOR FEEDING CATTLE

i. Maize straw can also be used as a good cattle feed when it is green.
ii. Harvest the crop and cut the green straw into bits with a chaff cutter or chopping knife and
feed the cattle.
II. RAINFED MAIZE

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.

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 P2O and K2O with enriched FYM as basal along with
Azospirillum (10 packets/ha).
iii. Top dress remaining half of N at tasseling.
4. SEED RATE
Select good quality seeds. Adopt the seed rate @ 20 kg/ha for hybrids and 25 kg/ha. for varieties
5. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants in the row.
Population : 10 - 11plants/m2
6. PRE-TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH BIOFERTILIZER

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.
75
CROP PROTECTION
A. PEST MANAGEMENT
Shoot fly  Use seeds pelleted with insecticides (see sorghum)
Atherigona orientalis  Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS 10 g/kg of seeds
 Set up the TNAU low cost fish meal trap 12/ha till the crop is 30
days old.
Neem azal 1%
Stem borer  Mix any of the following granular insecticides with sand to make
Chilo partellus up a total quantity of 50 kg and apply in the leaf whorls on the 20th
Ash weevil day of sowing :
Myllocerus spp Quinalphos 5 G 15 kg/ha
Aphids Carbaryl 4 G 20 kg/ha.
Rhopalosiphum maidis  If granular insecticides are not used, spray any one of the
following :
Quinalphos 25 EC 1 lit/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha on the 20th day of sowing (500 l of
spray fluid/ha).
Cob borer  Apply any one of the following insecticides at silk drying stage :
Helicoverpa armigera Carbaryl 10 % D 25 kg/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1.0 kg/ha.
 Repeat the insecticidal application 15 days later (500 l spray
fluid/ha).
Seed treatment Metalaxyl or Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed.
Downy mildew or Crazy top  Use resistant hybrids / varieties
Peronosclerospora sorghi  Rogue out affected plants.
 Spray Metalaxyl 72 WP @ 1000g, Mancozeb
1000g/ha 20 days after sowing.
Leaf spot  Spray Mancozeb or Captan 1000g/ha when the disease
Helminthosporium turcicum intensity reaches grade 3
SMALL MILLETS
CROP IMPROVEMENT
Crop Districts grown
Tenai Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem,
Namakkal, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Madurai, Theni,
Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
Samai Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Madurai,
Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
76
Varagu Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem,
Namakkal, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur,
Nagapattinam, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni and Ramanathapuram
Panivaragu Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Dindigul,
Theni, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi
Kudiraivali Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur,Karur,
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathanpuram, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
District/Season Variety
1. TENAI
Rainfed
a) June-July (Hill slopes of Coimbatore and
Erode Districts) CO 6, CO (Te) 7
b) September-October
(Coimbatore and Southerndistricts)
CO 6, CO (Te) 7
Irrigated
a) February-March
b) September-October CO 6, CO (Te) 7
2. SAMAI
a) June-July (Hill slopes CO 3
of Coimbatore and Erode districts)
b) July-August (Dharmapuri) Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2, CO 3
c) September-October CO 3
3. VARAGU
Rainfed
a) June-July CO 3
b) July-August
4.PANIVARAGU
Rainfed
a) September-October (Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, CO 4
Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi) K2
Irrigated
a) February-March K 2 , CO 4
5. KUDIRAIVALI
Rainfed
a) September-October CO 1
Irrigated
a) February-March CO 1
77
SMALL MILLETS - MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION
TENAI
PARTICULARS CO 6 CO (Te) 7
Parentage Hybrid derivative of CO 5 x ISE 301 CO 5 x ISE 248
Duration (days) 85-90 80-85
Pigmentation green Greenish purple
Tillering ability High high
Panicles Long and drooping Long, compact
Grain Character Bold & Yellow yellow
Grain Yield (kg/ha) 1565 1855
Straw 3.7 t/ha 5.1 t/ha
Special features Suitable for irrigated & rainfed conditions, Non lodging
good grain quality, rich in protein, fat and High yielding
minerals than CO 5
SAMAI
PARTICULARS Paiyur 1 Paiyur 2 CO 3
Parentage Pureline selection from Pure line selection from Selection from germplasm
Santhur local PM 295 bank
Duration (days) 105 -110 85 80 - 85
Pigmentation Dark green Green Green
Tillering ability Moderate Moderate High
Panicles Semi compact long long, loose panicle long, loose panicle
Grain Character Brown Brown Brown
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 870 850 1066
Short duration, suitable
Bold grain, Non-lodging
Special features Long duration for little millet – Horse
suits for early & late sowing
gram cropping sequence
VARAGU
PARTICULARS CO 3
Parentage Selection from Georgia variety
Duration (days) 120
Pigmentation Purple stem
Tillering ability High
Panicles Well exposed clusters and spikelets
Grain Character Brown & Bold with hard seed coat
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 1500 - 1800
Special features Tolerant to smut, short duration
PANIVARAGU
PARTICULARS K2 CO 4
Parentage Selection from PV1685 Pureline selection from
Sengathur local
Duration (days) 75 75
Pigmentation Green Green
Tillering ability High High
Panicles Loose Loose density subscent
Grain character Grey Golden yellow
Grain yield (kg/ha)
78
Rainfed 3184 1500
Special features Non-lodging drought tolerant High tillering,wider adaptability
Non-shattering and responsive to
fertilizers
KUDIRAIVALI
PARTICULARS CO 1
Parentage Pureline selection from Coimbatore local
Duration (days) 75
Pigmentation Green
Tillering ability High
Panicles Loose
Grain Character Yellow
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 1750
Special features No major diseases noted
CROP MANAGEMENT
Package of practices for Tenai
Seeds and sowing :
For line planting : 10kg/ha
For sowing : 12.5kg/ha for 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.
Apply basally
FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha
Fertilizer application :
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 on 15 th DAS and the second on 40th DAS
Thinning : Before 20 DAS
Plant protection : Generally no major problem of pests and diseases
Package of practices for Samai

Seeds and sowing : For line planting 10 kg/ha
For sowing 12.5 kg/ha for 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 2 or 3 times using a small iron plough or country
plough to fine tilth.
Fertilizer : Apply basally
application 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
79
Thinning : Thinning is done soon after weeding or before 20 DAS
Plant Protection : Usually no major problem of pests and diseases
Package of practices for Varagu

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 : Apply basally FYM/Compost 12.5 t/ha; Nitrogen 44 kg/ha
application 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
Thinning : Thinning is done soon after weeding or before 20 DAS

Plant protection : Generally no major problem of pests and diseases
80
WHEAT (Triticum aestivum.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
I. SEASON AND VARIETY

Suitable districts
Plains & adjoining areas near to hills and hills in Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Coimbatore, Erode,
Salem, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram Districts
Season
Ideal sowing time is 15th October to 1st week of November. Sowing must be completed within the
first fortnight of November.
Variety : COW(W)1
2. Morphological Description of COW(W) 1

Particulars
Parentage : HD2646/HW2002A/CPAN3057
Duration (days) : 85-90
Grain yield (Kg /ha) : 2364
Stem : Erect
Height (cm) : 73 – 78
Tillers : 5-6
Days to 50% flowering : 50 days
Ear size and shape : Fusiform ears
Grain colour : Amber
1000 grains weight (g) : 37
Special features : Non lodging, non shattering; tolerance to stem and leaf
rust ; suitable for chappathi and bread making.
3. SEED RATE: 100 kg/ha
CROP MANAGEMENT
Plough twice with an iron plough and two to three times with cultivator 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 Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seeds 24 hours before sowing.
4. FORMING BEDS AND CHANNEL

Form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2. The irrigation channels are to be provided sufficiently.
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 P2O and K2O5 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 5 cm. Avoid deep sowing.
81
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. Wheat crop requires
minimum of 5 irrigations at the following critical stages.
I – Immediately after sowing
II – Crown root intiation : 15-20 DAS
III- Active tillering stage : 35-40 DAS
IV- Flowering stage : 50-55 DAS
V- Grain filling stage : 70-75 DAS
Crown root initiation and flowering are the most critical stages. Water stagnation should be voided
at the time of germination.
9. TOP DRESSING
Apply remaining half of N at crown root initiation stage (15-20 DAS).
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.
CROP PROTECTION
Seed treatment Treat the seed with any one of the following fungicides
Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg of seed, Thiram @ 2 g/kg of seed
Vitavax @ 2 g/kg of seed
82
PULSES
REDGRAM ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. )

CROP IMPROVEMENT
District/season Varieties
Adipattam (June - August)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Erode SA 1, CO 6, CO(RG) 7, COPH 2, Vamban 2,
VBN (RG) 3
Coimbatore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem, Namakkal, Pudukottai CO 6*, COPH 2, CO(RG) 7, Vamban 1,

VBN (RG) 3
* For all districts
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli,

Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, CO(RG) 7
Theni, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli,
Thoothukudi, Sivagangai
Purattasipattam (September – November)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, COPH 2, CO(RG) 7, APK 1, VBN (RG) 3
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni
Summer (February - March)

All districts except The Nilgiris and Kanyakumari COPH 2, CO(RG) 7, VBN (RG) 3
Pudukottai Vamban 1, VBN (RG) 3
Wetland bunds BSR 1 , Vamban 2
II DESCRIPTION OF REDGRAM VARIETIES

PARTICULARS BSR 1 CO 6 VBN 1
Pureline selection Mutant of SA 1 (25 Kr (Prabhat x HY 3A) x (T
Parentage
from Mayiladumparai gamma rays) 21 x 102)
Year of release 1986 1991 1992
50% flowering (days) 100-110 120 - 130 70
Duration days) Perennial 170 - 180 95 – 100
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
0.75 - 1.0 kg of green
Rainfed 893 840
pods/plant
Irrigated .. .. 1200
Height (cm) 150 - 200 166 92 – 100
Branches 7-10 8-12 4-6
Plant spread Semi spreading Semi spreading Erect
Colour of standard Red at dorsal side Yellow with light purple Yellow with faint
petal streaks at the base Red veins at the base
Colour of pod Red with diagnal Green with purple streaks Green with purple
constriction streaks
83
Colour of grain Reddish brown Reddish brown Brown
100 seed weight (g) 12 .0 8.8 6.8-7.5
Pattern of growth NDT NDT DT
NDT: Non-Determinate DT : Determinate
PARTICULARS COPH 2 APK 1 VBN 2

ms CO 5 x Pure line selection from ICPL 341 x Bhavani-
Parentage
ICPL 83027 ICPL 87101 sagar local
50% flowering (days) 60 - 75 70 70
Duration days) 120 - 130 95 – 105 172 – 180
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed - 900 1050
Irrigated 1050 1250 -
Height (cm) 100 - 120 91 – 128.2 200 - 250
Branches 4-6 4–5 8-12

Plant spread Erect Erect Semi spreading
Colour of standard petal Yellow with faint Deep red in back of Yellow with faint
Red veins at the base standard petal Red veins at the base
Colour of pod Green with purple Green with purple Green with purple
streaks streaks streaks
Colour of grain Tan brown Reddish brown Reddish brown
100 seed weight (g) 9.0 to 9.4 10.9 – 11.0 7.52 8-0
Pattern of growth NDT DT NDT
PARTICULARS CO(Rg) 7 VBN(Rg) 3

Parentage Selection from PB 9825 Vamban 1 x Gulbarga
Year of release 2004 2005
50% flowering (days) 70 - 90 65 - 70
Duration days) 120 - 130 100 - 105
Grain Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 950 885
Irrigated 1168 -
Height (cm) 120 – 130 100 - 120
Branches 7–9 3 - 10
Semi spreading Erect, determinate and open
Plant spread
type
Colour of standard petal Yellow with light red vein at the Yellow
base
Colour of pod Green with purple Green with purple
streaks streaks
Colour of grain Reddish brown Reddish brown
100 seed weight (g) 8.5– 11.0 7.5 – 8.0
Pattern of growth NDT DT
NDT: Non-Determinate DT : Determinate
84
CROP MANAGEMENT
III. SEED RATE
Quantity of seed required kg/ha
Varieties CO 6 CO(Rg) 7 Vamban 1 APK 1 Vamban 2 COPH 2 VBN (Rg) 3

Sole Crop 10 25 25 25 10 25 25
Mixed 10
5 10 10 10 5 --
Crop
[BSR 1 (Bund planting) 50 g/100 metre]
Select good seeds from pest and disease free plants.
IV. MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATION

1. PREPARATION OF THE LAND
Prepare the land to fine tilth and apply 12.5 t FYM/ha
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. Bio
control agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with
rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
3. TREATMENT OF THE SEEDS WITH BIOFERTILIZER

a) Fungicide treated seeds should be again treated with a bacterial culture. Treat with Rhizobial
culture CRR6. 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) Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture CRR6 and 3 packets (600 g/ha)
of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not
carried out apply 10 packets of Rhizobium (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets(2000 g) of
Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing.
a) Apply fertilizers basally before sowing.
Rainfed : 12.5 kg N + 25 kg P2O5 + 12.5 kg K2O +10 kg S*/ha
Irrigated : 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 25 kg K2O + 20 kg S*/ha
*Note : Applied in the form of gypsum if Single Super Phospate is not applied as a
source of phosphorus
d) Soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4/ha under irrigated condition
5. SOWING THE SEEDS
Dibble the seeds adopting the following spacing.
Variety Pure crop Mixed crop

CO(Rg) 7 45 cm x 30 cm 120 cm x 30 cm
COPH 2 45 cm x 15 cm ……..
Vamban 1, APK 1,
45 cm x 20 cm 120 cm x 30 cm
Vamban (Rg) 3
CO 6, Vamban 2 90 cm x 30 cm 240 cm x 30 cm
60 cm for BSR 1 and
Bund Crop
30 cm for others.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
85
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres /ha 3 days after sowing mixed with 500 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 30-35days after sowing.
i) If herbicide is not given, give two hand weedings on 20 and 35days after sowing.
7. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, 3rd day after sowing, bud initiation, 50 % flowering and pod
development stages. Water stagnation should be avoided.
8. SPRAYING OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE OR UREA, NAA AND SALICYLIC ACID

a) Foliar Spray of NAA 40 mg/l and Salycylic acid 100 mg/l once at Pre-flowering and
another at 15 days thereafter
b) Foliar Spray of DAP 20 g/l or urea 20 g/l once at flowering and another at 15 days
thereafter
9. HARVESTING THE CROP

1) Picking the matured pods and drying and processing
2) Harvesting the whole plants heaping ,drying and processing.
10. INTER-CROPPING
a) Raising one row of long duration redgram varieties as inter crop for every six rows of
groundnut (6:1) is recommended for rainfed crops.
b) Raising one row of short and medium duration redgram as inter crop for every four rows of
groundnut (4:1) is recommended for rainfed as well as for irrigated crops.
c) 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).
11. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS

Redgram / Greengram/Blackgram/Cowpea
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.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Aphids 20/2.5 cm shoot length
Pod borers 10% of affected pods
Plume moth 5/plant
Spotted pod borer 3/plant
86
Aphids  Spray any one of the following :
Aphis cracivora Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Red spider mite Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Schizotetranychus cajani Phosphamidon 40 SL 500 ml/ha (250 l spray fluid/ha).
Blister beetle  Spray any one of the following :
Mylabris spp. Dichlorvos 76 EC 500 ml/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 500 g/ha
Pod borers  Pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera 12/ha
Spotted pod borer  Bird perches 50/ha
Maruca testulalis  Mechanical collection of grown up larva and blister beetle
Plume moth  Ha NPV 3 x1012 POB/ha in 0.1% teepol
Exelastis atomosa  Apply any one of the following :
Grampod borer Dichlorvos 0.07%
Helicoverpa armigera Endosulfan 4% D 25 kg/ha
Pod fly Quinalphos 4% D 25 kg/ha
Melanagromyza obtuse Carbaryl 5% D 25 kg/ha
Pod bug Endosulfan 35 EC 1.25 lit./ha
Clavigralla gibbesa Monocrotophos 36 WSC 625 ml/ha.
NSKE 5% twice followed by triazophos 0.05%
Neem oil 2%
Phosalone 0.07%
(Spray fluid 625 ml/ha)
(Note : Insecticide / Ha NPV spray should be made when the larvae
are upto third instar)
B. Disease Management
 Seed treatment  Talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens
@ 10 g/kg seed (or) Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg

 Spot drench Carbendazim – 1 gm/ litre (or)
Wilt  P. fluorescens (or) T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg of well
Fusarium oxysporum decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
f.sp.udum
 Spot drench Carbendazim – 1 gm/ litre (or)
Root rot  P. fluorescens or T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg of well
Rhizoctonia bataticola decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
Macrophomina phaseolina
 Rogue out the infected plants in the early stages of growth.
Sterility Mosaic  Spray monocrotophos 500 ml/ha on noticing the initial
Pigeonpea sterility mosaic symptoms and repeat after a fortnight.
virus
Vector : Aceria cajani
C. Nematode management
Nematode pest Control measures

Cyst nematode- Soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens or Trichoderma viride @ 2.5 kg/ha
Heterodera cajani at the time of sowing.
SEED PRODUCTION
87
Variety Seed Production
Land requirement
Land should be free of volunteer plants.
Isolation
Adopt 100 m of certified seed production
Pre-sowing seed treatment

Soak the seeds before sowing for 3 hrs in aqueous solution of ZnSO 4, 100 ppm (10g/100 lit of water)
at 1/3 volume of seeds and quickly air dry in shade to their original moisture content.
Slurry treat the seeds with Thiram 75% WP @ 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.
Foliar Application
Spray 2% DAP at the time of first appearance of flowering and give a second spray 15 days
after first spray.
Spray NAA 40 ppm first round at 1st flowering and a second round after fortnight.
NAA can be mixed with fungicide and pesticide
Pre-harvesting sanitation spray

Apply of Endosulfan 35 EC @ 0.07% or malathion 50 EC @ 0.05% before harvesting (3 - 5 days
before) to minimise bruchid infestation in seed crop.
Harvesting
Pods should be harvested 40 days after 50% flowering stage for production of quality seed.
Processing
Dry the pods immediately to about 12 to 13 per cent moisture content.
Dry the seeds to 10 % 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 rejected discoloured and broken seeds.
Pre-storage Seed treatment

Dry the seed to 7 - 8 % moisture content
Treat the seed with Carbendazim @ 2g dissolved in 5 ml of water kg-1 of seed.
Dry dressing of seeds with halogen mixture (Pure CaOCl2 + CaCO3 + arappu leaf powder at (5:4:1)
ratio @ 3g/kg of seed
For grain cum seed storage, treat the seed with activated clay, neem oil, groundnut oil and leaf
powder of tobacco, nochi, neem, Albizzia amara (arappu) and fruit rind powder of Sapindus laurifolius
(Poochi kottai) and Acacia concinna (Soapnut powder).
Storage
Use gunny or cloth bags for short term storage with seed moisture content of 8 - 9%
Use polylined gunny bag for medium term storage with seed moisture content of 8 - 9%
Use 700 gauge polythene bag for long term storage with seed moisture content of less than 8%.
Other management techniques

As in crop management technique
HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION (COPH 2)
88
Isolation
Adopt 200 m for parental line seed production (foundation) and 100 m for hybrid (Certified) seed
production
Planting ratio
Adopt 4:2 ratio of female : male
Border rows
Plant 2 rows of male all around the field
Spacing
Adopt 45 x 15 cm
Fertilizer
Apply NPK @ 25:50:25 kg ha-1
Roguing
Pull out all fertile plants in female rows
Seed Treatment
Treat the seed with halogen mixture @ 3g/kg of seed.
Treat with turmeric rhizome powder (or) Neem leaf powder @ 1:50 powder to seed ratio for
ecofriendly seed treatment with nil bruchid infestation

As in varietal seed production
PERENNIAL REDGRAM
Variety : BSR 1
Economic uses : Tender 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
Dhal. 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.
Season : June – July
Height of the plant : 150 - 200 cm
Number of branches 7 - 10
Flowering : Five months from date of sowing
Pit Size : Small pits are dug 90 cm apart and the pits are filled with a mixture of
well decomposed manure or compost and soil.

Fertilizer application : Urea 15 g and superphosphate 30 g / pit.
Planting methods : Two to three seeds are dibbled per pit and watered. When they
grow
six inches height one plant may be retained in each pit.
Irrigation : Need based
Harvesting : 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.
89
BLACKGRAM ( Vigna mungo L.)
CROP IMROVEMENT
1. SEASON AND VARIETIES
District/Season Varieties
Adipattam (June-August)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Trichirapalli, T 9, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(Bg) 4
Perambalur, Karur
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Pudukottai T 9, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(BG) 4

Cuddalore, Villupuram, Salem and Namakkal
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai CO 5, T 9, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(BG) 4

Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni CO 5, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(BG) 4
Erode, Coimbatore CO 5, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN (BG) 4
Puratasipattam (September-November)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai VBN 1, K 1*, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(Bg) 4
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Salem,
Namakkal
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN(BG) 4
Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli.
Erode,Coimbatore,Tiruchirapalli,Perambalur,Karur
Rice fallows (January)

Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thanjavur, ADT 3
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Trichirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi ADT 3
Summer (February-March)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvan-
namalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Dharmapuri
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchi- ADT 5
rapalli, Perambalur, Karur,
Pudukottai, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramana- T 9, VBN 3, VBN(Bg) 4

thapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar
Tirunelveli, Thothukudi, Salem, Namakkal VBN 3, VBN(Bg) 4
Erode, Coimbatore VBN 3, VBN(BG) 4

* suitable for intercropping in cotton.
90
II. DESCRIPTION OF BLACKGRAM VARIETIES
Particulars T9 CO 5 ADT 3 VBN 1
Pureline
Selection from Pureline selec tion from
Parentage selection from KM 1xH 76-1
Bareilly, U.P Musiri -
Tirunelveli local
Year of release 1972 1981 1981 1987
50% flowering (days) 30 - 35 35 - 40 30 - 35 30 - 35
Maturity duration 65 - 70 70 - 75 70 - 75 60 - 65
(days)
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed - 740 .. 700
Irrigated 1000 1270 - 850
Rice fallows 720
Height (cm) 35 - 40 30 - 35 50 30 - 35
Clusters 10 - 12 10 to 12 10 - 15 12 – 13
Hairiness of pods Glabrous Hairy Hairy Hairy
Colour of grain Black & Dull Black & Dull Black & dull Black
100 grain wt (g) 4.0 5.7 3.6 5.1
Particulars ADT 5 K1 VBN 2 VBN 3 VBN(Bg) 4
Selection CO 3 x US Spontaneous LBG 402 x CO 4 x PDU

from 131 mutant LBG 17 102
Parentage
Kanpur
variety
Year of release 1988 1994 1996 2000 2003
50% flowering (days) 32 40 - 45 33 - 40 35 -40 35 – 40
Maturity duration 62 70 - 75 60 - 70 65 – 70 75 – 80
(days)
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed - 707 750 775 780
Irrigated 1323 - 1000 825 900
Rice fallows - -
Height (cm) 20 - 25 30 - 35 25 - 35 25 – 35 40 – 45
Clusters 13 - 15 10 - 13 4 - 18 5 - 10 8 – 10
Hairiness of pods Hairy Hairy Glabrous Hairy pods Glabrous
Black with
Dull black Dull black Black
Colour of grain Black green tinge
100 grain wt (g) 3.6 5.3 3.83 4.4 4.8
III. SEED RATE

STRAIN Pure crop Mixed crop
T 9, CO 5, TMV 1, VBN 1, VBN 2, VBN 3, VBN (Bg) 4 20 10
ADT 5, TMV 1
(Rice fallows) 25 ..
Optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha
91
CROP MANAGEMENT
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 2t /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
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. Bio
control agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with Biocontrol agents and then with
Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
Note: Seed treatment will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens, root-rot and
seedlings diseases.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH BIOFERTILIZER

Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture CRU-7 + 3 packets (600 g/ha) of
PGPR and 3 packets(600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the
seed treatment is not carried out apply 10packets of Rhizobium (2000 g/ha) + 10 packets of PGPR (2000
g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g) of Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing.
4. FERTILIZER APPLICATION
*Note : Applied in the form of gypsum if Single Super Phospate is not applied as a source
of phosphorus
b) Soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4/ha under irrigated condition
5. SOWING OF SEEDS
a) For irrigated crop dibble the seeds adopting 30 x 10 cm cm spacing
b) For rainfed crop dibble the seeds adopting 25 cm x 10 cm spacing
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, followed by life irrigation on the third day. Irrigate at intervals of
7to 10 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.

a. Foliar spray of Spray of NAA 40 mg/lt and Salicylic acid 100 mg/lt once at pre-flowering and
b. i) For rice fallow crops foliar spray of DAP 20 g/lt once at flowering and another at 15 days
thereafter
ii) For irrigated and rainfed crops, foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre or Urea 20 g/litre once at flowering
and another at 15 days thereafter.
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
92
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres/ha 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 500 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.
i) If herbicides are not applied give two hand weedings on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
9. Multi bloom technology

A special technology being practiced in Pattukottai block of Tanjore district for blackgram and
greengram. The soil is alluvial and rich in organic matter and nutrients. The crop is sown during early
summer (Jan.-Feb.) as normal crop and fertilizer is applied as per the recommendation for irrigated crop.
In addition to that, top dressing of Nitrogen is done with an extra dose of 25 to 30 kg through urea. Since
pulses are indeterminate growth habit and continue to produce new flashes the top dressing will be done
on 40-45 days after sowing. The crop complete its first flesh of matured pods during 60-65 th day, further
their second new flesh within 20-25 days. Therefore two fleshes of pods can be harvested at a time within
the duration of 100 days.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Stem fly 10% of affected plants
Tobacco cut worm 8 egg masses/100 m

Stem fly  Seed treatment with dimethoate 30 EC 5 ml/kg of seed
Ophiomyia phaseoli  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 250 l /ha)
Aphids Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Aphis craccivora Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Whitefly  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 250 l /ha)
Bemisia tabaci Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Mite Wettable sulphur 1.5 kg/ha
Tetranychus urticae
Tobacco cut worm  Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths. Set
Spodoptera litura up the sex pheromone traps at 12/ha to monitor the activity of the
pest and to synchronise the pesticide application, if need be, at
the maximum activity stage.
 Growing castor along borders.
 Removal and destruction of egg masses in castor and cotton
crops.
 Removal and destruction of early stage larvae found in clusters
which can be located easily even from a distance.
 Hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars.
 Spray any one of the following insecticides using, a high
volume sprayer covering the foliage and soil surface :
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1.0 l/ha
Phenthoate 50 EC 2.0 l/ha
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1.25 l/ha
Fenitrothion 50 EC 625 ml/ha.
 Spraying NPV at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha with teepol (1ml/ lit.)
93
 Spraying of insecticide should be done either in the early morning
or in the evening and virus in the evening.
 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.
Blue butterflies  Apply any one of the following :
Lampides boeticus Endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
Euchrysops cnejus Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha
Apids Phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha
Aphis craccivora Carbaryl 5D 25 kg/ha
Spotted pod borer  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Maruca vitrata Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
Note : When the activity of coccinellid predator (both grubs and

adults) is seen, insecticide application should be avoided.
Storage pests  Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10 %.
Bruchid-  Use pitfall traps or two in one model trap to assess the time of
Callosobruchus chinensis emergence of field carried over pulse beetle in storage and
C. maculatus accordingly sun-dry the produce.
 Seed: Mix any one of the following for every 100 kg :
Activated kaolin 1 kg
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
TNAU Neem oil 60 EC (C) 1 lit
Pungam oil 1 lit.
 Pack in polythene lined gunny bags for storage
B.Disease management
Seed treatment Talc formulation of T. viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed (or)

Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg

 Spray NSKE 5% or Neem oil 3% twice at 10 days interval from
Powdery Mildew initial disease appearance.
Erysiphe polygoni  Spray Carbendazim 250 g or Wettable sulphur 2500g/ha.
Botanical
 Spray Eucalyptus leaf extract 10% at initiation of the disease
and 10 days later.
 Spray Mancozeb – 1000g or Wettable sulphur–2500g

Rust
Uromyces appendiculatus
 Spray Carbendazim – 250 g
Leaf spot
Cercospora canescens
 Neem cake @ 150 Kg/ha

Root rot  Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg
Macrophomina phaseolina of well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
(Rhizoctonia bataticola)  Spot drench Carbendazim – 1 gm/ litre
 Basal application of zinc sulphate 25 kg/ha
94
Yellow mosaic (Geminivirus)  Rogue out the infected plants up to 30 days
and Leaf Crinkle
Vector:  Spray Monocrotophos 500 ml or Methyl demeton 500 ml/ha
Bemisia tabaci and repeat after 15 days, if necessary.
Leaf Curl (Tospovirus)  For seed crop, the plants affected by leaf crinkle should be
Vector: periodically removed upto 45 days after sowing since the leaf
Frankliniella schultzii crinkle virus is seed borne.
Thrips tabaci
Scirtothrips dorsalis

Cyst nematode, Heterodera Soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens or Trichoderma viride @
cajani 2.5 kg/ha at the time of sowing.
RICE-FALLOWS
VARIETIES AND SEED RATE

VARIETIES Sole crop Mixed crop
CO 4, ADT 2, ADT 3, ADT 4, ADT 5, TMV 1
(Rice fallows) 30 ..
1.TIME OF SOWING
Third week of January –Second week of February
2.SOWING OF SEEDS
a) For relay cropping broadcast the seeds in the standing crop 5 to 10 days before the harvest of
the paddy crop uniformly under optimum soil moisture conditions so that the seeds should get
embedded in the waxy mire.
b) For combined harvesting areas, broadcast the seeds before harvesting the paddy crop with
machinerie
3. SPRAYING OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE , NAA AND SALICYLIC ACID

a. Foliar Spray of NAA 40 mg/lt and Salicylic acid 100 mg/lt once at pre-flowering and another at 15
days thereafter
b. Foliar spray of DAP 20 g/lt once at flowering and another at 15 days thereafter
4. HARVESTING
i) Picking the matured pods, drying and processing
ii) Uprooting or cutting the whole plants ,heaping ,drying and processing
SEED PRODUCTION
Land Requirement
95
Isolation
Adopt 5 m certified seed production
Presowing seed treatment

Remove all discoloured seeds and use only normal coloured seeds (black coloured in blackgram
and olive green in greengram).
Avoid seeds with bruchid infestation for sowing.
If the hard seed percentage exceeds more than 10 per cent scarify with commercial H 2SO4 for
2 min.
For rainfed sowing harden the greengram seeds for 3 h 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 @ 100 ppm may be used for
hardening.
Fortify the blackgram seed with ZnSO4 0.2% MnSO4 0.2% and Na2MO4 0.1% in 1/3 volume to
enhance the field establishment under irrigated conditions.
Foliar application
Spray 2% DAP at the time of first appearance of flowers.
Give a second spray 15 days after first spraying
Spray NAA 40 PPM at first flowering and a second spray after a fortnight.
NAA can be mixed with pesticides and fungicides.
Preharvest sanitation spray

Three to 5 days before harvesting spray endosulphan 35 EC @ 0.07% or malathion 50 EC @
0.05% for seed crop to minimise the bruchid infestation in storage.
Harvesting
Harvest the pods 30 days after the 50 per cent flowering for blackgram and greengram.
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%.
Harvest as picking if the flowering period is long
Dry the pods to 13 to 15 per cent moisture content
Threshing
Thresh the seed with pliable bamboo stick or pulses thresher.
Drying
Dry the seeds to 8 - 9 per cent moisture content
Processing
Grade the seeds using B.S.S.7 x 7 wire mesh sieve for large seeded varieties
Reject the discoloured and broken seeds.
Seed treatment
Treat the seed with Carbendazim 75% WDP at 2g dissolved in 5 ml of water kg-1 of seed (or)
Dry dress the seeds with halogen mixture (Pure CaOCl2 + CaCO3 + arappu leaf powder at
(5:4:1) ratio @ 3g/kg of seed
For grain cum seed storage, treat the seed with activated clay, neem oil, groundnut oil and leaf
powder of tobacco, nochi, neem, Albizzia amara (arappu) and fruit rind powder of Sapindus
laurifolius (Poochi kottai) and Acacia concinna (Soapnut powder).
Storage
96
Use 700 gauge polythene bag for long term storage with seed moisture content of Less than 8%.
Others management practices

As in crop management
97
GREENGRAM ( Vigna radiata L. )
CROP IMPROVEMENT
District/Season Varieties
Adipattam (June - July)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, KM 2, CO 4, CO 6, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2,
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukkottai, Madurai, VRM(Gg) 1
Dindigul, Theni
CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, Paiyur 1, VBN 1,
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli,
VBN(Gg) 2
Perambalur, Karur
Salem, Namakkal
CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, Paiyur 1
Dharmapuri CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, Paiyur 1, VBN 1,
VBN(Gg) 2
CO 4, CO 6, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2
Erode, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2
Puratasipattam (September - October)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Tirunelveli, CO 4, CO 6, Paiyur 1, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2,

Thoothukudi K1
Erode, Coimbatore CO 4, CO 6, VBN 1, VBN(Gg) 2
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, Paiyur 1, K1
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni CO 4, CO 6, Paiyur 1
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur Paiyur 1, CO 6, VBN 1, VBN (Gg) 2
Rice fallows (January - February)

Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, ADT 3
Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli,
Thoothukudi
Summer (February - March)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallore, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, CO 4, CO 6, KM 2
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukkottai
Salem, Namakkal,Dharmapuri,Tiruchirapalli, CO 4, CO 6, Paiyur 1
Perambalur, Karur, Tirunelveli, Thoothuku
Erode, Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, CO 4, CO 6, Paiyur 1
Nagapattinam
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, CO 4, CO 6, KM 2, Paiyur 1
Virudhunagar, Sivagangai
98
II. DESCRIPTION OF GREENGRAM VARIETIES
Particulars KM 2 CO 4 ADT 3 Paiyur 1 VBN 1 K1
Parentage Mutant of Hybrid deri- PS from Co 4 x ML 65
Hybrid deri- CO 1 vative of DPT 703 Hybrid deri-
vative of H70-16/ vative of
No.127xS.9 Rajendran/ S.8xPIMS
G65 3
Year of release 1978 1981 1988 1988 1989 1998
50% flowering 35 - 40 40 – 45 36 45 - 50 30 - 35 70 - 75
(days)
Duration (days) 65 - 70 85 66 85 – 90 65 -
Grain yield
(kg/ha) 770 670
Rainfed 767 910 500 742
Irrigated .. 1550 500 (Rice - ..

fallows)
Plant height 35 - 45 60 - 70 35 – 45 5 5- 60 55 - 60 70 - 75
(cm)
Green Green,
Stem, branches Green stem Green stem Green Green sparsely slightly
etc. stem hairy Pubescent
Branches - 3–4 2–3 3–4 2–3 3-4
Leaves Medium Broad Medium Medium,

tripartate broad, Broad foliate, Broad
and hairy Petiole ovate
long
Pod characters Dark brown Green when Dark brown Dull Sparsely Long and
and tip tender & black green hairy , light slightly
covered on drying black pods pubescent,
brown
Colour of grain Shiny green Dull green Green Dull Green Dull green
Green
100 grain wt (g) 3.0 4.1 2-3 3-5 3.6 3.5
99
Particulars CO 6 VRM(Gg) 1 VBN(Gg) 2
Parentage WGG 37 x CO 5 Pure line selection from Cross derivative of

K 851 VGG 4 x MH 309

50% flowering (days) 26 – 30 31 – 35 30 – 35
Duration (days) 62 – 67 56 – 67 65 – 70
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 900 1100 750
Irrigated 1050 - 900
Plant height (cm) 35 - 55 45 – 55 50 – 60
Leaves Broad Broad Trifoliate with lobes

Colour of pod Pubescent Pubescent Sparsly hairy pods
Colour of grain Green with smooth Shiny green bold and Shiny green
surface smooth surface
100 grain wt (g) 3 .4 3.5 3.6 – 3.9
CROP MANAGEMENT
III. SEED RATE
Particulars Quantity of seed required kg/ha
Pure crop Mixed crop

All strains 20 10
Rice fallows - ADT 3 25 --
Optimum plant population 3,25,000/ha.

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 at 12.5 t/ha to get an additional yield
of about 15 - 20%.
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.
Bio control agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with Biocontrol agents and then
with Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.

Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture CRM 6 and 3 packets (600 g/ha)
of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not carried out
apply 10 packets of Rhizobium (2000g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g) of Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of
FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing.
100
*Note : Applied in the form of gypsum if Single Super Phospate is not applied as a source of
phosphorus
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds adopting a spacing of 30 x 10 cm. For bund crop dibble the seeds at 30 cm
spacing.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, followed by life irrigation on the third day. Irrigate at intervals of 7to
10 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

a. Foliar spray of Spray of NAA 40 mg/litre and Salicylic acid 100 mg/litre once at pre-flowering and
b. i) For rice fallow crops, foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre once at flowering and another at 15 days
thereafter
ii) For irrigated and rainfed crops foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre or urea 20 g/litres once at flowering
and another at 15 days thereafter.
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres on 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 500 litre of water for spraying one ha.
the crop period.
i) If herbicides are not applied give two hand weedings on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
9. MULTI BLOOM TECHNOLOGY

A special technology being practiced in Pattukottai block of Tanjore district for blackgram and
greengram. The soil is alluvial and rich in organic matter and nutrients. The crop is sown during early
summer (Jan.-Feb.) as normal crop and fertilizer is applied as per the recommendation for irrigated crop.
In addition to that, top dressing of Nitrogen is done with an extra dose of 25 to 30 kg through urea. Since
pulses are indeterminate growth habit and continue to produced new flushes, the top dressing will be
done on 40-45 days after sowing. The crop complete its first flushes of matured pods during 60-65th day
and put further second new flush within 20-25 days. Therefore two flushes of pods can be harvested at a
time within the duration of 100 days.
101
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Tobacco cut worm 8 egg masses/100 m

Stem fly  Seed treatment with dimethoate 30 EC 5 ml/kg of seed
Ophiomyia phaseoli  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 250 l /ha)
Aphid Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Aphis craccivora Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Whitefly  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 250 l /ha)
Mite Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Tetranychus urticae Wettable sulphur 1.5 kg/ha
Apid  Apply any one of the following :
Aphis craccivora Endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
Spotted pod borer Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha
Maruca vitrata Phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha
Pod bug Carbaryl 5D 25 kg/ha
Nezara viridula  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Riptortus pedestris Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
 Neem seed kernel extract 5% twice, starting from 50% flowering
stage followed by one round of endosulfan 0.07%.
Gram caterpillar  Pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera 12/ha
Helicoverpa armigera  Bird perches 50/ha
 Hand picking of larvae
 Ha NPV 1.5 x1012 POB/ha with teepol (1 ml/lit.)
 Apply any one of the following (Spray fluid 625 l/ha)
Endosulfan 4D 25 kg/ha
Quinalphos 4D 25 kg/ha
Carbaryl 5D 25 kg/ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 1.25 lit./ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 625 ml/ha.
Neem seed kernel extract 5% twice followed by
triazophos 40 EC 780 ml/ha
Neem oil 12.5 l/ha
Phosalone 35 EC 1.25 l/ha
(Note : Insecticide / Ha NPV spray should be applied when the larvae
are in early stage)
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
102
TNAU Neem oil 60 EC (C) 1 lit.
Pungam oil 1 lit.
B. Disease management

 Spray NSKE 5% or Neem oil 3% twice at 10 days interval from
Powdery Mildew initial disease appearance.
Erysiphe polygoni  Spray Carbendazim 250 g or Wettable sulphur 2500g/ha.
Botanical
 Spray Eucalyptus leaf extract 10% at initiation of the disease
and 10 days later.
Spray any one of the following:

Rust Mancozeb 1000g /ha
Uromyces appendiculatus Wettable sulphur 2500g/ha
Spray any one of the following:
Leaf spot  Carbendazim 250 g
Cercospora canescens  Mancozeb 1000g/ha
 Basal application of zinc sulphate – 25kg/ha.
Root rot  Neem cake @ 150 Kg/ha
Macrophomina phaseolina  Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg
(Rhizoctonia bataticola) of well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
 Spot drench Carbendazim – 1 gm/ litre
 Basal application of zinc sulphate 25 kg/ha
Yellow mosaic (Geminivirus)  Rogue out the infected plants up to 30 days
and Leaf Crinkle Spray any one of the following:
Vector: Monocrotophos 500 ml
Bemisia tabaci Methyl demeton 500 ml/ha and repeat after 15 days, if
necessary.
Leaf Curl (Tospovirus)
Vector:  For seed crop, the plants affected by leaf crinkle should be
Franklinielle schultzii periodically removed upto 45 days after sowing since the leaf
Thrips tabaci crinkle virus is seed borne.
Scirtothrips dorsalis
Integrated management of viral diseases of blackgram and greengram
1. Grow resistant variety like Vamban 4 black gram

2. Grow seven rows of sorghum as border crops
3. Treat the seeds with Imidacloprid 70WS@ 5ml/kg
4. Give one foliar spray of insecticide (Dimethoate @750ml/ha) on 30 days after sowing

Cyst nematode, Heterodera Soil application of Pseudomonas fluorescens or Trichoderma viride @
cajani 2.5 kg/ha at the time of sowing.
103
RICE-FALLOWS
VARIETIES AND SEED RATE
Varieties Sole crop Mixed crop
All varieties 30 -
1.TIME OF SOWING
Third week of January –Second week of February
2.SOWING OF SEEDS
a) For relay cropping broadcast the seeds in the standing crop 5 to 10 days before the harvest of
the paddy crop uniformly under optimum soil moisture conditions so that the seeds should get
embedded in the waxy mire.
b) For combined harvesting areas, broadcast the seeds before harvesting the paddy crop with
machineries
3. SPRAYING OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE , NAA AND SALICYLIC ACID

a. Foliar spray of NAA 40 mg/litre and Salicylic acid 100 mg/litre once at pre-flowering and another
at 15 days thereafter
b. Foliar spray of DAP 20 g/lt once at flowering and another at 15 days thereafter
4. HARVESTING
i) Picking the matured pods, drying and processing
ii) Uprooting or cutting the whole plants ,heaping ,drying and processing
104
COWPEA ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.aggreg.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT/SEASON VARIETIES
Adipattam (June-August)
For all districts CO 6, VBN 1, VBN 2, CO(CP) 7
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri Paiyur 1
Cuddalore, Villupuram CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Salem, Namakkal Paiyur 1, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, Karur CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Pudukottai CO 2, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Erode Paiyur 1, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni,
Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar CO 2, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , Kanyakumari, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam
Purattasipattam (September - November)

For all districts CO 6, VBN 1, VBN 2, CO(CP) 7
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur CO(CP) 7
Dharmapuri Paiyur 1
Cuddalore, Villupuram Paiyur 1, CO (CP) 7
Salem, Namakkal CO 2, Paiyur 1, CO (CP) 7
Pudukottai CO 2, VBN 2
Erode CO 2, CO(CP) 7
Coimbatore CO 2, Paiyur 1, CO 6 , CO(CP) 7
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram,
Virudhunagar CO, 2, VBN 2, CO(CP) 7
Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi , CO 2, VBN 2, CO(CP) 7
Kanyakumari, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Paiyur 1, CO(CP) 7
Summer irrigated
CO 2, CO 6, CO (CP) 7, VBN 2
Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Erode,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur and Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi
II. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES
105
Particulars CO 2 Paiyur 1 CO 6 VBN 1 VBN 2 CO(CP) 7
Hybrid Selection MS 9804 x Selection Selection Gamma
derivative from VM 16 C 152 from from IT 81- mutant of CO
Parentage
(C521 x T 85F D-1228-10 4 (20 Kr)
C49) 2020
Year of release 1972 1985 1993 1997 1998 2002
50%
45 75 35 35 – 40 40-45 40 – 45
flowering(days)
90 90 65 – 70 55 – 65 75 - 80 70 – 75
Duration (days)
Grain yield(kg/ha)
Rainfed 900 671 950 - 1000
...
Irrigated 1375 -- - - - 1600
10580 -
Vegetable (Kg/ha) 9400 ... -
30 - 40 60 - 70 34.5 25 - 30 45 - 60 40 – 55
Plant height (cm)
Stem, branches Green Erect Green stem Erect Green erect, Green with
stem purple wash green, 2–3 purple ring at
purple at nodes, 2–4 branches fruiting
wash at 3-4 branches nodes,
nodes, branches 5–8
3-4 branches
branches
Leaves Trifoliate, Dark green Trifoliate Light Dark green Ovote,

broad and leaflets entire, green trifoliate trifoliate,
long possessing green, entire, green
petioles triangular purple spot and glabrous
white spots at the abse
of leaflet
Colour of pods Tender Dark green Greenish Light green Green

greenish pigmented white
Green
white tip
Dry Greyish Brown at Cream Cream Light brown

white Brown maturity
Colour of grain Reddish Brick red Light cream White Ivory white, Brownish
brown hilum with white and
with tan ring squire shape
irregular surrounded
patches by brown
band
100 grain wt (g) 12.5 9.9 9.9 12 - 15 13 - 15 12 - 14
III. SEED RATE
106
STRAIN Quantity of seed required (kg/ha)
Pure crop Mixed crop
Paiyur 1, VBN 1, VBN 2, CO 6, CO(CP) 7 25 12.5
Optimum plant population 3,50,000/ha.
CROP MANAGEMENT

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.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with Rhizobium.
a) Fungicide-treated seeds, should be again treated with a bacterial culture. There should be an
interval of atleast 24 hours between fungicidal and biofertilizer treatments.
b) The improved rhizobial strain COC 10 is more effective in increasing the yield.
Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture COC 10 and 3 packets (600
g/ha) of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is
not carried out apply 10packets of Rhizobium (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets(2000 g) of
Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing. Dry the biofertilizer
treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
of phosphorus
5. SOWING
Varieties Sole crop Mixed crop
CO 6, VBN 1 30 cm X 15 cm 200 cm X 15 cm
CO (CP) 7, 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 7 to
10 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

a. Foliar spray of Spray of NAA 40 mg/litre and Salicylic acid 100 mg/litre once at pre-flowering and
107
b. Foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre or urea 20 g/litre once at flowering and another at 15 days
thereafter
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres on 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
the crop period.
ii) If herbicides are not applied give two hand weedings on 15 and 30 days after sowing.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL

Stem fly  Soil application of carbofuran 3 G (15 kg/ha) at the time of sowing
Ophiomyia phaseoli  Spray endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha a week after germination and
Aphid second round 10 days after first round.
Aphis craccivora
Spotted pod borer  Apply any one of the following :
Maruca vitrata Endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
Blue butterflies Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha
Lampides boeticus Phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha
Euchrysops cnejus Carbaryl 5 D 25 kg/ha
Pod bug  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Nezara viridula Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
Riptortus pedestris Monocrotophos 36 SL 500 ml/ha
Clavigralla gibbosa
Blister beetle
Mylabris pustulata
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
Pungam oil 1 lit.
108
 Two sprays of chlorothalanil 0.1% or one spray with 0.1%
Rust chlorothalanil followed by 3% Neem oil after the appearance of
Uromyces appendiculatus rust disease, effectively controls the disease.
 Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg
Root rot of well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
Macrophomina phaseolina  Spot drench Carbendazim – 1 gm/ litre
(Rhizoctonia bataticola)
Aphid borne Mosaic Virus  Roguing out of cowpea mosaic virus diseased plants in the
(Potyvirus) early stage of growth upto 30 days and spraying twice at
Vector: fortnightly intervals with monocrotophos 500 ml/ ha (or)
Aphis craccivora methyldemeton 25 EC500 ml/ha.
A. fabae
A. gossypii
Myzus persicae
SEED PRODUCTION
Land requirement
Isolation
Adopt 5 m for certified seed production
Season
September to October
Sowing seed treatment

Remove all discoloured seeds and use highly germinable (>75%) seeds.
Intercultural operation
Pinching the tendrils and application of NAA 40 ppm (940 mg/l) may be followed
at flower initiation and at peak flowering stage to promote pod setting.
Pull out and destroy plants exhibiting severe symptoms of mosaic in the early stages of growth.
Harvesting
Seeds attain physiological maturity 27-30 days after anthesis
Harvest the pods as they turn light straw in colour and the seeds turn brown or mottled in colour.
At this stage the moisture content of seeds will be about 18 per cent.
Harvest the pods as picking (2 –3 no) at 10 days interval
Air dry pods at first for 1-2 days and sun dry until they become brittle
Beat with pliable bamboo stick or pulse thresher by adjusting the cylinder to avoid splitting and
cracking of seeds.
The seed should be dried to 8-10% moisture content.
Processing
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.
Drying
Remove of the broken and immature seeds
Dry seed to 7 to 8 % moisture content.
109
Seed Treatment
Treat with thiram / Carbendazim @ 2g kg-1 of seed
Treat with halogen mixture @ 3g kg-1 of seed
Treat with activated clay @ 1 kg/100 kg of seeds. May be dry dressed for grain cum seed storage
use.
Storage

As in crop management technique.
110
HORSEGRAM ( Macrotyloma uniflorum )
CROP IMPROVEMENT
November (Winter season) (Rainfed)
All districts except
The Nilgiris and Kanyakumari CO 1, Paiyur 1, Paiyur 2
II. DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES

Variety CO 1 Paiyur 1 Paiyur 2
PurelineSelection PurelineSelection from Gamma irradiation of

Parentage
from Mudukulathur Mettur local CO 1
50% flowering (days) 55 - 60 45 - 50 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 4-5
Colour of grain Buff mottled Light brown Pale brown
100 grain weight (g) 4.6 3.4 3.56
III. SEED RATE

For a pure crop 20 kg/ha is needed.
CROP MANAGEMENT

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 , 12.5 kg/ha
potassium if soil is deficient in NPK status.

Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not carried out
apply 10packets of Rhizobium (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets(2000 g) of Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of
FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing. Dry the biofertilizer treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before
sowing.
5. SOWING
111
Dibble the seeds with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
Give one weeding and hoeing on 25-30 days after sowing
7. HARVESTING
Harvest the matured whole plant, thresh the pods and extract seeds
SEED PRODUCTION
Land Requirement
Should be free from volunteer plants
Isolation
Adopt a isolation of 10mt
Season
October - November
Pre sowing Seed Treatment

Treat the seed with Captan 75% WP at 2 g/kg of seed.
Harvesting
Seeds attain physiological maturity when the pods turn yellowish brown in colour. Harvest pods
when 75 - 80% of the pods have matured.
Processing
Grade the seed with a sieve having 8/64" round perforation.
Storage
Store in cloth upto two years
For long term storage (more than three years) store in 700 gauge polythene bag
Note
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.
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.
The discoloured seeds loose viability much faster than the normal seeds in storage.
The hard seededness of 50 - 55% noticed immediately after harvest declined to 4 to 6% over a
period of 2 months.
Others
As in management practices
112
BENGALGRAM ( Cicer arietinum L.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
November (Winter season) Rainfed

Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli,
Perambalur, Karur, Dharmapuri, Pudukottai, Erode, Coimbatore,
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, CO 3, CO 4
Sivagangai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi.

Variety CO 3 CO 4
Pureline selection from Cross derivative of ICC 42 x
Parentage
Maharashtra collection ICC 12237
50% flowering (days) 35 – 40 40
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 1000 1150
Height (cm) 25 - 30 35 - 40
Branches 3-5 3-5
Flower colour Light pink & veined Light pink & veined
Colour of grain Light brown Brown
100 seed weight (g) 30-32 30 - 32
III. SEED RATE

CO 3 - 90 kg/ha.
CO 4 - 75 kg/ha.
As a pure crop to have an optimum plant population 325000 / ha
CROP MANAGEMENT

Prepare the land to fine tilth and apply 12.5 t FYM/ha
2. SEED TREATMENT
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. Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with biocontrol
agents and then with Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
The above seed treatment will protect the seedlings from seed borne pathogens in the early stages.
113
Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture and 3 packets
(600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not
carried out apply 10packets of Rhizobium (2000g/ha) and 10 packets(2000 g) of Phosphobacteria with
25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing. Dry the biofertilizer treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes
before sowing.
*Note : Applied in the form of gypsum, if Single Super Phospate is not applied as a source
of phosphorus
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds by adopting the spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres on 3rd day after sowing using Backpack/
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.
7. 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.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Gram caterpillar 2 early instar larvae/plant
5-8 eggs/plant

Aphid  Spray any one of the following :
Aphis craccivora Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Gram caterpillar  Pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera 12/ha
Helicoverpa armigera  Bird perches 50/ha
 Hand picking of grown up larvae and blister beetles
 Ha NPV 1.5 x1012 POB/ha with teepol (1 ml/lit.)
 Apply any one of the following (Spray fluid 625 ml/ha)
Endosulfan 4D 25 kg/ha
Quinalphos 4D 25 kg/ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 1.25 lit./ha
Neem seed kernel extract 5% (31.0 kg/ha) twice followed by
triazophos 40 EC 780 ml/ha
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Neem oil 12.5 lit./ha
Phosalone 35 EC 1.25 lit./ha
(Note : Insecticide / Ha NPV spray should be made when the larvae
were upto third instar)

 Use pitfall traps or two in one model trap to assess the time of
emergence of field carried over pulse beetle in storage and
accordingly sun-dry the produce.
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
Pungam oil 1 lit.
Seed treatment  Talc formulation of T. viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens @ 10 g/kg
seed (or) Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg
Wilt  Soil application with P. fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha.

Fusarium oxysporum
f.sp. ciceri
Biological control
Root rot  Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride– 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg of
Macrophomina phaseolina well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
(Rhizoctonia bataticola) Chemical
SEED PRODUCTION

Land Requirements
Land to be used for seed production of Bengal gram shall be free of volunteer plants.
Isolation
Pre-Sowing treatment
Soak the seeds in 1% aqueous solution of KH2PO4 for 3-4 h at 1/3rd volume of seeds and quickly
air dry in shade.
Avoid using of bruchid infected seed for sowing
Harvesting
Seeds attain physiological maturity @ 35 – 40 days after anthesis
Harvest when 70 – 80% of pods are creamy in colour.
Processing
Grade the seeds using 13/64” or 18/64" round perforated metal sieve depending on the variety.
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Dry the seed to 8-10% moisture content
Seed treatment
Slurry treat the seeds with Carbendazim (or) Thiram 75% WP @ 2 g kg-1 of seed (or).
Treat the seed with halogen mixture @ 3g + Carbendazim @ 2g kg-1 of seed
For grain cum seed storage treat the seed with activated clay @ 1:100 (W/W).
Storage
Other Management practices

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GARDEN LAB LAB (AVARAI)
(Lab lab purpureus (L.) var. typicus. )
CROP IMPROVEMENT
I.SEASON AND VARIETIES
Adipattam (Jul - Aug)
Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, CO 13
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli,
Thoothukudi , Salem, Namakkal,
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirapalli, CO 12, CO 13
Perambalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Kanyakumari, Erode
Purattasipattam (Sept - Nov)

Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, CO 13
Karur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villupuram.
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal 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 12, CO 13
Cuddalore, Villupuram.
Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, CO 12, CO 13
Nagapattinam.
Kanyakumari, Pudukottai, Erode, Coimbatore, Madurai, CO 12, CO 13
Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar,
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Sivagangai
II.DESCRIPTION OF AVARAI VARIETIES
Particulars CO 12 CO 13
Pedigree selection from Derivative of
Parentage
CO 9 x CO 4 CO 9 x Florikifield
1st flowering (days) 40 40
Duration 100 - 110 110 - 120
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Irrigated 9700 10000
Habit Erect, bushy Dwarf, bushy and
tendency to form tendrils
Height (cm) 60 - 70 50 - 75
Colour of flowers Purple White
Colour of pod Deep purple Whitish green
Shape of pod Broad, flat Flat and long
Colour of grain Black Brown
100 seed wt(g) 38.4 35.2
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III. SEED RATE

Sole crop Mixed crop
CO 12 20 10.0
CO 13 25 -
CROP MANAGEMENT

Prepare the land to fine tilth. Form beds and channels for bushy types.

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.
Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers. First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then
with Rhizobium. Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH BACTERIAL CULTURE

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 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.
of phosphorus
5. SOWING
Varieties
CO 12 : 45 cm X 15 cm
CO 13 : 45 cm X 30 cm
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres/ha on 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
After this, one hand weeding on 40-45 days after sowing gives weed free environment
throughout the crop period.
ii) If herbicides are not applied give two hand weedings on 25 and 45days after sowing.
7. WATER MANAGEMENT
8. PRUNING TECHNIQUE
A spacing of about 10 feet between lines and four feet between plants are 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 bud is
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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.
9. HARVESTING
Pick the pods when they are completely dry. Thresh the pods and clean the beans. Pick the
tender pods once in a week for vegetable purpose.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Spotted pod borer 3 larvae/plant
Gram caterpillar 10% of affected pods

Spotted pod borer  Apply any one of the following :
Maruca vitrata Endosulfan 4D 25 kg/ha
Gram caterpillar Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha
Helicoverpa armigera Phosalone 4D 25 kg/ha
Blue butterflies Carbaryl 5D 25 kg/ha
Lampides boeticus  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Euchrysops cnejus Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
Pod bug Monocrotophos 36 SL 500 ml/ha
Nezara viridula
Riptortus pedestris
Clavigralla gibbosa
Aphid
Aphis craccivora
Blister beetle
Mylabris pustulata
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
Pungam oil 1 lit.
Seed treatment  Talc formulation of T. viride @ 4g or P. fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed

(or) Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg
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Anthracnose and  Spray Mancozeb 1000g or Carbendazim 250 g/ha soon after the
die-back appearance of the disease and if necessary, spray once again a
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum fortnight later.
SEED PRODUCTION

Land requirement
Isolation
Preharvest sanitation spray

Spray with 0.07% Malathion or Endosulfan @ 0.07 % before harvesting the pods for seed crop.
Harvesting
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 the stage will be about 15% and the green colour of the seed coat
will turn to chocolate brown colour.
Dry pods to 15-18% moisture content.
Drying
Dry the seeds to 8 -10% moisture content.
Grading
Grade the seed using 18/64” (aperture width 7.28 mm) round perforated metal sieve.
Remove the broken and immature seeds
Dry the seed to 7 to 8 per cent moisture content.
Seed Treatment
Treat with Carbendazim @ 2 g + Carbaryl 50% WP at 200 mg/kg-1 of seed
Activated clay @ 1:100 kg-1 of seed
Storage

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FIELD LAB-LAB (MOCHAI)
( Lab lab purpureus (L.) var. lignosus )
CROP IMPROVEMENT
All districts except The Nilgiris

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

Sole crop Mixed crop
CO 1 20 10.O
CO 2 25 12.5
CROP MANAGEMENT

Prepare the land to fine tilth.

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.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH BACTERIAL CULTURE

Fungicide treated seeds should be again treated with bacterial culture. There should be an
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interval of atleast 24 hours between fungicidal and bacterial culture treatments. Three packets of bacterial
culture 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.
a)Apply fertilizers basally before sowing.
*Note : Applied in the form of gypsum, if Single Super Phospate is not applied as a source
of phosphorus
5. SOWING
Dibble the seeds, adopting the following spacing.
Strain Sole 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. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre emergence application of Pendimethalin 2 litres/ha on 3 days after sowing using Backpack/
After this, one hand weeding on 40-45 days after sowing gives weed free environment
throughout the crop period.
i) If herbicides are not applied, give two hand weedings on 25th and 45th days after sowing.
7. WATER MANAGEMENT
8. HARVESTING
Dry pods may be collected for grain purposes. Green mature pods may be collected for vegetable
purpose.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Spotted pod borer 3 larvae/plant
Gram caterpillar 10% of affected pods

Pests Management practices
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Gram caterpillar  Apply any one of the following :
Helicoverpa armigera Endosulfan 4D 25 kg/ha
Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha
Phosalone 4D 25 kg/ha
Field bean pod borer
Adisura atkinsoni  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
Pod bug
Nezara viridula
Riptortus pedestris
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
Pungam oil 1 lit.
seed or Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg

Anthracnose and  Spray Mancozeb 1000g or Carbendazim 250 g/ha soon after the
die-back appearance of the disease and if necessary, spray once again a
Colletotrichum lindemuthianum fortnight later.
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SOYBEAN ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT

Adipattam (June - July)
Purattasipattam (Sep. - Oct.) CO 1 (Irrigated), CO 2
Masipattam (February - March)
Rice fallows CO 1, CO 2*
* Under protected irrigation.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY
Variety CO 1 CO 2 CO (Soy) 3
Re-selection from a Cross derivative of Cross derivative of UGM

Parentage
Thailand variety UGM 21 x JS 335 69 x JS 335
50% flowering 37 days 30-40 days 39 – 41 days
Duration (days) 85 75 - 80 85 – 90
Grain yield (Kg/ha)
Rainfed 1080 1340 -
Irrigated 1640 1650 1700
Height (cm) 58 30 - 40 53.5
Branches 6 - 5-6
Flower colour Pink Pink to purple Pink
Colour of grain Cream Creamy yellow Creamy yellow with
brown hilum
100 seed weight (g) 12.5 13 - 14 10.95 – 11.75
III. 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
CO(Soy) 3 Pure crop : 50 Kg/ha
CROP MANAGEMENT

Prepare the land to get fine tilth and form beds and channels.
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) 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.
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a) Treat the seeds atleast 24 hours before sowing.

Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Rhizobial culture (COS-1) and 3 packets (600 g/ha)
of Phosphobacteria developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not
carried out apply 10 packets of Rhizobium (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g) of
Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before sowing. Dry the bacterial culture
treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes before sowing.
i) Apply 20 kg N and 80 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per ha 40 kg of S as gypsum (220 kg/ha) / ha
as basal dressing. Soil application of 25 kg ZnSo4/ha under irrigated condition
ii) Foliar spray of NAA 40 mg/litre and Salicylic acid 100 mg/litre once at pre-flowering and another
at 15 days thereafter
iii). Foliar spray of DAP 20 g/litre or urea 20 g/litre once at flowering and another at 15 days
thereafter
5. 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.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing. Give life irrigation on the 3 rd 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.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Alachlor may be applied to the irrigated crop at 4 litres/ha or Pendimethalin 3.3 litre ai/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.
8 HARVESTING
Yellowing of leaves and shedding, indicate the maturity of the crop. Cut the entire plant when most of
the pods have turned yellow, drying and processing.
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 2 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
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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.
3. SEED TREATMENT WITH THE FUNGICIDES AND BIOFERTILIZERS

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) Treat the seeds required for ha. with three pockets of Rhizobium and 3 packets of
Phosphobacteria
4.FERTILIZER APPLICATION
i) Apply NPK as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is
not available adopt blanket recommendation of 20:40:20:20 NPKS kg/ha, if adequate moisture
is available.
ii) Apply entire dose of N, P ,K and S as basal.
5. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 5 cm between plants in the row.
6. SOWING
Dibble or drill the seeds.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) If sufficient moisture is available, Alachlor may be applied to the irrigated crop at 4.0 litres/ha or
Pendimethalin 3.3 litres/ha after sowing followed by one hand weeding on 30 days after
sowing.
ii) If herbicide spray is not given, two hand weeding on 20 and 35th day after sowing.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Whitefly  Spray any one of the following (Spray fluid 500 l/ha)
Tobacco caterpillar  Spray Endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml/ha
Spodoptera litura
Leaf miner  Quinalphos 1.5 D 25 kg/ha or Neem seed kernel extract (25
Aproaerema modicella kg/ha) spray on 15th and 25th day after sowing
Galerucid beetle  Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Madurasia obscurella
seed (or) Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g/kg
126
Rust Spray any one of the following:
Phakopspora pachyrhizi  Triadimefon - 0.1 % or Propiconazole – 0.1% or
 Hexaconazole - 0.1% at flowering stage or at the onset of
disease.
Yellow Mosaic (Geminivirus) Cultural Method
Vector -Bemisia tabaci  Rogue out infected plants up to 30 days.
Bud blight (Ilarvirus)
Vector- Thrips palmi Spray twice on 15 and 30 days after sowing with any one of the
following:
 Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml
 Methyldemeton 25EC500 ml/ ha.
SEED PRODUCTION

Land requirement
Land to be used for seed production of soyabean shall be free of volunteer plants.
Isolation
Mid storage seed treatment
Pellet the seeds with ZnSO4 @ 0.25 to 0.3 g kg-1 of seed using 2% CMC or 10% maida as
adhesive @ 250 ml kg-1 of seed and arappu leaf powder / vermicompost as filler @ 300g kg -1 for
better field establishment.
Moist conditioning of seeds in 5% sand for 16h and drying back to original moisture content (or)
Moisture equilibration treatment with water for 24 h followed by dry dressing with thiram @ 2.5 g
kg-1 of seed resulted in better crop establishment.
Harvesting
Seeds attain physiological maturity 27 –30 days after flowering
Harvest the plants as such on yellowing of pods
Threshing
Dry the plant and thresh with pliable bamboo stick
Processing
Grade the seeds using 14/64” to 12/64” round perforated metal sieve based on varieties.
Drying
Dry the seeds to 7- 8% moisture content
Seed Treatment
Treat the seeds with Thiram @ 2 g kg-1 of seed.
Storage
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SWORD BEAN ( Canavalia gladiata L.)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
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

Year of release 1990
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
Seed rate (kg/ha) : 110-120 (Pure crop)

Fertilizers (kg/ha) : 25 N 50 P2O5
Spacing : 45 x 30 cm (irrigated), 30x20 cm rainfed
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR PULSE PESTS

1. Stem fly
It attacks blackgram, greengram and cowpea.
Adult fly is blackish and lay eggs on the young leaves
Affected plants get dried
Immature stage will be inside the stem
Economic threshold level is 10% damage
2. Aphids
Attacks blackgram, greengram, lab lab, cowpea and redgram.
Congregated on the growing shoots, leaves, flowers and pods.
Affected plants will be weak and stunted
Because of honeydew ant movements will be there
3. Whiteflies
Attacks blackgram, greengram, cowpea and soyabean
Act as vector for yellow mosaic virus disease
4. Bugs
128
Desap the flowers and pods
Affected pods show shriveled grains
5. Pod borers
Gram pod borer, spotted pod borer, blue butterflies, pod fly and blister beetles are the major
borers
Blister beetles feed on flower buds, flowers and young pods
Spotted pod borers web the flowers and young pods
Gram pod borer, plume moth and blue butterflies bore into the pods
Pod fly feed on the seeds of redgram.
IPM
 Take up the sowing of blackgram from September to November with increased seed rate (25
kg/ha) in stem fly endemic areas.
 Remove alternate hosts
 Use of pheromone traps @ 12/ha for Gram pod borer
 Spray insecticides like methyl demeton or dimethoate or monocrotophos @ 500ml/ha to
reduce the sucking insects
 Spray endosulfan @1.25 l/ha or Neem seed kernel extract (25 kg/ha) against pod borers
 Avoid insecticidal spray when parasitoids and predators activity is high.
6. Storage pests
 Dry the seeds adequately to reduce moisture level to 10 %.
 Use pitfall traps or two in one model trap to assess the time of emergence of field carried over
pulse beetle in storage and accordingly sun-dry the produce.
Malathion 5 D 1 kg
TNAU Neem oil 60 EC (C) 1lit.
Pungam oil 1lit.
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OILSEEDS
GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea )
CROP IMPROVEMENT

DISTRICT / SEASON VARIETIES
A. Rainfed
1. Chithiraipattam (Apr - May)
Pollachi, Theni and TMV 7, ALR 3
Tenkasi
2. Early Adipattam (Jun - Jul)
All districts Bunch : TMV 7, CO 2, VRI 2, VRIGn 5,
Semispreading : TMV 10, COGn 5
1. Late Adipattam (Jul - Aug)
All districts TMV 7, VRI 2, CO 2
B. Irrigated
1. Margazhipattam (Dec - Jan)
All districts TMV 7, CO 2, CO 3, COGn 4,
VRI 2, VRI 3, ALR 3, VRIGn 5
2. Masipattam (Feb - Mar)
(New Delta areas of Thanjavur, TMV 7, CO 2, VRI 2, VRI 3,
Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam)
3. Chithiraipattam (Apr – May)) TMV 7, CO 2, CO 3, COGn 4,
VRI 2, VRI 3
II. PARTICULARS OF GROUNDNUT VARIETIES

Particulars TMV 7 TMV 10 CO 3 COGn 4 COGn 5
Parentage Pureline Spontaneous Derivative of Derivative of Multiple cross
selection from mutant from VG 55 x JL 24 TMV 10 x ICGV 82 derivative
Tennessee Argentina
white
Duration 100 - 105 120 - 130 115-120 115-120 125-130
(days)
Average yield 1400 1650 1950 2150 1850
of pods kg/ha
Shelling % 74 77 70 70 70
100 seed wt 36 43 65 60 47
(g)
Oil content % 49.6 54.4 49.2 52.7 51
Special Seed dormancy Yield, oil, Bold 1-2 seeded, Bold pods; Dark green foliage;
features for 10 days shelling high HPS kernels. 1-2 seeded; high oil Tolerant to foliar
Low bud necrosis content. diseases
incidence
Growth habit Bunch Semi- Bunch Bunch Semispreading
spreading
Leaf colour Green Dark green Green Dark green Dark green
Seed colour Light rose Red blotched Rose Rose Red testa
with white
130
Particulars ALR 3 VRI 2 VRI 3 VRIGn 5
Parentage Derivative of JL24 x CO2 J11 x R 33-1 Derivative of
(R33-1 x ICGV 68) x CG 26 x ICGS 44
(NCAC 17090 x ALR 1)
Duration(days) 110-115 100 - 105 90 105 -110
Average yield of 2095 2060 1882 2133
pods (kg/ha)
Shelling % 69 74.8 73 75
100 Seed wt. (g) 46 49.9 35 46
Oil content % 50 48 48 51
Special features Suitable for rainfed, rust suitable for Suitable for High reproductive
resistant, tolerant to late irrigated intercropping efficiency. Dormancy
leaf spot. 45 days.
Growth habit Bunch Bunch Bunch Bunch
Leaf colour Dark green Ashy green Light green Dark green
Seed colour Rose Light rose Light rose Red testa.
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. Rainfed
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 first at 0.5 m interval 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 composted coir pith besides
chiselling.
i) 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) Coir pith at 12.5 t/ha converted
to compost by inoculating with Pleurotus and applied serves as a good source of nutrients.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow the blanket
recommendation.
N P K
10 10 45 kg/ha
3. FORMING BEDS
i) Form beds of size 10 m to 20 m depending upon the slope of the land and type of soil.
2 2
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 micronutrient mixture in to the soil.
5. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Zinc deficiency: Apply 25 kg ZnSO4/ha as basal.
If soil analysis shows less than 1.3 ppm of zinc, soil application of 25 kg ZnSo 4 is recommended. For
4
the standing crop, less than 39.4 ppm of zinc in leaves, foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSo4 is recommended.
4
Iron deficiency: spray 1% FeSo4 on 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing.

Boron deficiency: Apply Borax 10 kg + Gypsum 400 kg/ha at 45th day after sowing.
6. SEED RATE
Use 120 kg/ha of kernels. Increase the seed rate by 15% in the case of bold seeded varieties.
131
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 15cm x 15 cm.
8. SEED TREATMENT
i) Treat the seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or Pseudomonas
fluorescens @ 10 g/kg seed.
Treat the seeds with biocontrol agents first and then with Rhizobium.
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 @ 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 Rhizobialculture TNAU14 + 3 packets of
Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets(600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of
Azophos(1200 g/ha)developed at TNAU using rice kanji as binder. If the seed treatment is not
carried out apply 10packets of Rhizobium (2000g/ha) + 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha)
and 10 packets(2000 g) of Phosphobacteria with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg of soil before
sowing.
9. SOWING
Use Kovai seed drill/gorru to sow the seeds in lines.
Put one seed in each hole. Protect the seeds from crows and squirrels.
10. INTERCROPPING
i) Raise one row of cowpea for every five rows of groundnut wherever red hairy caterpillar
is endemic.
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.
11. WEED MANAGEMENT

i) Pre-sowing: Fluchloralin at 2.0 l/ha soil 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) If no herbicide is applied two hand weeding and hoeing are given on 20th and 40th day after
sowing.
12. EARTHING UP
Accomplish earthing up during second hand weeding/late hand weeding (in herbicide application).
NOTE: i) Earthing up provides medium for the peg development 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
45th day of sowing as it will affect pod formation adversely.
13. APPLICATION OF CALCIUM SULPHATE (GYPSUM)

i) Apply gypsum @ 400 kg/ha by the side of the plants on 40th to 70th day 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.
132
Application of gypsum at the rate of 50 % basal both in rainfed and irrigated condition reduces
Khadhasty malady and pod scab nematode
Combined nutrient spray

Pod filling is a major problem especially in the bold seed varieties. To improve pod filling spraying
of nutrient solution is to be given. This can be prepared by soaking DAP 2.5 kg, Ammonium sulphate 1 kg
and borax 0.5 kg in 37 lit of water overnight. The next day morning it can be filtered and about 32 litre of
mixture can be obtained and it may be diluted with 468 lit of water so as to made up to 500 litre to spray
for one ha. Plano fix at the rate of 350 ml. can also be mixed while spraying. This can be sprayed on 25 th
and 35th day after sowing.
14. 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 inner shell 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 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 can be used.
vi) Dry the pods in the sun for 4 or 5 days. Repeat drying for 2 or 3 more days 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.
II. Irrigated
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
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
133
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow the blanket
recommendation.
N P K Sulphur sludge
17 34 54 kg/ha 60 kg/ha
3. FORMING BEDS
Form beds of size 10 m2 to 20 m2 depending upon the availability of water, slope of the land
and type of soil.
Wherever tractor is engaged, bed former may be used.
4. POLYTHENE FILM MULCHING

Spread black polythene sheet over the soil surface. Seven micron polythene film sheet @50
kg/ha is required. Holes can be made at required spacing before spreading of the sheets.
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.
6. NUTRITIONAL DISORDER
Zinc deficiency: Apply 25 kg ZnSO4/ha as basal.
If soil analysis shows less than 1.3 ppm of zinc, soil application of 25 kg ZnSo 4 is recommended. For
4
the standing crop, less than 39.4 ppm of zinc in leaves, foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSo4 is recommended.
4
Iron deficiency : spray 1% FeSO4 on 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing.

Boron deficiency: Apply Borax 10 kg + Gypsum 200 kg/ha at 45th day after sowing.
7. SEED RATE
Use 125 kg/ha of kernels. Increase the seed rate by 15% in the case of bold seeded varieties.
8. 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 15cm x 15 cm.
9. SEED TREATMENT
i) Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kg seed or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10
g/kg seed.
ii) Treatment with Trichoderma can be done just before sowing. SUCH SEEDS SHOULD NOT
BE TREATED WITH FUNGICIDES. (or)
iii) Treat the seeds with Thiram or Mancozeb @ 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
a) Dibble the seeds at 4 cm depth along with fertilizer.
11. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Pre-sowing: Fluchloralin at 2.0 l/ha soil applied and incorporatede followed by light irrigation.
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) If no herbicide is applied two hand hoeing and weeding are given on 20 th and 40th day after
sowing.
12. EARTHING UP:

Accomplish earthing up during second hand weeding/late hand weeding (in herbicide application).
NOTE: i) Earthing up provides medium for the peg development. 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.
13. APPLICATION OF CALCIUM SULPHATE (GYPSUM)

 Apply gypsum @ 400 kg/ha by the side of the plants on the 40th to 45th day of sowing. Apply
gypsum, hoe and incorporate in the soil and then earth up.
 Avoid gypsum in calciferous soils.
 Gypsum is effective in soils deficient in calcium and sulphur.
NOTE: Application of gypsum encourages pod formation and better filling up of the pods.
Application of gypsum at the rate of 50 % basal both in rainfed and irrigated condition reduces
Khadhasty malady and pod scab nematode
Combined nutrient spray

Pod filling is a major problem especially in the bold seed varieties. To improve pod filling spraying
of nutrient solution is to be given. This can be prepared by soaking DAP 2.5 kg, Ammonium sulphate 1 kg
and borax 0.5 kg in 37 lit of water overnight. The next day morning it can be filtered and about 32 litre of
mixture can be obtained and it may be diluted with 468 lit of water so as to made up to 500 litre to spray
for one ha. Plano fix at the rate of 350 ml. can also be mixed while spraying. This can be sprayed on 25 th
and 35th day after sowing.

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. Apply 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
vi) In pod development stage, 2 - 3 irrigations depending on the soil type
Note: Spraying 0.5% Potassium chloride 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.
15. 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 inner shell 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 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 can be used.
vi) Dry the pods in the sun for 4 or 5 days. Repeat drying for 2 or 3 more days 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.
CROP PROTECTION
Pest management
Pests ETL
Leaf miner 1 larvae /meter row
Tobacco cutworm 8 egg masses/100 m row

Red hairy caterpillar  Dig out and destroy the pupae from the field bunds and shady
Amsacta albistriga spots prior to summer rains.
 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.
 Collect and destroy gregarious, early instar larvae on lace-like
leaves of intercrops such as redgram and cowpea.
 Collect and destroy egg masses in the cropped area.
 Avoid migration of larvae by digging a trench 30 cm deep and 25
cm wide with perpendicular sides around the infested fields.
 Apply any one of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha (for
young caterpillars) :
Quinalphos 1.5 D
Phosalone 4D
Endosulfan 4 D
Carbaryl 10 D
Ethion 50 EC 500 ml/ha
in 375 l of water.
 Use Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) at 1.5 x 1012 POBs per ha
as detailed below.
 Virus multiplication
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 for 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 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
mixing and spray in the evening hours.
Tobacco cut worm  Grow castor as border or intercrop in groundnut fields to serve as
Spodoptera litura indicator or trap crop.
 Monitor the emergence of adult moths by setting up light and
pheromone traps.
 Collect egg masses and destroy.
 Collect the gregarious larvae and destroy them as soon as the
early symptoms of lace-like leaves appear on castor, cowpea and
groundnut.
 Apply anyone of the following insecticides to control the early
instar (1st to 3rd instar) larvae
Phenthoate 50EC 1250 ml/ha
Endosulfan 35 EC 1.0 l/ha
 Spray any one of the following insecticides to control the 4th
to 6th instar larvae :
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.0 l/ha
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1.0 l/ha
Phenthoate 50 EC 2.0 l/ha
Profenophos 2.0 l/ha
Neem oil (2%) 20 lit /ha
 Prepare a bait with the following materials to cover one ha. Rice
bran 12.5 kg; Molasses or brown sugar 1.25 kg or carbaryl 50 WP
1.25 kg. Mix the ingredients to obtain a homogeneous mixture,
sprinkle water (7 lit.) 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.
 Apply Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus 1.5 x 1012 POBs/ha with crude
sugar 2.5 kg/ha and Teepol 250 ml/ ha. Methods of mass culturing
and application are the same as for Amsacta NPV. Use castor
leaves for larvae
Leaf hopper  Intercrop lab lab with groundnut 1:4 ratio
Empoasca kerri  Spray Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha twice, at 30 and 51 days
after sowing
Leaf miner  Set up light traps between 8 and 11 p.m at ground level
Aproaerema modicella  Apply anyone of the following insecticides at 25 kg/ha :
Phosalone 4D
Endosulfan 4 D
Carbaryl 10 D
Fenitrothion 2 D
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 750 ml/ha
Phenthoate 50 EC 750 ml/ha
Imidacloprid 200 SL 150 ml/ha (in 375 l of water)
Pod borer (Earwig)  Apply any one of the following to the soil prior to sowing in
Anisolabis stali endemic areas :
 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.
Millipede  Apply methyl parathion 2D 25 kg/ha during gypsum application
Spirostreptus spp. and earthing up
Seed treatment  Treat the seeds with any one of the following
 Thiram @ 4g/Kg of seed
 Mancozeb @ 4g/Kg of seed
 Carboxin @ 2g/kg of seed
 Carbendazim @ 2g/kg of seed.
 Talc formulation of T. viride @ 4g/kg of seed
 P. fluorescens @10g/kg of seed
Rust  Spray any one of the following :
Puccinia arachidis  Mancozeb 1000g /ha
 Chlorothalonil 1000g /ha
 Wettable sulphur 2500g /ha
 Tridemorph 500 ml/ha
If necessary, repeat the spray 15 days later.
Early leaf Spot  Spray any one of the following :
Cercopora arachidicola  Carbendazim 500 g/ha
Mycosphaerella arachidis  Mancozeb 1000 g/ha
Late leaf Spot  Chlorothalonil 1000 g/ha
Phaeoisariopsis personata If necessary give the second round 15 days later.
Mycosphaerella berkeleyii
Combined infection of rust and  Spray any one of the following :
Leaf spot  Botanical /others
 Spray 10% Calotropis leaf extract
 Chemical
 Spray Carbendazim 250 g + Mancozeb 1000g/ha
 Chlorothalonil 1000g/ha. If necessary give the second round 15
days later.
Root rot  Biological control

Macrophomina phaseolina  Soil application of P. fluorescens @ 2.5g /ha mixed with 50 kg of
Rhizoctonia bataticola well decomposed FYM / sand at 30 DAS
 Chemical
 Spot drench with Carbendazim 1 g / l
Groundnut Bud Necrosis  Cultural Method
(Peanut Bud Nercrosis Virus)  Adopt a close spacing of 15 x 15 cm.
vector:  Remove infected plants up to 6 weeks after sowing and spray
Thrips tabaci Monocrotophos 36 WSC 500 ml/ha, 30 days after sowing
Frankliniella schultzeii either alone or in combination with antiviral principles.
Botanical/others
 Antiviral principles from sorghum or coconut leaves. AVP are
extracted as follows: Sorghum or coconut leaves 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.
SEED PRODUCTION

Land Requirements
A seed crop of groundnut shall not be eligible for certification if planted on land on which the
crops grown within previous two seasons were of the same kind unless the crops grown
within the previous two seasons were of the same variety and of an equivalent or higher
class of certified seed and were certified.
Boron deficient soil should be avoided as it produces single compartment seeds.
Calcium deficient soils should be avoided as it causes production of darkened plumules.
Isolation
Adopt 3 m for certified seed production all around the field against other varieties
Season
June – July and December – January.
Spacing
Adopt spacing of 25 x 15 cm
Pre-sowing seed treatment

Obtain seed from healthy pods.
Shrivelled and disfigured seeds should be discarded.
Others as in crop management techniques for crop production.
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, seeds should be incubated in between moist gunny bags for 12–18 h. The
sprouting of radicle should be observed periodically at 2 hr intervel after 12 h of incubation.
The seeds with sprouted radicle (just visible expression of radicle) should be separated
and dried under shade. All the viable seeds with the expression of radicle emergence should be
separated and dried under shade.
Fertilizers
NPK @ 40:40:60 kg ha-1 as basal
Apply borax @ 10 kg ha-1 as basal
Apply gypsum @ 200 kg ha-1 at peg formation stage
Harvesting
Harvest the pods as and when the color of the inner side of the shell turns black.
The pod moisture will be 35 – 40% at harvest.
Strip the pods and dry to 10 – 12 per cent moisture.
Mechanically injured pods should be rejected.
Remove all discolored pods.
Pods sorting should be practiced to remove genetically impure seed.
Drying
Stake the plants as the pods are exposed to outside for easy drying of pod.
Dry the pod to 15 – 20 % moisture content under sun.
Decortication
Pods dried to 16 per cent moisture content could be decorticated either manually or using hand
operated decorticator with proper adjustment
The kernels should be dried to 7 to 8 per cent moisture.
Seed Treatment
Treat the pods with Thiram 75% WP @ 2 g kg -1 of seed at pods with 6 -7 per cent kernel
moisture.
Seed Storage
Store the pods in closed plastic container or gunny bags with Calcium chloride at 250g/30 kg of
pods.
Use polylined gunny bag for medium term storage with seed moisture content of 6- 8%

SESAME (Sesamum indicum)
CROP IMPROVEMENT

A) Rainfed
1. Adipattam (Jun - Jul)
All districts CO 1, TMV 3
2. Karthigaipattam (Oct - Nov)
All districts CO 1, TMV 3, TMV 5, SVPR 1, VRI(SV) 2
B) Irrigated - Masipattam (Feb - Mar)
Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, TMV 3, TMV 4, TMV 6, CO 1, VRI(SV) 1,
Karur, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Thanjavur, SVPR 1, VRI(SV) 2
Tiruvarur,Nagapattinam
C) Rice fallows
Coastal situations VRI(SV)1
II. PARTICULARS OF SESAME VARIETIES

Particulars CO 1 TMV 3 TMV 4 TMV 5
Parentage (TMV3 x Sl 1878) x South Arcot local x Pureline from Pureline from
Sl 1878 Malabar Sattur local variety Srivaikuntam
variety
Duration 85 - 90 80 - 85 85 - 90 80 - 85
(Days)
Oil content(%) 51 51 50 51
Yield kg/ha
Irrigated 750 - 790 625 - 750 700 - 850 ..
Rainfed 450 - 650 400 - 650 .. 450 - 650
Habit Erect with branching and Bushy with Bushy with Erect with
short internodes on the profuse branching profuse branching moderate
main stem branching
Capsules 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed
Seeds Intense dark brown Darkbrown Brown Brown
almost black
Particulars TMV 6 SVPR 1 VRI (SV)1

Parentage Pureline selection from Selection from Western Pureline seletion from
Andhra Pradesh variety Ghat White Tirukattupalli local
Duration (Days) 85 - 90 75 - 80 70 - 75
Yield kg/ha
Irrigated 700 - 950 800 650 - 900
Rainfed .. 600 450 - 650
Oil content(%) 54 53.8 51
Habit Erect with moderate Erect and moderate Moderate branching
branching branching
Capsules 4 loculed 4 loculed 4 loculed
Seeds Brown White Brown
CROP MANAGEMENT
a) Plough the field with tractor twice or with mould board plough thrice or five times with a country
plough.
b) Break the clods in between 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
to the previous one once in three years. Apply 12.5t FYM/composted coir pith besides chiselling.
d) For irrigated gingelly, form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending upon the availability, inflow of
water and 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, field is ploughed once with optimum moisture, seeds are 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 field
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/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria
or 6 packets of Azophos(1200 g/ha). Irrigated: Apply 35:23:23 kg NPK/ha or 21:23:23 kg
NPK/ha + 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets(600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria
or 6 packets of Azophos(1200 g/ha)
iv) Apply full dose of N, P and K basally. Add 5 kg of Manganese sulphate per hectare. Apply 50%
of the recommended P2O5and 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 of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha)
of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g/ha) by seed treatment and 10 packets of
Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos(4000
g/ha)as soil application.
4. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
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
Adopt a seed rate of 5 kg/ha.
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/m .2
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. SUCH SEEDS
SHOULD NOT BE TREATED WITH FUNGICIDES or treat the seed with Thiram 4 g or Carbendazim at 2
g/kg of seeds before sowing.
9. SOWING
a) Sow the seeds preferably in lines.
b) Mix the seeds with four 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 (SV) 1 sesame is second 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. This operation is very important for the crop in order to induce basal
branches.
12. WEED MANAGEMENT

Weed and hoe on 15th and 35th day of sowing. Apply Alachlor @ 20 kg/ha on 20th day after sowing
and irrigate the crop immediately.
13. 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 turn 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 attained the full color
of the variety harvest may be taken up.
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 increases.
iv. Cure like this for 3 days, shake the plants. About 75 per cent of the seeds will fall off.
v. Dry the plants for one more day and again shake the plants. All the mature seeds will fall off.
vi. Winnow the seeds and dry in the sun for 3 days. Stir once in 3 hours to give uniform drying.
vii. Collect the seeds and store in gunnies.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Pests ETL
Shoot webber - Shoot damage 2 larvae /m2 or 10% plant damage
Leaf amage 10 larvae/m2 in the vegetative stage and 2 larvae/m2 during the
reproductive stage

Shoot and Leaf webber  Two sprayings with neem formulation 0.03%
Antigastra catalaunalis  Apply any one of the following insecticides 25 kg/ha on the
Pod borer 25th, 35th and 50th day of sowing :
Elasmolomus (= Aphanus) Endosulfan 4 D
sordidus Phosalone 4 D
Gall fly Quinalphos 1.5 D
Asphondylia ricini Malathion 5D
Dichlorvos 6W SC 500 ml/ha
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 625 ml/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 1000 g/ha in 500 litre of water
Neem seed kernel extract (5%).
Neem oil 2% (two rounds)
 Use alternate insecticides each time and avoid the usage of same
insecticide every time.
Leaf webber
Antigastra catalaunalis
Storage pests  Dust any one of the following on gunny :
Triboilum castaneum Malathion 5 D
Corcyra cephalonica Phosalone 4 D
Carbaryl 10 D
 Mix one kg of activated clay with 100 kg of seeds after adequate
drying of seeds
Seed treatment  Treat the seeds with any one of the following
 P. fluorescens @ 10g/kg of seed
 T. viride @ 4g/kg of seed.
 Thiram @ 4g/kg of seed
Powdery mildew Apply any one of the following
Erysiphe cichoracearum  Sulphur dust 25 kg/ha
 Wettable sulphur 25 kg/ha
Alternaria blight  Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha
Alternaria sesami
Cercospora leaf spot  Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha
Cercospora sesami
Root rot Biological control
Macrophomina phaseolina  Soil application of P. fluorescens or T. viride – 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg
(Rhizoctonia bataticola) of well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
Chemical
Phyllody  Cultural Method
Phytoplasma  Remove and destroy infected plants.
Vector:  Chemical
Orosius albicinctus  To control vector, spray Monocrotophos 36 or Dimethoate 30 EC
500 ml/ha combined with Intercropping of Sesamum + Redgram
(6 : 1)
SEED PRODUCTION
Land requirement
Isolation
Fertilizer
NPK @ 50:25:25 kg ha-1 as basal
Apply manganese sulphate @ 5 kg ha-1 as basal
Foliar application
Spray 1% DAP at the time of first flowering and again 10 days after first spray.
Harvest
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%.
Seeds would have attained chocolate brown colour.
Stack the plants in inverted position and allow them to dry for 3 – 4 days.
Threshing
Remove the staked plants and beat with pliable bamboo stick
Processing
Use 4/64” (1.6 mm) round perforated metal sieve for grading.
Drying
Dry the seeds to 7- 8% moisture content and treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2 g
kg-1 of seed.
Storage
Mid-storage correction
Soak the seeds for two hours in double the volume of Disodium phosphate solution (3.60 g/100
lit of water).
Remove the floaters
Dry back the seeds to original moisture content 6 – 7%.
CASTOR (Ricinus communis)

CROP IMPROVEMENT

SEASON
i) Rainfed VARIETIES : TMV 5, TMV 6
Adipattam (June - July) HYBRID : TMVCH 1
ii) Gardenland (border) CO 1 (Perennial)
II. DESCRIPTION OF CASTOR VARIETIES

Particulars CO 1
Parentage Pureline selection from Anamalai
Duration (months) Perennial
Average yield (kg/ha)
Pure crop 2.5 kg/tree/yr
Mixed crop ..
Oil percentage 57
Special features
Stem colour Pinkish green
Bloom (Waxy coat) No bloom
Receme/ capsule Bold, sparse settings, non dehiscent
Suitability Bund crop and fit for raising in vacant areas
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 850 950 1300
Mixed crop ... 500 600
Oil percentage 50 51.9 51.7
Special features
Stem colour Rose Red Red
Bloom (Waxy coat) Trible Double Trible
Receme/ capsule Spiny, non- Medium length, spiny Semi compact, spiny
dehiscent, resistant capsules capsules
to leafhopper
Suitability Pure and mixed crop Pure and mixed crop Pure and mixed crop
CROP MANAGEMENT
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 to soil by working a country plough.
NOTE: Do not leave FYM or compost exposed to sunlight as nutrients will be lost.
3. SEED RATE
Adopt a seed rate of 10 kg/ha for varieties and 5 kg/ha for hybrid.
4. SPACING
Adopt the following spacing for short and long duration strains.
Spacing Spacing
Long duration 90 x 90 cm Short duration 60 x 45 cm
TMV 6, 90 x 60 cm TMV 5 60 x 30 cm
TMVCH 1 90 x 60 cm
Apply NPK fertilizers basally as per soil test recommendations as far as possible.
If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket recommendation of 30:15:15
kg/ha NPK.
6. PRE TREATMENT OF SEEDS
a) Treat the seeds with Carbendazim @ 2 g/kg of seed. b) Soak the seeds in water for
20 hours.
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.
8. GAP FILLING
Gap fill on the 10th day of sowing.
9. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoe and hand weed on 20th day of sowing to remove the weeds and repeat the operation 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. HARVESTING THE CROP

Observe the crop considering the average duration of the variety. i) One or more capsules show
sign of drying. ii) Cut the matured racemes without damaging the secondaries. iii) Dry the capsule in the
sun without heaping it in the shade. iv) Use castor sheller to separate the seeds or beat the dried capsule
with wooden planks, winnow and collect the seeds.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Capsule borer  Spray any one of the following insecticides, thrice from
Conogethus punctiferalis flowering at three weeks interval :
Malathion 50 EC 2.0 l /ha
Fenthion 100 EC 1.0 l /ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 2.0 kg / ha in 1000 l of water
 Apply endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
Semiloopers  Spray any one of the following insecticides thrice from
Achaea janata flowering at three weeks interval :
Paralellia algira Malathion 50 EC 2.0 l / ha
Fenthion 100 EC 1.0 l / ha
Carbaryl 50 WP 2.0 kg / ha in 1000 l of water
 Apply endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
 Apply neem seed kernel extract 5% + Neem oil 2%
Botrytis  Removal and destroyal of affected spikes.
Botrytis ricini  During cloudy weather and rainy season, prophylactic spray of
carbendazim 2g/l of water twice at 15 day interval (or)
 Prophylactic spray of P. fluorescens @ 2g/l and seconds pray after
a fortnight.
Nematode pest Control measure

Reniform nematode, Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 20 g/kg seed.
Rotylenchulus reniformis
SEED PRODUCTION
Land requirement
Land to be used for seed production shall be free from volunteer plants.
Isolation
Adopt 200 m all around the field
Spacing
Adopt 60 x 20 m
Fertilizer
Apply NPK @ 60 : 60 : 20 kg NPK ha-1 as basal
Physiological maturity
Seeds attain physiological maturity 35 days after anthesis
Processing
Grade the seeds using BSS 6 x 6 wire mesh sieve
Seed Treatment
Treat the seed with mixture of halogen mixture @ 3g kg-1 of seed along with carbendazim @ 2 g kg-1
of seed
Storage

Hybrid Seed Production
LAND REQUIREMENT
Free from volunteer plants
Isolation
Adopt 100 m distance for Certified seed production around the plot for other varieties and hybrids of
castor
Planting ratio
Adopt a ratio of 3:1 between female and male
Season
First fortnight of September for production of more pistillate inflorescence in female line
Fertilizer
Apply NPK @ 90:70:70 kg ha -1
Spacing
Adopt 90 X 30 cm
Physiological Maturation
Forty five days after 50% flowering
Seed coat will be mottled
Well developed caruncle
Slight Splitting of capsule
Harvesting
Once over harvest after drying of capsules (browning) in 80% of plants
The seeds from secondary raceme are better than primary and others
Threshing
Use power oprerated thresher for shelling
Avoid hand operated thresher to avoid mechanical damage
Grading
Grade with two screen cleaner cum grader with top screen of 7.2mm for obtaining higher recovery of
quality seeds
Drying
Thin layer drying at 600C for one hour reduce the moisture content to safe level ( 8- 10%) with high
seed quality characters
Storage
Slurry treat the seed with carbendazim @ 2g kg-1 of seed or dry dress with Achorus calamus rhizome
powder at the ratio of 1:100 for preservation of seed quality.
Use 700 gauge polythene bag for long term storage
The seeds of female parent are poor storer than male and hybrid
SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
I. Season Varieties
Rainfed crop (November) K1, CO 1
Particularas of varieties
K1 CO 1
Yield (kg/ha) Rainfed 700 800
Percentage of oil 31 33
Plant character Spiny Non-spiny
CROP MANAGEMENT
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.
Apply N at 20 kg/ha basally.
4. SEED RATE
5. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants.
6. SELECTION OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS

Select mature good quality seeds, free from pest damage and fungal attack.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. THINNING OUT SEEDLINGS

Thin out the seedlings to a spacing of 15 cm between plants on the 15th day of sowing.
10. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoe and weed on 25th and 40th day of sowing.
11. 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 and store the seeds in gunnies.
SUNFLOWER ( Helianthus annuus )

CROP IMPROVEMENT

SEASON/DISTRICT VARIETIES
A. Rainfed :
1. Adipattam (June-July)
Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Variety : Morden, CO 4
Tirunelveli, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Tiruchirapalli, Hybrid : TCSH 1, KBSH 1,
Perambalur, Karur KBSH 44, PAC 1091,
MSFH 17
2. Karthigaipattam (Oct - Nov)
Cuddalore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Variety : Morden, CO 4
Sivagangai , Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Hybrid : TCSH 1, KBSH 1,
Dindigul, Theni, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur, KBSH 44, PAC 1091,
Karur, Tirunelveli MSFH 17
B. Irrigated :
1. Margazhipattam (December - January)

Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode Variety : Morden , CO 4
Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Hybrid : TCSH 1, KBSH 1,
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi KBSH 44, PAC 1091,
MSFH 17
2. Chithiraipattam (April - May)

Coimbatore, Erode, Dharmapuri, Variety : Morden, CO 4
Salem, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli, Hybrid : TCSH 1, KBSH 1,
Perambalur, Karur KBSH 44, PAC 1091,
MSFH 17
II. DESCRIPTION OF SUNFLOWER VARIETIES

Particulars MORDEN CO 4 TCSH 1
Parentage Selection from Cernianka Extract from the 234A x R 272
66 cross Dwarf x Surya
Duration (days) 75 80 - 85 85
Yield (kg/ha)
Rainfed 900 1500 1800
Irrigated 1000 1750 2500
Oil percentage 36 39.7 41
Ray floret Light yellow Light yellow Light yellow
Height (cm) 90 145 - 175 160
Seed size & Seed Medium, black Black Black
Colour Very few seeds may
have strips
1000 seed weight (g) 44 56 60
CROP MANAGEMENT
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 NPK/ha for both irrigated and rainfed crops.
Blanket recommendation of Nutrients (kg/ha)
Season
N P2O5 K2O
IRRI 60 90 60
Hybrids
RF 40 50 40
IRRI 50 60 40
Varieties
RF 40 50 40
iii) Biofertilizer : Soil application - Mix 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azospirillum and
10 packets(2000 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos(4000 g/ha) 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 / after sowing.
ii) For zinc deficiency, apply 25 kg/ha ZnSO4 as basal, or 0.5% ZnSO4 spray on 30, 40 and
50th day after sowing.
4. FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS
i. Form ridges and furrows 6 m long.
ii. Use bund-former or ridge plough to economise and
iii. Form irrigation channels across and ridges according to the topography of the field.
5. SEED RATE
Rainfed Irrigated
Varieties 7 kg/ha 6 kg/ha
Hybrids 5 kg/ha 4 kg/ha
6. SEED TREATMENT
Soaking seeds in 2% ZnSO4 for 12 hrs and shade drying is 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 of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g/ha) 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
Spacing : Hybrids : 60 cm x 30cm
Varieties : 45 cm x 30cm
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.
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. THINNING
Thin out seedlings leaving only one healthy and vigorous seedling in each hole on the 10 th 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 5
day 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. SULPHUR FERTILIZATION
Apply sulphur @ 20 kg/ha through ammonium sulphate or single super phosphate.
13. Boron application
Spray borax @ 0.2 % (2g/l of water) to capitulum at ray floret opening stage to improve seed set
and seed filling.
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, 45 to 48 days
of planting for short duration varieties.
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 lemon 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
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
Weevil  Hand pick the Helicoverpa larvae and destroy.
Myllocerus spp.  Spray any of the following insecticides :
Phenthoate 50 EC 500 ml/ha
Tobacco cut worm  Dust any one of the following :
Spodoptera litura Endosulfan 4 D 25 kg/ha
Gram pod borer Phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha
Helicoverpa armigera  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.
 Do not spray insecticides on the same day when NAA is sprayed
Leaf hopper  Treat seed with imidacloprid 70 WS at 7 g/kg protected the
Amrasca devastans sunflower plants from leaf hopper upto 7 weeks.
 Spray Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha
Seed treatment  Treat the seeds with any one of the following:
 T. viride @ 4g/kg of seed.
 Thiram @ 4g/kg of seed
Alternaria leaf spot  Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha

Alternaria helianthi
Rust  Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha
Puccinia helianthi
Charcoal rot  Biological control
Macrophomina phaseolina  Soil application P. fluorescens or T. viride – 2.5 Kg / ha + 50 Kg of
(Rhizoctonia bataticola) well decomposed FYM or sand at 30 days after sowing.
 Chemical
Head rot  Spray Mancozeb 1000g/ha in case of intermittent rainfall at the
Rhizopus sp head stage, directing the spray to cover the capitulum.
 Repeat fungicidal application after 10 days if humid weather
continues.
Necrosis virus disease  Cultural Method
Tobacco streak virus (Ilarvirus)  Raise sorghum as border crop (One month prior to sunflower
Vector sowing)
Thrips  Chemical
 Imidacloprid seed treatment 2g/kg
 0.01 % Imidacloprid foliar spray at 30 & 45 DAS.
SEED PRODUCTION

Land requirement
Same kind of crop should not be grown in the previous year
It can be same variety if it is certified.
Isolation
Spacing
Adopt a spacing of 45 x 30 cm
Soaking in water @ 1:1 volume for 16h enhanced the germination and field establishment.
Fertilizer
Apply NPK @ 60:45:45 kg ha-1.
Foliar application
Spray 0.5% borax at the stage of button opening for increased seed set.
Supplementary pollination
During flowering rub the heads with muslin cloth between 8–11 AM at alternate days till the
completion of flowering.
Harvesting
Harvest when the drooping peduncular receptacle turns lemon or pale yellow in colour
At this stage the seed moisture content will be 25 % and the seeds will be black in colour.
Cut and dry the heads immediately until the seeds contain 15–16 per cent moisture.
Separate the seeds with a mechanical thresher or manual labour and pre-clean.
Processing
Use sieve 9/64” (3.6 mm) round perforated metal sieve or BSS 7x7 wire mesh sieve.
Remove broken and dehulled seed
Seed Treatments
Treat with Thiram 75% WP @ 2 g in 5 ml of water kg-1 of seed.
Storage
Use gunny or cloth bags for short term storage with seed moisture content of 8-9%
Use polylined gunny bag for medium term storage with seed moisture content of 8-9%
Mid storage seed treatment
Soak sunflower achenes in dilute solution of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (10-4 M) for 2 h
followed by dry back to original moisture content (8%), when the germination of seeds falls 5-
10% lesser than MSCS level (70%)
Hybrid Seed Production
Land requirement
Same kind of crop should not be grown in the previous year
It can be same variety if it is certified.
Isolation
Planting ratio :
Adopt a planting ratio of 4 : 1 / 3:1 (female : male)
Border rows
Four number of male rows all around the field
Harvesting
Harvest the male line first and remove the produce from the field then harvest the hybrid seed
As that of varieties / crop management techniques
COCONUT (Cocos nucifera)

1. VARIETIES AND HYBRIDS
a. Varieties
i. East Coast Tall
ii. West Coast Tall
iii. VPM-3 (Selection from Andaman Ordinary Tall)
iv. ALR (CN -1) (Selection from Arasampatty Tall)
v. COD (Dwarf for tender coconut purpose only)
b. Hybrids
Tall x Dwarf
(To be grown under well managed conditions)
i. VHC 2 - ECT X MYD
ii. VHC 3 - ECT X MOD
(Besides, the hybrids of ECT x COD, WCT x COD and WCT x MYD are also produced by the
State Department of Agriculture. The dwarf x tall type (COD x WCT) which has to be grown under well-
managed conditions with assured irrigation is also produced by State Department of Agriculture).
Particulars of new varieties and hybrids
Sl.No. Characters VHC 2 VPM 3 VHC 3 ALR (CN) 1

1. Year of release 1988 1994 2000 2002
2. Parentage T X D hybrid Selection from T X D hybrid Selection from
ECT X MYD Andaman ECT X MOD Arasampatti Tall
Ordinary Tall
3. Time taken for first 43 63 46 48
flowering (months)
4. Shape of the nut Medium Big oblong nuts Medium to Small to medium
oblong nuts oblong big nuts oblong nuts
5. Nut yield 142 92 156 126
(nuts/palm/year)
6. Copra content 152 176 162 131

(g/nut)
7. Copra yield 21.5 16.2 25.2 16.5
(kg/palm/year)
8. Oil content (%) 70.2 70.0 70.0 66.5
9. Special features High yield and High copra High nut & copra Drought tolerant.
oil content content Drought yield and oil Suitable for
tolerant Suitable content rainfed and
for rainfed and irrigated
irrigated condition condition
2. CROP MANAGEMENT
a. Soil
Red sandy loam, laterite and alluvial soils are suitable. Heavy, imperfectly drained soil is
unsuitable.
b Planting seasons
June-July, December - January. The planting can also be taken up in other seasons wherever
irrigation and drainage facilities are available.
c. Spacing
Adopt a spacing of 25' x 25' (7.5 x 7.5 m) with 175 plants/ha. For planting in field border as a
single row, adopt 20' spacing between plants.
d. Planting
Dug pit size of 3’ x 3' x 3'. In the pits, sprinkle Lindane 1.3 % D to prevent white ant damage. Fill
the pit to a height of two feet (60 cm) with FYM, red earth and sand mixed in equal proportions. At the
center of the pit, remove the soil mixture and plant the seedling after removing all the roots. Press the soil
well around the seedling and provide the seedling with shade by using plaited coconut leaves or palmyrah
leaves. Keep the pits free from weeds. Remove soil covering the collar region. As the seedlings grow and
form stem, fill up the pits gradually by cutting the sides.
e. Water management
From 5th year onwards, adopt the following irrigation schedule based on pan evaporation for drip
irrigation and basin irrigation.
Western region
Normal condition Moderate water Severe water scarcity

Months
(for best yield) scarcity condition condition
A. Drip irrigation
February to May 65 lit / day 45 lit/ day 22 lit / day
January, August and 55 lit / day 35 lit / day 18 lit/day
September
June and July, 45 lit / day 30 lit/ day 15 lit / day
October to December
B. Basin irrigation
February to May 410 lit / 6 days *
January, August and 410 lit /7 days*
September
June and July, 410 lit /9 days*
October to December
Eastern region
Months Normal condition Moderate water Severe water scarcity

(for best yield) scarcity condition condition
A. Drip irrigation
March - September 80 lit / day 55 lit / day 27 lit/day
October – February 50 lit / day 35 lit/ day 18 lit /day
B. Basin irrigation
March – September 410 lit / 5 days*
October – February 410 lit /8 days*
* Quantity of water to be applied in the basin. Add 30-40 % Of the above quantity of water (135 -165
litres/palm) to meet the conveyance loss.
For drip irrigation, open four pits size of 30 x 30 x 30 cm opposite to each other at one meter
distance from the trunk. Place 40 cm long PVC conduit pipe (16 mm) in a slanting position in each pit and
place the drippers inside the conduit tube and allow the water to drip 30 cm below the soil surface. Fill the
pits with coir pith to prevent evaporation.
In the first year, irrigate on alternate days and from the second year to the time of maturity irrigate
twice in a week based on the water requirement.
Drought management and soil moisture conservation
a. Mulching with coconut husks/leaves/coir pith

Apply coconut husks with convex surface facing upwards (100 Nos.) or dried coconut leaves (15
Nos) or coir pith up to a height of 10 cm in the basin of 1.8 m radius around the palms as mulch for soil
moisture conservation particularly during summer season.
b. Burial of coconut husk or coir pith

Husk burial can be done in coconut basins or in the interspaces to overcome drought and button
shedding. Bury husks @ 100 Nos. with concave surface facing upwards or 25 kg of coir pith /palm in
circular trenches, dug 30 cm width and 60 cm depth at 1.5 metres radius. The husk can be also buried in
the trenches at a distance of 3 m from the palm with a size of 45 cm deep and 150 cm width in between
two rows of coconut. The soaking of the coconut husk or coir pith as the case may be preserves the
monsoon rains.
c. Manuring
From 5 th year onwards, apply 50 kg of FYM or compost or green manure. 1.3 kg urea (560 g
N), 2.0 kg super phosphate (320 g P2O5) and 2.0 kg muriate of potash (1200 g K2O) in two equal splits
during June – July and December – January. Apply manures and fertilizers in circular basins of 1.8 m
from the base of the palm, incorporate and irrigate. During 2nd, 3rd and 4th year ¼, ½ and ¾ doses of the
above fertilizer schedule should be adopted respectively. Sufficient moisture should be present at the
time of manuring. Fertigation may be done at monthly intervals with 75% of the recommended dose of
the above fertilizers. Phosphorous may be applied as super phosphate in the basins and incorporated or
as DAP through drip when good quality of water is available.
TNAU Coconut Tonic Nutrition

For nut bearing coconut, root feed TNAU coconut tonic @200ml/palm once in six months.
Bio-fertilizer recommendation
 50 g of Azospirillum
 50 g of Phosphobacteria ( or ) 100 g Azophos
 50 g of VAM
Mix all the contents in sufficient quantity of compost or FYM and apply near feeding roots once in
6 months / palm starting from planting. Don’t mix with chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Organic recycling
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 of compost to be applied. Sow
sunnhemp @ 50 g/palm in the basin and incorporate before flowering. Coir pith compost/vermicompost
made from coir pith/ coconut leaves/ other wastes from coconut grove can be applied.
7. INTER-CULTURAL OPERATION WEED MANAGMENT

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 to keep weed population under check, to enhance
the utilisation of the applied plant nutrients by the coconut trees, to facilitate proper aeration to the roots of
coconut, to induce fresh root growth.
Weed management
For the broad-leaved weeds, pre-emergence spraying of atrazine @1.0 kg a.i./ ha for the control of
grasses and sedges. Post emergence spraying of glyphosate @ 10 ml and 20 g ammonium sulphate/litre
of water.
8. INTER CROPPING
Inter/mixed crops may be selected based on the climatic requirement of the inter/mixed crop,
irrigation facilities and soil type. The canopy size, age and spacing of the coconut are also to be
considered. Market suitability should be taken into consideration before selecting an intercrop.
A. Below 7 years of age: Any suitable annual crop for particular soil type and climatic condition may be
raised as intercrops upto 5 years after planting depending upon the canopy coverage. Groundnut,
sesamum, sunflower, tapioca, turmeric and banana can be grown. Avoid crops like paddy and sugarcane
etc.
B. 7 – 20 years of age: Green manure crops and fodder crops (Napier grass and guinea grass) alone
can be grown.
C. Above 20 years of age (20 years of age has to be adjusted based on the sunlight transmission of
above 50% inside the canopy): The following crops can be grown depending on the soil and climatic
suitability.
(i) Annuals : Groundnut, bhendi, turmeric, tapioca, sweet potato, sirukizhangu,

elephant foot yam, ginger, pineapple
(ii) Biennials : Banana. Varieties Poovan and Monthan are suitable.
(iii)Perennials : Cocoa*, pepper* (Panniyur 1 or Panniyur 2 or Panniyur 5 or Karimunda),
nutmeg* and vanilla*
*Suitable areas in Pollachi tract of western region and Kanyakumari district. For vanilla, use
disease free planting material and maintain high vigilance to maintain a disease free crop.
Multiple cropping system

Coconut + banana + sirukizhangu + bhendi is suitable system for the eastern region. Crops like
banana, pepper, cocoa, nutmeg, vanilla can be tried under multiple cropping system in suitable areas in
the western region. In all the systems, apply recommended quantity of water and manures and fertilizers
to the intercrops separately.
3. PEST AND DISEASE MANAGMENT
A. Pest management

Rhinoceros beetle  Remove and burn all dead coconut trees in the garden (which are likely
Oryctes rhinoceros to serve as breeding ground) to maintain good sanitation.
 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.
 Incorporate the entomopathogen i.e, fungus (Metarrhizium anisopliae)
in manure pits to check the perpetuation of the pest.
 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.
 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.
 Examine the crowns of tree at every harvest and hook out and kill the
adults.
 For seedlings, apply 3 naphthalene balls/palm weighing 3.5 g each at
the base of inter space in leaf sheath in the 3 inner most leaves of the
crown once in 45 days.
 Set up light traps following the first rains in summer and monsoon
period to attract and kill the adult beetles.
 Field release of Baculovirus inoculated adult rhinoceros beetle @ 15/ha
reduces the leaf and crown damage caused by this beetle.
 Apply 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 in the
base of the 3 inner most leaves in the crown
 Place phorate 10 G 5 g in perforated sachets in two inner most leaf
axils for 2 times at 6 months intervals.
 Set up rhinolure pheromone trap @ 1/ 2 ha to trap and kill the beetles.
Black headed  The incidence of the pest is noticed from the month of November to
caterpillar May and from August to November after rainfall. The coconut trees of
Opisina arenosella all ages are attacked.
Release the larval (Bethylid, Braconid and Ichneumonid) and pupal
(Eulophid) on (chalcid) parasitoids and predators periodically from
January, to check the build up of the pest during summer.
 Among the larval parasitoids, the bethylid Goniozus nephantidis is the
most effective in controlling the pest. The optimum level of release is
1:8 of host-parasitoid ratio. The parasitoid should be released
@3000/ha under the coconut trees when the pest is in the 2nd or 3rd
instar larval stage. Parasitoid release trap may be used to release the
parasitoid at the site of feeding. Parasitoids should not be released in
the crown region since they will be killed by predators like spiders and
reduviid bugs.
 Remove and burn all affected leaves/leaflets.
 Spray malathion 50 EC 0.05% (1mi/lit) to cover the undersurface of the
leaves thoroughly in case of severe epidemic outbreak of the pest in
young palms.
 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. Twenty four 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.
Red palm weevil  Remove and burn all wilting or damaged palms in coconut gardens to
Rhynchophorus prevent further perpetuation of the pest.
ferrugineus  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.
 Avoid the cutting of green leaves. If needed, they should be cut about
120 cm away from the stem.
 Fill the crown and the axils of top most three leaves with a mixture of
fine sand and neem seed powder or neem seed kernel powder (2:1) or
lindane 1.3 D (1:1 by volume) once in three months to prevent the
attack of rhinoceros beetle damage in which the red palm weevil lays
eggs.
 Plug all holes and inject pyrocone E or carbaryl 1% or 10 ml of
monocrotophos into the stem by drilling a hole above the points of
attack.
 Setting up of attractant traps (mud pots) containing sugarcane
molasses 2½ kg or 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.
 Install pheromone trap @1/2 ha
 Root feeding: As under black headed caterpillar
Termites  Locate termite mounds in or near the coconut nursery or garden and
Odontotermes obesus destroy.
 Swabbing with neem oil 5% once on the base and upto 2 m height of
the trunk for effective control.
 Spray copper sulphate 1% or cashew nut shell oil 80% or spray
chlorphyriphos @ 3ml/lit of water, neem oil 5% or NSKE 20% to
preserve plaited coconut leaves from the termite attack.
Scale insect  Pluck mature nuts and spray monocrotophos 36 WSC 1 ml/ha.
Aspidiotus destructor  Do not harvest nuts for 45 days after spraying.
Mealy bugs  Remove leaflets harbouring these insects and destroy them
Pseudococcus  Spray any one of the following :
longispinus Malathion 50 EC 2 ml/lit
Dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit
Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit
Phosphamidon 40 SL 1.25 ml/lit
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 1 ml/lit
Methomyl 25 EC 1 ml/lit
Neem oil 3%
Leaf caterpillars  Collect and destroy the immature stages of the insects by conducting
Turnaca acuta study (or neem compaign) wherever possible and spray carbary 50 WP
Nut caterpillar 2 gm/lit .
 Root feeding with monocrotophos 36 WSC @ 10 ml + 10 ml water at 45
Nut coreid bug days interval for 3 times for control of leaf caterpillar.
 Set up light trape to trap and collect adult moths
 Spray Dichlorvas 76 WSC 2 ml / lit.
Slug caterpillar Spray any one of the following:

Contheyla rotunda  Dichorvos 76 WSC 2 ml/lit
 Bacillus thuringiensis 2 g/lit,
 Triazophos 40 EC 5 ml
 Methyl demeton 25 EC 4 ml/lit
 Root feeding with monocrotophos 15 ml + 15 ml of water
Scolytid bark borer  Stem injection through a stove wick soaked in 0.2% fenthion or 0.2%
beetles dichlorvos and plugging the hole and repeating the treatment using the
Xyleborus parvulus same wick and hole a month after.
Palm civet  Poison baiting with ripe banana fruit sandwiched with 0.5 g carbofuran
Vivera zibatha 3 G granules.
Rat  Tree banding with inverted iron cones or Prosophis thorns. Baiting with
Rattus rattus wroughtoni bromodialone 0.005% at 10 g/tree at crown region twice at an interval
of 12 days.
Special problem : Coconut eriophyid mite (Aceria guerreronis)
Package of recommendations for the management of the coconut eriophyid mite
 Manurial and fertilizer recommendation (Soil application/tree/year)

Urea 1.3 kg
Super phosphate 2.0 kg
Muriate of potash* 3.5 kg
* Increased quantity is recommended to increase the plant resistance to the mite.
Neem cake application @ 5 kg
Organic manure (well rotten FYM) @ 50 kg
 Micronutrients (Soil application / tree / year)

Borax 50 g
Gypsum 1.0 kg
Magnesium sulphate 500g
Grow sunnhemp as intercrop twice a year (Seed rate 30 kg/ha)
Spot application of ecofriendly Botanicals

Round Eco-friendly Botanical Quantity / tree
1. Azadirachtin 1% 5 ml in one lit. of water
2. Neem oil + Teepol 30 ml in one lit. of water
3. Azadirachtin 1% 5 ml in one lit. of water
Method of application
 The botanicals should be applied in the sequence indicated above at 45 days interval using a one
litre hand sprayer. Rocker or Pedal sprayer can be used for spraying small trees.
 The spray should be applied at the crown region by a climber covering only the top six bunches
during non rainy season.
 The bunches must be covered well by the spray fluid and approximately one litre of spray fluid
may be required per tree
Precautions and safety measures

 Spraying should be avoided during windy season to prevent contamination.
 At the time of spraying, protective mask and clothing should be used.
 Wash face and hands cleanly with soap after spraying.
Basal stem rot Ganoderma  Cultural Method
lucidum  Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf1) @ 200 g/palm + Trichoderma
viride @ 200 g/palm/year
 Apply 200g phosphobacteria and 200 g Azotobactor mixed with 50 Kg
of FYM/palm
 Green manure crops must be raised and ploughed in situ
 Neem cake 5 kg/tree must be applied along with fertilizers
 Chemical
 Aureofungin-sol 2 g + 1 g Copper sulphate in 100 ml water or 2 ml of
Tridemorph in 100 ml water applied as root feeding. (The active
absorbing root of pencil thickness must be selected and a slanting cut
is made. The solution to be taken in a polythene bag or bottle and the
cut end of the root should be 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.
Bud rot The infected tissues from the crown region should be removed and
Phytophthora palmivora dressed with Bordeaux paste or 1% Bordeaux mixture to be sprayed to
reach the crown region as pre-monsoon spray.
Stem bleeding disease The bark of the trunk should be removed in the bleeding area and
Thielaviopsis paradoxa Bordeaux paste should be applied.
Lethal leaf blight (LLB) Spray 1.0 per cent Bordeaux mixture or 0.25 per cent Copper oxychloride
Lasiodiplodia theobromae or 0.2 per cent Indofil M 45 (4 times at monthly interval during February,
March, April and May).
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.
4. Harvest and post harvest technology

Harvest 11-12 months old fully matured nuts at an interval of 30-45 days depending on the yield
level of the garden. For household use keep the nuts in vertical direction. Dry copra either by sun drying
or by using copra dryers. Store the copra at 5-6 % moisture content. Store the copra in polythene tar
coated gunny bags.
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 where thick planting is adopted,
many trees give an yield of less than 20 nuts/palm/year. By cutting and removal of these trees, the
yield could be increased. Besides, there is saving in the cost of cultivation and increase in net
profit. After removal of low yielding trees, the populations should be maintained at 175 palms/ha.
ii Ensuring adequate manuring and irrigation: The yield can be increased in the existing gardens
. when manuring + irrigation + cultural practice is adopted as per recommendation.
2. Pencil point disorder (Micronutrient deficiency)

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 litres of water and
poured in the basin of 1.8 m radius. This disorder can be corrected if noticed early. Severely affected
palms may be removed and replanted with new seedlings.
3. 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. Management of young coconut gardens under waterlogged conditions

(i) A trench between two rows of young coconut palms should be dug during onset of the
monsoon rains. The size of the trench is 3 m width, 30 – 45 cm depth to entire length of field.
The soil excavated from the trench should be placed along the rows of palms to make a
raised bed.
(ii) Form mound around the young palms to a radius of 1.2 m width with height of 30 –45 cm.
d. Genetic causes
In some trees button shedding may persist even after ensuring adequate manuring, irrigation and
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.
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 muriate of potash with 200 g of Borax/palm over and above the usual dosage of fertilizer to
correct the barren nuts in coconut for period of 3 years.
Boron deficiency or crown choke disorder : Apply 200 g of borax/palm/year in two splits.
f. Lack of pollination
Button shedding also occurs due to lack of pollination. Setting up of beehives @ 15 units/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 i.e., buttons shed in some cases. By spraying 2, 4- D at 30 ppm or
NAA 20 ppm (2,4-D 30 mg or NAA 20 mg per litre of water) on the inflorescence one month after opening
of the spathe, the setting percentage could be increased.
h. Pests
Button shedding may happen due to the attack of bug. Spraying of systemic insecticides like
Methyldematon 0.025% (1ml/lit) or Dimethoate 0.03% (1ml/lit) may reduce the occurrence.
i. Diseases
Button shedding also occurs due to disease incidence such as basal stem rot. Adoption of
control measures suggested for the disease reduces not only spread of the disease but also prevents
shedding of buttons.
COCONUT MOTHER PALM SELECTION AND NURSERY MANAGEMENT

The need collecting seed materials from high yielding coconut palms is highly essential in a
perennial crop like coconut.
The following points may be remembered.

Mother palm selection
1. Select seed gardens, which contain large proportion of high yielding trees with uniformity in
yielding ability. Trees growing closer to households, cattle shed, compost pits and other
favorable conditions should be avoided.
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 stabilized yield.
3. The mother palm should have straight trunk, spherical or semi spherical crown, high rate of leaf
and spathe production, short and stout petiole, more number of female flowers regular bearing
habit, non – buckling bunches, high setting parentage, medium in nut size, high copra outturn
and free from pest and diseases. 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. Avoid trees producing habitually barren nuts.
4. Harvest seednuts during the months of February - August to get maximum germination and good
quality seedlings. Harvest the bunches intended for seednut by lowering them to the ground
using a rope to avoid injury to seednuts
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. To get more quality seedlings, the seednuts of tall and hybrid are to be air cured for one month
followed by sand curing for two months. For dwarf varieties, the air curing should be lesser than
one month followed by sand curing for two months.
Nursery management
1. Select nursery area in a well drained plot with coarse texture soil near water source for irrigation.
Nursery can be raised in the open space with artificial shade or in the adult coconut garden.
2. Plant seednuts in a long and narrow beds at a spacing of 30 x 30 cm either horizontally or
vertically in deep trenches with 20-25 cm depth. Five rows of nuts may be planted in each bed
accommodating 50 nuts per row.
3. Irrigate the nursery beds once in three days.
4. Keep the nursery free of weeds. To manage the weed problem in coconut nursery, growing
sunnhemp 2 times (each harvested at flowering stage) followed by one hand weeding at 6th
month was found to be very effective besides yielding green manure for manuring the adult
coconut palms.
5. Provide shade to the nursery by raising Sesbania or Leucaena on the sides of beds.
6. The seednuts start germination 6 – 8 weeks after planting and germination continues upto six
months. Select seedlings that germinate before 5 months after planting. Remove those nuts
which do not germinate 5 months after sowing.
7. Regularly survey for pest and diseases
8. 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. Eliminate the
seedlings which are deformed or having stunted growth.
9. Remove the seedlings from the nursery by lifting with spade. Do not pull out the seedlings by
pulling leaves or stem.
10. Select quality seedlings with a minimum of 6 leaves and girth of 10 cm at collar.
OILPALM
INTRODUCTION
Oil palm requires evenly distributed annual rainfall of 2000 mm without a defined dry season. In
areas with dry spell, a deep soil with high water holding capacity and a shallow water table augmented
with copious irrigation will satisfy the water requirement of the palm.
Temperature can be a limiting factor for oil palm production 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, more than 300 cal/cm 2 / per day, constant
sunlight of atleast 5 hours per day for better oil palm yield.
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.
NURSERY AND ITS MANAGEMENT

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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
FIELD PLANTING
Prepare the land for oil palm plantings at least 3 months before transplanting the seedlings to the
main field. In soils with low permeability, drainage channels are to be constructed to prevent water
stagnation in upper layer of soil.
AGE OF SEEDLINGS AT TRANSPLANTING

It is advisable to plant well grown seedlings of 12 - 14 months old. 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.
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.
TIME OF TRANSPLANTING
Transplanting to the main field has to be done during the onset of rainy season. In very
impermeable soils and where there is chance for the seedlings to suffer severely during rainy season,
proper drainage has to be ensured.
SPACING AND METHOD OF PLANTING

The optimum planting density for oil palm is the density of population that gives maximum
production from unit area. Triangular system of planting with 9 x 9 x 9 m spacing accommodates 143
palms/ha. is being recommended. 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.
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 cm3 are taken prior to planting and filled with surrounding top soil and allowed to settle.
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.
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.
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 2700
onwards
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.kamerunicushas 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 FFB 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.
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 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 oryctusvirus
and Metarhizium anisopliae. Release of Baculovirusoryctes 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Yield of Oilpalm
In well maintained garden the yield of oilpalm will be as furnished below :
Age of oilpalm Yield

Ton/ha/year
3-4 years 5
4-5 years 12
5-6 years 25
6-25 years 30
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. 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 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.
TABLE 1 - COST OF PRODUCTION AND (Rs.) PER HECTARE
S.No. Particulars Cost of production

1 Labour cost for 200 Nos. @ Rs.80/- per day as casual 16,000
labour
2 Fertilizer cost 2,500
3 Plant Protection cost 400
Total cost of production 28,900
TABILE 2 : INCOME FROM OILPALM GARDEN DEPENDING UPON THE BUNCH PRODUCTION
S.No. No. of Bunches/ tree/year FFB yield Gross Income Net income
t/ha/year Rs./ha/year (Gross income –
cost) Rs./ha/year
1 10 bunches @ 14.3 35,750 6,850
10kg/tree/year
2 12 bunches @ 25.7 64,250 35,350
15kg/tree/year
3 12 bunches @ 34.3 85,750 56,850
20kg/tree/year
Cost of one tonne of FFB is Rs.2,500

NIGER (Guizotia abyssinica)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
Season :
1. Adipattam : June - July
2. Purattasipattam : Sept.-Oct.
Areas of adoption : Hosur and Denkanikotta taluks of Dharmapuri district and hilly
regions of Shevroy, Kolli hills, Jawad hills and Thalavadi hills

Variety : Paiyur 1
Parentage : Mass selection from composite II
Duration (days) : 80
Yield (kg/ha) : 260
Oil content (%) : 44.6
Plant height (cm) : 80-85
Branches : Profuse
Seed : Bold
Colour of seed : Brown
50% flowering (days) : 50
CROP MANAGEMENT
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.
Apply N at 20 kg/ha basally.
4. SEED RATE
5. SPACING
Adopt a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants.
6. SELECTION OF GOOD QUALITY SEEDS

Select mature good quality seeds, free from pest damage and fungal attack.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. THINNING OUT SEEDLINGS

Thin out the seedlings to a spacing of 10 cm between plants on the 15th day of sowing.
10. WEED MANAGEMENT

Hoe and weed on 20th and 35th day of sowing.
11. 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 and store the seeds in gunnies.
SEED PRODUCTION
Variety seed production
Land requirement
Same kind of crop should not be grown in the previous season.
Isolation
Adopt 200 m all around the plot for certified seed production
Spacing
Adopt 30 x 30 cm
Fertilizer
Apply 40 : 40 : 20 kg of NPK ha-1 as basal application
Physiological maturation
Harvest when seeds attain physiological maturation ie 85 days after sowing.
Processing
Grade the seeds using BSS 16 x 16 wire mesh sieve
Seed Treatment
Treat the seed with halogen mixture @ 3g kg-1 of seed
Storage
Mid storage correction

Soak the seed in double the volume of disodium phosphate (10 -4 M) solution for 3 h and dry back to
original moisture content.

As in crop management techniques
COTTON
CROP IMPROVEMENT

District/Season Varieties/Hybrids
Irrigated (Main)
Winter Irrigated (Aug – Sep)
Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni : MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, Suvin, TCHB 213*, MCU 12,
MCU 13, Surabhi, Sumangala, Sruthi*
Dharmapuri : MCU 5, TCHB 213*, MCU 12, MCU 13, Suvin
Salem, Namakkal : MCU 5, Suvin, TCHB 213*, MCU 12, MCU 13,
Sumangala
Cuddalore, Villupuram : MCU 5, MCU 12, MCU 13, LRA 5166, TCHB
213*, SVPR 2, Surabhi,
Summer – Irrigated (Feb – Mar)
Erode : MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, SVPR 2 , Supriya, MCU 12,
MCU 13, TCHB 213
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni : MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12,MCU 13, SVPR 2,
Supriya,
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, : MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, SVPR 2, MCU 12, MCU 13
Rainfed (Sep – Oct)
Madurai, Dindigul, Theni : LRA 5166, K11, KC 2, SVPR 2
Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai : LRA 5166, K 11, KC 2, SVPR 2
Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Dharmapuri : LRA 5166, K 11, KC 2, SVPR 2
Rice Fallow
Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Parts of : MCU 7, SVPR 3, Anjali
Trichirapalli, Perambalur, Karur, Cuddalore and
Villupuram
* Hybrid
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-Oct Irrigated 1850 Extra long staple
Feb-Mar (29 mm MHL),
Can spun upto 70s,
ginning 34%
MCU 7 X ray irradiation of Jan-Feb Rice fallows 1330 Medium staple (23.7
X L 1143 EE mm MHL), Can
spun upto 30s, early
maturing with 33.2%
ginning outturn.
Tolerant to Black
arm
MCU 12 Derivative from the Aug-Oct Irrigated 2000 Shorter in duration
cross LRA 5166 x than MCU 5, GOT
MCU 11 34.8%
Can spun upto 50s
MCU 13 It is a multiple cross Aug- Oct Irrigated 2200 Early duration
derivative involving Jan-Feb Can spun upto 50s
the parents of
[(TCH 665 x LS
149) x (TCH 665 x
TCH 21)] x (TCH 21
x EECH) x (TCH
92-7 x EECH)
LRA 5166 Laxmi x Reba B.50 Aug-Oct Irrigated 1800 Medium staple (29
x AC 122 Jan –Feb Rainfed 725 mm), Can spun upto
40s, ginning 36.2%
MCU 5 VT Reselection from Aug-Oct Irrigated 2000 Extra long staple,
MCU 5 Jan –Feb Verticillium wilt
tolerant
Supriya MCU 5 x C 1998 Aug-Oct Irrigated 2000 White fly tolerant
Jan-Feb
Anjali LRA 5166 x Jan –Feb Irrigated 1800 Dwarf, semi
(Khandwa 2 x Reba (Rice fallows) compact plant type
B 50) BC 2
Surabhi MCU 5 VT Aug-Oct Irrigated 2200 Exta long staple,
(MCU 5 x Verticillium wilt
G.mexicanum) resistant
Sumangala CW 134 x Reba B Sept-Oct Irrigated 2000 Suitable for rainfed
50 x Khandwa 2 Jan –Feb Rainfed 1200 tract
Sruthi 70 E x RSP 4 Sept-Oct Irrigated 2500 Early duration
Jan –Feb
K 11 (0794-1-DX H 876) Sept – Oct Rainfed 1100 Better fibre
x (0794-1-DX H properties with
450) Multiple Hybrid lesser pest
derivative incidence than K10
Suvin Hybrid derivative Aug-Oct Irrigated 1020 Extra long staple
from the cross cotton with 28%
Sujatha x St. ginning outturn and
Vincent 32 mm MHL, spins
100s
II. PARTICULARS OF COTTON VARIETIES/HYBRIDS (CONTD...)

Varieties/ Parentage Season Irrigated/ Mean yield Special features
Hybrids Rainfed of seed
(kg/ha)
TCHB 213 Interspecific Hybrid Aug-Sep Irrigated 2215 High yielding, early
of TCH 1218 maturing, Tolerant to leaf
(G.hirsutum) spot diseases
and TCB 209
(G.barbadense)
SVPR 2 TSDT 22 x JR 36 Feb - Mar Irrigated 2000 High ginning out turn of
Sep-Oct Rainfed 36.4%, medium staple (24.3
mm), can spin 30's, suited
to summer irrigated, winter
rainfed and tankfed rice
fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu.
SVPR 3 Selection from L.H Jan-Feb Rice 1800 Suitable for rice fallow tract.
900 x 1301 D.D fallows early duration (135-140
days). Tolerant to drought,
leafhopper, alternaria spot,
black arm disease.
KC 2 MCU 10 x KC 1 Sep - Oct Rainfed 1000 High ginning out turn of
37.5%, medium staple
cotton - 24.4 mm, Suited for
rainfed black cotton soil of
and Virudhunagar Districts.
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. PREPARATION OF FIELD FOR IRRIGATED COTTON CROP
i) Prepare the field to get a fine tilth.

ii) 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 increased yield
iii) 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 or 2.5 t of vermicompost per ha if available, uniformly on the
unploughed soil.
3. APPLICATION OF BIOFERTILIZER
Seed treatment with 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos(1200 g/ha). In addition apply and 10 packets of Azospirillum
(2000 g/ha) and 10 packets(2000 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos(4000 g/ha)mixed
with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of soil on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen besides increasing yield.
4. FORMATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

i) Form ridges and furrows 10 m long with 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 (cm)

MCU 5, SVPR 2, LRA 5166, MCU 12, MCU 13 75
TCHB 213 120
Suvin 90
MCU 7 60
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 (Kg/ha)

N P2O5 K20
MCU 7, SVPR 3 60 30 30
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13,Suvin, SVPR 2 80 40 40
TCHB 213, 120 60 60
i) If basal application could not be done, apply on the 25th day after sowing.
ii) Apply 50 per cent of N and K full dose of P2O5 as basal and remaining ½ N and K at 40 – 45
DAS for varieties. For hybrids apply N in three splits viz., basal, 45 and 65 DAS.
v) Foliar application of 2% DAP + 1% KCl will improve kapas yield.
vi) Apply the fertilizers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge, and incorporate.

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.
7. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS’ CORRECTION

a) In the case of Zinc deficient soils ZnSO4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray thrice at 45,
60 and 75 DAS.
b) When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 Urea (1.0%) and ZnSO4 (0.10%) as foliar
spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this malady. In Mg deficient areas apply MgSo4 @ 20 kg/ha
basally.
II. 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 5 VT, MCU 7, MCU 12, MCU 13 15.00 7.50 ..
SVPR 2 15.00 .. ..
KC 2 20.00 15.00 ..
SUVIN .. .. 6.00
TCHB 213 2.5 2.0 ..
2. SPACING
In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties.
Varieties / hybrids Spacing ( cm)

Between rows Between plants
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13 75 30
LRA 5166, SVPR 2
KC 2 45 15
SUVIN 90 45
TCHB 213 120 60
MCU 7, SVPR 3 60 or 75 * 30
* Fertile soils
a. 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.
b. For intercropping with Greengram / Soyabean, complete the sowing and irrigation 20 days prior to
cotton sowing on one side of the ridge.
Spacing for cotton crop ( cm)
Varieties/hybrid Within Between Between
Paired row Paired rows plants
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12,MCU13 60 90 30
SUVIN 80 100 45
TCHB 213 100 140 60
Plant two rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton
Intercrop Seed rate(kg/ha) 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.
3. ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS

i) Choose plastic bucket 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 and damaged 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 and good germination.
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 and 3 packets of
phosphobacteria 600g (or) 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g) 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 vigour. Dry the seeds in shade.
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) phosphobacteria (200 g/ha) or Azophos (400
g/ha) 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 3-5 cm on the side of the ridge 2/3 height from the top and above
the band 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 / hole

Fuzzy seeds Delinted seeds
Hybrids 2 1
Varieties 3 2
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
i) Apply Pendimethalin @ 3.3 l/ha 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. This will ensure weed free condition upto 40 days.
ii) One hand weeding on 45 DAS will keep weed free environment upto 60 DAS.
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 TCHB 213, raise seedlings in polythene bags of size 15 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
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.
9. TOP DRESSING
i) Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N and K on 40 – 45 DAS for varieties.
ii) Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45 DAS and the remaining 1/3rd on 60-
65th DAS for hybrids.
10. RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing in such a way that the plants are on the top
of the ridges and well supported by soil.
11. SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)
Spray 40 ppm NAA at 60 and 90 days after sowing 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.
12. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DELAYED UMMER IRRIGATED COTTON SOWING

KCI 1% spray, twice on 50 and 70 DAS for delayed sowing (first fortnight of March) of summer
irrigated cotton in rice-cotton cropping system for Srivilliputhur region.
13. ARRESTING TERMINAL GROWTH:

Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:
For varieties having less than 160 days duration nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond
the 15th node (75 to 80 DAS) and for varieties and hybrids having more than 160 days duration beyond
the 20th node (85 - 90 DAS).
III. WATER MANAGEMENT

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.
Stages No. of Days after dibbling seeds
Irrigations Light soil Heavy soil
Germination Phase(1-15 days)
Irrigate for
1 Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing
germination
and 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 emerge out to emerge out
Vegetative phase (16-44 days)
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 (45-100daysfor hybrids and 87 days for varieties)
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 TCHB 213 and Suvin only.
Maturity For all varieties other than Suvin, and TCHB 213
phase(beyond 100
days for hybrids and
88 days for varieties)
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 150th day
For Suvin, 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.
iii) 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.
IV. HARVESTING
a) Harvest at frequent intervals, at less than 7 days interval.
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) After 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.
V. 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 not sorted out at the time of picking.
4) Spread a thin layer of dry sand on the ground and keep the kapas over it.
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
MCU 7 SVPR 3
a) Seed rate (kg/ha)
i) Fuzzy seed 15.0 15
ii) Acid delinted 7.5 7.5
b) Spacing (cm)
i) Between rows 60 60 or 75*
ii) Between plants 30 30
c) Number of seeds / hole
i) Fuzzy seeds 4 4
ii) Acid delinted 2 2
d) Depth of sowing (cm) 3 3
* In fertile soils
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 SVPR 3
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 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.
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.
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 K full dose of P5O5 at 35th day in old delta and balance in 55
days the rows of cotton plants. In the case New delta apply full P and 1/3 of N and K at 20
DAS and 2/3 N and K at 40 DAS.
Apply basally12.5 kg/ha micronutrient mixture prepared by Department of Agriculture. Apply
MgSo4 basally @ 20 kg/ha to prevent reddening.
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 30th to 35th day of sowing.
b) If soil is not in condition, give one hoeing and weeding and cover the fertilizers.
c) 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.
d) 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, apply 50 kg ZnSo4 /ha
10. APPLYING OF NAA

Spray 40 ppm of NAA (40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water) at 40/45th day using high
volume spray. Repeat the same dose after 15 days of first spraying.
11. TOPPING
Arrest terminal growth by nipping the terminal 15th node for controlling excessive vegetative
growth. (70-75 DAS)

Regulate irrigation according to the growth phases of the crops.
Stages No. of Days after dibbling seeds
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 seasonal rainfall is 375 mm and most of it is received during September or
first week of October, select LRA 5166 (or) SVPR 2 (or) KC 2.
In places where rains are received during October or November, Select K 11 for Ramanathapuram,
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi 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 or 2.5t of vermicompost per ha uniformly
on the unploughed soil.
ii) Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country plough.
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 Quantity of fertilizers (Kg/ha)
N P2O5 K20
K 11 20 0 0
SVPR 2 40 20 40
KC 2 40 20 40

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
K11 20 ..
LRA 5166, SVPR 2 20 15
Note: Delint only LRA 5166 and SVPR2 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 Spacing for cotton crop (cm)

Within Between Between plants
Paired row Paired
rows
K 11, LRA 5166, SVPR 2 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.
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 will be sufficient to penetrate to the level of the seed and facilitate germination and
proper establishment.
10. WEED MANAGEMENT

i) Pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin 3.3 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.
ii) If sufficient soil moisture is not available for applying herbicides hand weeding may be given at
10 - 20 days after crop emergence.
11. GAP FILLING

Dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap if sufficient moisture is available.
12. 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.
13. FOLIAR FERTILIZATION

Spray 0.5% urea and 1% KCl on the 45th and 65th day of sowing if fufficient moisture is
available.
14. 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.
COTTON
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
 Remove the cotton crop and dispose off the crop residues as soon as harvest is over.
 Avoid stacking of stalks in the field.
 Avoid ratoon and double cotton crop.
 Adopt proper crop rotation.
 Use optimum irrigation and fertilizers.
 Grow one variety throughout the village as far as possible.
 Treat the seeds with imidacloprid or use designer seed (Delinted seed + polykote @ 3g/kg +
carbendazim @ 2g/kg + imidacloprid @ 7g/kg + Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/kg + Azophos
40g/kg). When the treated seeds are used, it protects against sucking pests upto 45 days after
sowing and promotes early vigour of the crop
 Synchronise the sowing time in the villages and complete the sowing within 10 to 15 days.
 Avoid other Malvaceous crops in the vicinity of cotton crop.
 Timely earthing up and other agronomic practices should be done.
 Hand pick and burn periodically egg masses, visible larvae, affected and dropped squares,
flowers and fruits and squash pink bollworm in the rosettes.
 Use locally fabricated light traps (modified Robinson type) with 125 Watt mercury lamps to
determine the prevalence and insect population fluctuations.
 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.
 Apply insecticides only where it is absolutely necessary when pest population or damage reaches
ET level.
 Intercropping with pulses viz., cowpea, greengram, blackgram, soybean and maize reduces the
bollworm incidence and population of sucking pests of cotton, viz., aphid and leafhopper with the
highest activity of natural enemies viz., spiders and predatory lady bird beetles.

Pests ETL
Thrips 50 nymphs or adults/50 leaves
Aphids 15% of infested plant
Leafhopper 50 nymphs or adults/50 leaves
Mite 10 mites/cm2 leaf area
Boll-worms
Spotted 10% infested shoots / squares / bolls
Spiny 10% infested shoots / squares / bolls
Pink 10% infested fruiting parts
Helicoverpa One egg or one larva /plant
Whiteflies 5 - 10 /leaf
Stem weevil 10% infestation
Tobacco cutworm 8 egg masses/100 m row

American bollworm  Monitoring :
Helicoverpa armigera Pest monitoring through light traps, pheromone traps and in situ
assessments by roving and fixed plot surveys has to be intensified
at farm, village, block, regional and State levels. For management,
an action threshold of one egg per plant or 1 larva/ plant may be
adopted.
Cultural practices :
 Synchronised sowing of cotton preferably with short duration
varieties in each cotton ecosystem.
 Avoid continuous cropping of cotton both during winter and
summer seasons in the same area as well as ratooning.
 Avoid 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.
 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.
 Optimising the use of nitrogenous fertilisers which will not favour
the multiplication of the pest.
 Judicious water management for the crop to prevent excessive
vegetative growth and larval harbourage.
Biological control :
 Application of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) at 3 x 10 12 POB
/ha in evening hours at 7th and 12th week after sowing.
 Conservation and augmentation of natural predators and
parasitoids for effective control of the pest.
 Inundative release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma spp., at 6.25
cc/ha at 15 days interval 3 times from 45 DAS
 Egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus blackburnii and
 Predator Chrysoperla carnea at 1,00,000/ha at 6th, 13th and 14th
week after sowing.
 ULV spray of NPV at 3 x 10 12 POB /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.
 Chemical control :
 Discourage the indiscriminate use of insecticides, particularly
synthetic pyrethroids.
 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.
 Avoid combination of insecticides as tank mix.
 Adopt 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 avoid
ULV applications or Akela spray applications.
 Proper mixing and preparation of spray fluid for each filling of
spray fluid tank.
 At early stages of square formation apply endosulfan 35 EC
2 l/ha.
 During bolling and maturation stage, apply any one of the
following insecticides (1000 l of spray fluid/ha):
Phosalone 35 EC 2.5 l/ha
Quinalphos 25 EC 2.0 l/ha
Pyraclofos 50 EC 1.5 l/ha
Pink bollworm  Use pheromone trap to monitor the adult moth activity
Pectinophora gossypiella  Spray triazophos 40 EC 2.5l/ha and endosulfan 35 EC 2.0 l/ha in
alternation even after 100 DAS.
Tobacco cutworm  Use of light trap to monitor and kill the attracted adult moths. Set
Spodoptera litura 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.
 Growing castor along border and irrigation bunds.
 Removal and destruction of egg masses in castor and cotton
crops.
 Removal and destruction of early stage larvae found in clusters
which can be located easily even from a distance.
 Collection and destruction of shed materials.
 Hand picking and destruction of grown up caterpillars.
 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
Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1.0 l
Phenthoate 50 EC 2.0 l
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1.25 l
Fenitrothion 50 EC 625 ml
 Spraying nuclear polyhedrosis virus at 1.5 x 1012 POB per ha.
 Spraying of insecticides should be done either in the early morning
or in the evening and virus in the evening.
 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.
Stem weevil  Soil application of carbofuran 3 G 30 kg/ha on 20 days after
Pempherulus affinis sowing and earthing up on 45th day.
 Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha and 250 kg/ha of neem cake.
Whitefly  Avoid the alternate, cultivated host crops of the white fly in the
Bemisia tabaci vicinity of cotton crop.
 Growing cotton only once a year either in winter or summer
season in any cotton tract.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 Field sanitation may be given proper attention.
 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.
 Monitoring the activities of the adult white flies by setting up yellow
pan traps and sticky traps at 1 foot height above the plant canopy
and also in situ counts.
 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.
 Chemical control :
Spray any one of the following plant products alone or in
combination with the recommended dose of insecticide (at 2 ml/l
of water)
Neem seed kernel extract 5% (50 kg) and neem oil at 5 ml/l of
water
Fish oil rosin soap 25 kg at 1 kg in 40 lit of water
Notchi leaves 5% extract
Catharanthus rosea extract 5%
 Spray any one of the following in early stage (500 l of spray
fluid/ha)
Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml
 Spray any one of the following in mid and late stages (1000 l
spray liquid/ha)
Phosalone 35 EC at 2.5 l/ha
Quinalphos 25 EC at 2.0 l/ha
Ethion 50 EC 1.0 l/ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 1.25 l/ha
Triazophos 40 EC 2.0 l/ha
Acephate 75 SP 1.30 kg/ha
 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.
 The use of synthetic pyrethroids should be discouraged in cotton
to avoid the problem of whitefly. Cypermethrin, fenvalerte and
deltamethrin cause resurgence of whiteflies. So avoid repeated
spraying of pyrethroids.
 The plant protection measures should be adopted on a community
basis in a specified cotton areas.
Thrips  Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS at 7 g/kg protect the crop
Thrips tabaci from aphids, leafhoppers and thrips upto 8 weeks.
Aphids Spray any one of the following insecticides (500 l spray
Aphis gossypii fluid/ha)
Leafhopper Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha
Amrasca devastans Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
NSKE 5% 25 kg/ha
 Where the leafhopper is a big menace apply Neem oil formulation
0.5 % or neem oil 3% thrice at fortnightly intervals
Red spider mite  Apply any one of the following:
Tetranychus cinnabarinus Wettable sulphur 1.25 kg/ha
Dicofol 1.10 l/ha
Insecticide resistance
In case of control failures monitor the insecticide resistance with following discriminating dose
screen.
A. Helicoverpa armigera
(Topical assay with III instar larva weighing 30-40 mg)
1. Cypermethrin 0.1 µg/µl
2. Cypermethrin 1.0 µg/µl
3. Fenvalerate 0.2 µg/µl
4. Endosulfan 10 µg/µl
5. Quinalphos 0.75 µg/µl
6. Chlorpyriphos 1.0 µg/µl
B. Tobacco caterpillar - Spodoptera litura

(early III instar 8 day old larva weighing 30-40 mg and measuring 12+0.5 mm length)
1. Endosulfan topical 2.0 µg
2. Profenofos topical 3.0 µg
3. Chlorpyriphos topical 0.15 µg
4. Fenvalerate topical 0.2 µg/µl
C. Cotton leafhopper- Amrasca devastans (Distant)

(III instar larva of 0.14 mg weight, 1.30mm length)
1. Dimethoate IRAC method VIII (leaf disc) 400 ppm
2. Methyl demeton IRAC method VIII (leaf disc) 800 ppm
3. Acephate IRAC method VIII (leaf disc) 850 ppm
Resurgence
Repeated application of the following insecticides can cause resurgence of the insect pest of
Cotton
 Aphis gossypii : Carbaryl, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, endosulfan, fenpropathrin, fenvaerate,
flucythrinate, fluvalinate, monocrotophos, permethrin, phorate
 Amrasca devastans : Deltamethrin, dimethoate, disulfoton, methylparathion, phorate
 Bemisia tabaci : Cypermethrin, deltamethrin, dimethoate, endosulfan, fenvalerate,
monocrotophos, phosalone
 Ferrisia virgata : Cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, permethrin
 Tetranychus cinnabarinus : Acephate, carbaryl, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, endosulfan,
fenvalerate, fluvalinate, phosphamidon.
RAINFED COTTON
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest management
 The control measures recommended for irrigated cotton will hold good.
 When water is not available, use any one of the following insecticides for the control of
bollworms at 25 kg/ha :
Endosulfan 4 D
Carbaryl 5 D
Phosalone 4 D
Bacterial leaf blight  Avoid stacking of infected plants

Xanthomonas axonopodis  Spray Streptomycin sulphate + Tetracycline mixture 100g +
pv. malvacearum Copper oxychloride 1250g/ha
 Repeat spraying at 10 days interval twice or thrice if drizzling
continues.
Alternaria leaf spot  Spray any one of the following:
Alternaria macrospora  Copper Oxychloride 1250g
 Mancozeb 1000g
 Chlorothalonil 500g/ha
Grey Mildew  Spray Carbendazim 250 g/ha
Ramularia areola
Boll rot  Spray any one of the following:

Fusarium moniliforme,  Spray Carbendazim 500g,
Colletotrichum capsici,  Mancozeb 2000g,
Aspergillus flavus, A. niger,  Copper oxychloride 2500g/ha along with an insecticide
Rhizopus nigricans, recommended for bollworm from 45th day at fortnightly
Nematospora, interval.
Botryodiplodia
Root rot  Cultural Method
Macrophomina phaseolina 
Apply Neem cake @ 150 kg/ha to the soil and treat the seeds
Rhizoctonia bataticola with talc based T. viride @ 4 g/kg to reduce the root rot
incidence.
 Biological control
 Seed treatment with T. viride @ 4 g/kg followed by basal
application of zinc sulphate @ 50 kg/ha
 Chemical
 Spot drench Carbendazim @ 1 g/lit at the base of affected plants
as well as surrounding healthy plants.
JUTE ( Corchorus olitorius & Corchorus capsularis )
CROP MANAGEMENT
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 retting 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.
Season: February
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 JRC 212, JRC 321, JRC 7447
Olitorius j 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 (cm) No. of Plants/
Line Sowing Broad Casting Sq. Mtr.
Olitorius 5 7 25 x 5 80
Capsularis 7 10 30 x 5 67
Weed management: Hand weeding twice on 20 - 25 DAS and 35 - 40 DAS. Fluchloralin can be
sprayed at 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 at 30 - 35 DAS.
Top dressing of fertiliser: Apply 10 kg of N at 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 g urea in one litre of water) on jute foliage on 40 - 45
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 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 2.0 to
2.5 tonnes 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
too 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
@ 5000 bulbils per bed of 1 x 20 M. After 6 months the seedlings are pulled out and planted in the
transplanting bed of size 20 x 1 m @ 500 Plants. In the second stage it is kept for three months. After 9
months from the date of planting bulbils suckers weighing 1/4 to 1/2 kg and 9 to 12" height are ready for
planting.
Main field planting: In the main field they are planted at a space of 2 x 2 m in pits of size 30 cm 3.
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. Instead of traditional hand
scraping process now mechanical decorticators are available for the extraction of fibre. The extracted
fibres are washed in water, cleaned and dried and packed in bales. As a precaution, fibre extraction is
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 milky white to golden yellow.
SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum )
CROP IMPROVEMENT
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

Early season varieties are suitable for special season.
II. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES

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 8001 (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
CO 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
COSi 86071 10 - 11 131.7 12.20 16.00
COC 90063 10 - 11 124.0 12.30 15.40
CO 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
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 86010 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
COC 99061 10-12 130.3 11.9 15.6
CO 86032 10-12 110.0 13.0 14.3
COC (SC) 22 10-12 135.9 12.1 16.5
CO Si (SC) 6 10-11 142.0 13.1 18.6
COG (SC) 5 11-12 115.0 12.7 14.6
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 CO 658 CO658xCO1305 CO419xCO775 CO419XCO853
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
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
process one side side Lanceolate
(4-5 cm)
Stem colour Greenish yellow Yellowish green Purple with heavy Yellowish green
wax deposition
Joint Thick Staggered Erect Staggered
Bud Groove Present Absent Present and Absent
Prominent
Size Medium Medium Medium/Big Small
Character COC 92061 CO 8362 COG93076 CO 8208

Parentage CO 7314 GC 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 —
Ligular process One side indica- Present on both One side Present Asymmetrical
ted and the other side
side rudimentary
Stem colour Greenish yellow Purple green Greenish light Green with purple
with pink tinge yellow tinge
Girth - - - -
Joint Slightly staggered Straight Slightly Straight
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 CO 7201 x CO 775 COC 671x MS 6847
775
Leaf size Medium Medium Length 140 cm Medium
Medium width 6.0
cm
Leaf colour Dark green Green Light green at Green
harvest
Sheath colour Greenish with Green Green with purple Light greenish
Purple tingle tinge yellow
Sheath Easily trashing Loose
Clasping Loose Loose
Spines Absent Present,deciduous Hard few Absent
Ligular process Present on One one side Absent Present,
side lanceolate and Asymmetrical
one side dentoid
Stem colour Greenish yellow Greenish yellow Exposed purple Greenish yellow
with purplish tinge unexposed yellowish
green with heavy
waxy coating
Joint Slightly Slightly staggered Zig Zag Staggered
staggered
Bud groove Short, shallow Indicated Absent Present
Size Medium Medium Small Medium
Character CO Si 96071 CO 86010 COC 98061 CO Si 98071 CO 86249

Parentage C 82061GC CO 740xCo C80 172 Bo 91/Co CO J 64 x CoA
7409 GC 62198 7601
Leaf size Medium Broad Medium Broad Medium
Leaf colour Green Light green Green Dark green Green
Sheath colour Light green Light green Green with Yellowish Light green
with pink with pink pink tinge green
blotches blotches
Spines Present & Absent Absent Deciduous

deciduous
Ligular Asymmetrical - Absent on Short Small, present on
both sides lanceolate one side
Stem colour Purplish Yellowish with Greenish Yellowish Greenish yellow
green tinge yellow with green
slight purple
tinge
Girth Medium Thick Medium Thick Thick
Joint Concave, - Cylindrical Cylindrical Cylindrical
convex
Budgroove Absent Prominent Absent Numerous Absent
Size Small Big Medium Big Big
COC (SC) 22
Character COC 99061 CO 86032
Parentage CO 6806 X CO 740 CO 8208 GC

CO 62198 XCOC 671
Leaf size Medium Medium Medium
Dark
Leaf colour Green Green
green
Green with
slight
Sheath colour Green with pink tinge Green with purple
scarious
border
Sheath clasping Tight Loose Loose
Spines Deciduous Few, hard, deciduous Absent
Splits Absent Present Absent
Present, asymmetrical, Present
Ligular process “O”
lanceolate asymmetrical
Reddish
Reddish pink Pink with
Dark green (Exposed)
(exposed) purple
Stem colour Yellowish green
Greenish yellow (exposed)
(Unexposed)
(unexposed) Greenish
yellow(unexposed)
Girth Medium Medium Medium
Joint Cylindrical Cylinderical Cylindrical
Bud groove Absent Absent Absent
Size Medium Medium Medium
IV. DISTRICT/SEASON - SUITABLE VARIETIES

ALL DISTRICTS (except Kanniyakumari and Nilgiris)
Early Mid Late Special

Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery
CO 658 .. CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO Early ..
62175 varietie
s are
suitable
for
Special
CO 62174 COC 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 , .. .. CO 740 .. .. ..
85061
COC 85061 COC CO 658 .. .. ..
86062
COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
COSi 86071 COSi .. .. .. .. .. ..
86071
COC 90063 COC .. .. .. ..
90063
COC 91061 COC .. .. .. .. .. ..
COG 94077 91061
COG
94077
CO Si 95071 COG 93076 .. COG 93076 .. .. ..
COC 98061 CO 85019 CO 85019
CO 86010 COC 99061 COC 99061
CO 86249 CO 86032 CO 86032
COC (Sc) 22 COC (Sc) 22
Right seed
TNAU in collaboration with Sugar Cane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore released many high
yielding varieties with high recovery to suit various eco systems and other biotic and abiotic problematic
area and of which the following listed varieties can be recommended for higher cane productivity
Variety Performance
Co 86032 Performs well in all soil types and extremely well in garden land condition. Good
quality cane with higher yield. Has multi ratooning capacity. Can be grown throughout
the year. Gives higher recovery. Self detrashing in nature. Amenable for wide row
spacing.
CoV 92102 High quality variety with yield on par with Co 86032. Self stripping with good field
habit. Non flowering. Performs well in red, clay and alkaline soils. Ratoon
performance is satisfactory.
CoSi 95071 Performs well in December, January and February planting.
CoC 90063 Non lodging, high tillering, high yield and good quality. Drought and alkaline tolerant
variety and good ratooner.
Co 86027 Suitable for mid late planting. Moderate yielder with high sugar.
Non lodging and non flowering.
CoV 94101 Good ratooner. Non lodging. Suitable for early planting. Thick cane with good tillering.
Co 85019 Drought tolerant variety. Resistant to red rot.
Co 86249 Red rot resistant, Drought tolerant, high yielding
CoV 94102 Yield is on par with Co 86032 and quality is lower than Co 86032
Co Si(Sc)6 High yielder and high quality. Drought tolerant moderately resistant to red rot.
Co G (Sc)5 High yielder suitable for jaggary making and tannery effluent soils
Co C (Sc)22 High yielder and high quality drought tolerant moderately resistant to red rot.
Suitable varieties for Tamil Nadu
Place / District Suitable Varieties Salient features

Pudukkottai CoV 92102, CoC 90063, Co Si(Sc)6, Drought tolerance
Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22
Erode Co 86032, CoSi 95071, Co 86249, Drought tolerance,

CoG 93076, CoV 94102, Co 85019 Good yielder
Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22
Vellore CoV 92102, CoC 90063 Good yielder even in

Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 drought suitable for late
planting.
Sivaganga & Ramnad Co 86032, Co 85019, Co Si(Sc)6, Performing well in drought
Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22, Co V 94102
Thiruvannamalai & CoC 90063, CoV 92102, Co 86032, Drought tolerance and
Kancheepuram CoG 94077, Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, better yield.
Co C (Sc)22
Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli & Co 86032, Co 85019, Co Si(Sc)6, Performing well in drought

Tuticorin Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22
Dharmapuri & Krishnagiri Co 86032, Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Surviving better in drought.

Co C (Sc)22, Co 97009, CoV 94101, Drought tolerance and
CoC 90063, CoSi 95071 better yield.
Karur Co V 92102, CoSi 95071, Drought tolerance

Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22
Trichy & Perambalur Co Si 95071, CoC 671, CoV 92102, Drought resistant high
Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 yield.
Cuddalore CoV 92102, CoC 90063, Co Si(Sc)6, Drought tolerant

Villuppuram Co 86032, CoV 92102, CoC 90063, Drought tolerance and high
Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 yield.
Thanjavur, Nagapattinam Co V 92102, CoG 93076, CoG 94077, Dought tolerance and good
& Tiruvarur Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 yield
Coimbatore Co 86032, CoV 92102, Co 86027, Drought tolerance and

CoC 90063, Co 97009, Co Si(Sc)6, good yield.
Tiruvallur Co 85019, CoC 22, Co Si(Sc)6, Drought tolerance and

Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 good yield
Theni, Madurai and Co 92012, Co 92008, Co 93001, Drought tolerance and

Dindigul Co 86032, Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, better yield.
Co C (Sc)22
Namakkal & Salem CoV 92102, Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Drought tolerance and
Co C (Sc)22 better yield.
Chengalput CoSi 95071, Co 85019, CoC 22, Drought tolerance and
Co Si(Sc)6, Co G (Sc)5, Co C (Sc)22 better yield.
Source of seed
For the varieties released from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for supply of primary seed
materials the Sugarcane Research Stations at Cuddalore, Sirugamani and Melalathur may be contacted.
For other varieties promoted by the factories, for seed materials the concerned factories may be
contacted.
CROP MANAGEMENT
V. MAIN FIELD PREPARATION FOR PLANTING SUGARCANE

a) Wetland (Heavy soils): In wetlands, preparatory cultivation by ploughing the land and bringing
the soil to fine tilth could not be 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 across the field and along the field borders.
ii. Form ridges and furrows with a spacing of 80 cm between rows with spade.
iii. 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, with excessive moisture where it is difficult to drain water, form raised beds at 30
cm intervals with Length - 5 m, Width - 80 cm, and Height -15 cm.
a. Garden lands with medium and light soils:
In medium and light soil irrigated by flow or lift irrigation adopt the following:
i. Plough deep with tractor drawn disc plough or victory plough. Use junior hoe to break the clods
and get a fine tilth free of weeds and stubbles.
ii. Level the field for proper irrigation.
iii. Open ridges and furrows at 80 cm apart with the help of victory plough or tractor drawn ridger. The
depth of furrow must be 20 cm.
iv. Open irrigation channels at 10 m intervals.
2. BASAL APPLICATION OF ORGANIC MANURES:

Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha or compost 25 t/ha or filter press mud at 37.5 t/ha before the last
ploughing under gardenland conditions. In wetlands this may be applied along the furrows 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 7 m x 3 m. Then apply
pressmud over this trash to a thickness of 5 cm. Sprinkle the fertilizer mixture containing mussoorie rock
phosphate, gypsum and urea in the ratio of 2:2:1 over these layers at the rate of 5 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 1.5 m. 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.
Composition of cane trash, pressmud and cane trash compost
Major nutrients Cane trash Pressmud Cane trash compost

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
Micronutrients Cane trash Pressmud Cane trash compost

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
3. BASAL APPLICATION OF PERTILIZER

i) Test the soil and apply P fertilizer based on soil test values. Otherwise apply super
phosphate (375 kg/ha) along the furrows and incorporate with hand hoe.
ii) Apply 37.5 kg Zinc sulphate/ha and 100 kg Ferrous sulphate/ha to zinc and iron deficient
soils.
VI. MANAGEMENT OF MAIN FIELD OPERATIONS

1. PREPARATION OF SETTS FOR PLANTING
a. Take seed material from short crop (6 to 7 months age) free from pests and diseases incidence.
i) Detrash the cane with hand before setts preparation.
ii. Use sharp 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 15 minutes
before planting.
2. SETT TREATMENT
 Select healthy setts for planting.
 The setts should be soaked in 0.1% Carbendazim or 0.05% Triademefon for 15 minutes.
 Treat setts with Aerated steam at 50°C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy shoot
disease.
3. SEED RATE
75000 two-budded setts/ha.
4. PLANTING
Different systems of planting is not found to influence the millable cane population, commercial
cane sugar per cent, cane and sugar yield.
a) Irrigate the furrows to form a slurry in wet land condition (Heavy soil)
b) Place the setts along the centre of the furrows, accommodating 12 buds/metre length. Keep the
buds in the lateral position and press gently beneath the soil in the furrow.
c) Avoid exposure of setts to sunlight.
d) Plant more setts near the channel or double row planting at every 10th row for gap filling, at later
stage.
e) In dry/ garden land dry method of planting may be followed. First arrange the setts along the
furrows, cover the setts with soil and then irrigate.
Improved technologies on cane planting systems

Mechanisation of planting
TNAU mechanical planter is useful for cost effective planting with saving of Rs.3750 / ha and it
can cover an area of 1.5ha/day
Reduces the human labour drudgery.
Four feet row with two line planting in each row.
Daincha / Sunhemp intercropping for improving soil health; it also reduces early shoot borer incidences
and increases cane yield.
 Plant the setts on one side of the ridge
 Sow rhizobium treated green manure seeds @ 10kg/ha on the opposite side of ridge with 10cm.
Spacing on or before 3 days after planting.
 Incorporate the green manure crop 50-60 days after planting and give partial earthing up with
recommended dose of N fertilizer.
Introduction of power weeder for weeding and earthing up to save the cost on labour and also to reduce
human drudgery.
5. FILLING UP GAPS
i. Fill the gaps, if any, within 30 days after planting with sprouted setts.
ii. Maintain adequate moisture for 3 weeks for proper establishment of the sprouted setts.
6. TRASH MULCHING
Mulch the ridges uniformly with cane trash to a thickness of 10 cm within a week after planting. It
helps to tide over drought, conserves moisture, reduce weed population and minimise shoot borer
incidence. Mulch the field with trash after 21 days of planting in heavy soil and wetland conditions. Avoid
trash mulching in areas where incidence of termites is noticed.
7. RAISING INTER CROPS

In areas of adequate irrigation, sow one row of soybean or blackgram or greengram along the centre
of the ridge on the 3rd day of planting. Intercropping of daincha or sunhemp along ridges and
incorporation of the same on the 45th day during partial earthing up helps to increase the soil fertility, and
also t h e ca ne yi el d. Especially Intercropping o f Co . 1 Soybean gives an yield of 800 kg/ha without
any adverse effect on cane yield.
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
WEED MANAGEMENT IN PURE CROP OF SUGARCANE

i. Spray Atrazine 2 kg or Oxyflurofen 750 ml/ha mixed in 500 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
litre + 2,4-D sodium salt 2.5 kg/ha in 500 litre of water on 21st day of planting.
iii. If the parasitic weed striga is a problem, post-emergence application of 2,4-D sodium salt @
1.25 kg/ha in 500 litre of water/ha may be done. 2, 4-D spraying should be avoided when
neighbouring crop is cotton or bhendi. Apply 20% urea also for the control of striga as direct
spray.
iv.Pre- plant application of glyphosate at 2.0 kg ha-1 along with 2% ammonium sulphate at 21
days before planting of sugarcane followed by post emergence direct spraying of glyphosate at
2.0 kg ha-1 along with 2% ammonium sulphate with a special hood on 30 DAP suppressed the
nut sedges (Cyperus rotandus) and provided weed free environment.
v. If herbicide is not applied work the junior-hoe along the ridges on 25, 55 and 85 days after
planting for removal of weeds and proper stirring. Remove the weeds along the furrows with
hand hoe. Otherwise operate power tiller fitted with tynes for intercultivation.
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.
9. EARTHING UP
After application of 3rd dose fertilizer (90 days), work victory plough along the ridges for efficient
and economical earthing up. At 150 days after planting, earthing up may be done with spade.
10. DETRASHING
Remove the dry cane leaves 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).
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 90 days.
NITROGEN SAVING
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 or TNAU Biofert –1 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 on 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 15 cm depth by the side of the cane clump will result in the saving of 20 kg N/ha
without any yield reduction.
Nutritional Disorders :
Nitrogen deficiency : All leaves of sugarcane exhibit a yellow – green colour and retardation of growth.
Cane stalks are smaller in diameter and premature drying of older leaves. Roots attain a greater length
but are smaller in diameter.
Phosphorus deficiency : Reduction in length of sugarcane stalks, diameters of which taper rapidly at
growing points. The colour of the leaves is greenish blue, narrow and some what reduce length.
Reduced tillering, decreased shoot / root ratio with restricted root development.
Potassium deficiency: Depressed growth, yellowing and marginal drying of older leaves and
development of slender stalks. An orange, yellow colour appears in the older lower leaves which develop
numerous chlorotic spots that later become brown with dead centre. A reddish discoloration which is
confined to the epidermal cells of the upper surfaces and midribs of the leaves. The young leaves appear
to have developed from a common point giving a “Bunched top” appearance. Poor root growth with less
member of root hairs.
Zinc deficiency: Mild zinc deficiency exhibit a tendency to develop anthrocyanin pigments in the leaves.
Pronounced bleaching of the green colour along the major veins and also striped effect due to a loss of
chlorophyll along the veins. In acute cases of zinc deficiency there is evidences of necrosis and growth
ceases at the growing point (meristem).
Iron deficiency: Symptoms of Iron deficiency are generally seen in young leaves where pale stripes with
scanty chlorophyll content occur between parallel lines. In advanced stages of deficiency the young
leaves turn completely white, even in the veins. Root growth also becomes restricted.
Boron deficiency : Boron deficiency could be seen in the cane by depressed growth, development of
distorted and chlorotic leaves and the presence of definite leaf and stalks lesions. In extreme cases of
boron deficiency the plant will die.
Importance of Balanced Nutrition

The soil fertility has declined in many sugarcane growing areas of the state due to improper and
some times, distorted fertilizer schedules adopted over the years under intensive cultivation of the crop.
Hence balanced application of fertilizer based on soil test values and crop requirement is essential.
How to Evaluate fertilizer requirement
Through STCR fertilizer prescription equations

a. Perianaickenpalayam series (Inceptisols) of Coimbatore
and Erode STL Jurisdiction
FN = 4.17 T – 1.09 SN – 1.11 ON
FP2O5 = 1.01 T – 2.56 SP – 1.01 OP
FK2O = 3.44 T – 0.84 SK – 1.03 OK
b. Gadillum series (Red laterite) of Cuddalore STL Jurisdiction

FN = 4.06 T – 0.74 SN – 0.87 ON
FP2O5 = 0.71 T – 1.09 SP – 0.72 OP
FK2O = 2.67 T – 0.57 SK – 1.30 OK
c. Irugur series (Inceptisols) of Coimbatore, Erode, Trichy and Salem STL Jurisdiction
FN = 3.42 T – 0.56 SN – 0.93 ON
FP2O5 = 1.15 T – 1.94 SP – 0.98 OP
FK2O = 3.16 T – 0.73 SK – 0.99 OK
Micro nutrient fertilizers :

1. (a) Zinc deficient soils : Basal application of 37.5 kg/ha of zinc sulphate.
(b) Sugarcane crop with zinc deficiency symptoms: foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate with 1%
urea at 15 days internal till deficiency symptoms disappear.
2. (a) Iron deficient soils: Basal application of 100 kg/ha of ferrous sulphate.
(b) Sugarcane with Iron deficiency symptoms: foliar spray of 1% ferrous sulphate with 1%
urea at 15 days interval till deficiency symptoms disappear.
3. Common Micronutrient mixture : To provide all micronutrients to sugarcane, 50 kg /ha of

micronutrient mixture containing 20 kg Ferrous sulphate,10 kg Manganese sulphate, 10 kg Zinc sulphate,
5 kg of Copper sulphate, 5 kg of Borax mixed with 100 kg of well decomposed FYM, can be
recommended as soil application prior to planting.
Recommended dosage of macro and micronutrients
Macronutrients
a. Sugarcane – plant crop (meant for sugar mills)
275 : 62.5 : 112.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha
b. Sugarcane – Ratoon crop (meant for sugar mills)
275 + 25% extra N : 62.5 : 112.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha
c. Sugarcane for jaggery manufacture (plant as well as ratoon crop)
225 : 62.5 : 112.5 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per ha
3. WATER MANAGEMENT
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 depth of water at shorter intervals especially for sandy soil
for enhancing the germination. Sprinkler irrigation is the suitable method to satisfy the requirement,
during initial stages.
Later, irrigation can be provided at 0.75, 0.75 and 0.50 IW/CPE ratio during tillering, grandgrowth
and maturity phases respectively. The irrigation intervals 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
Drip Irrigation:
 Planting setts obtained from 6-7 months old healthy nursery and planted in paired row planting
system with the spacing of 30x30x30 / 150 cm.
 Nine setts per metre per row have to be planted on either sides of the ridge thus making it as four
row planting system.
 12 mm drip laterals have to be placed in the middle ridge of each furrow with the lateral spacing
of 240 cm & 8 ‘Lph’ clog free drippers should be placed with a spacing of 75 cm on the lateral
lines. The lateral length should not exceed more than 30-40 m.
 Phosphorus @ 62.5 kg ha-1 has to be applied as basal a the time of planting.
 Nitrogen and Potassium @ 275:112.5 kg ha-1 have to be injected into the system as urea and
muriate of potash by using “Ventury” assembly in 10-12 equal splits starting from 15 to 150-180
days after planting.
 Low or medium in nutrient status soil to be given with 50 per cent additional dose of Nitrogen and
Potassium.
 Irrigation is given once in three days based on the evapo-transpiration demand of the crop.
Concept of fertigation
- Fertigation is the judicious application of fertilizers by combining with irrigation water.
- Fertigation can be achieved through fertilizer tank, venturi System, Injector Pump, Non-Electric
Proportional Liquid Dispenser (NEPLD) and Automated system
- .
- Recommended N & K @ of 275 and 112.5 kg. ha-1 may be applied in 14 equal splits with 15 days
interval from 15 DAP.
- 25 kg N and 8 kg K2O per ha per split.
- Urea and MOP (white potash) fertilisers can be used as N and K sources respectively
- Fertigation up to 210 DAP can also be recommended
.
Advantages of Fertigation
- Ensures a regular flow of water as well as nutrients resulting in increased growth rates for higher
yields
- Offers greater versatility in the timing of the nutrient application to meet specific crop demands
- Improves availability of nutrients and their uptake by the roots
- Safer application method which eliminates the danger of burning the plant root system
- Offers simpler and more convenient application than soil application of fertilizer thus saving time,
labour, equipment and energy
- Improves fertilizer use efficiency
- Reduction of soil compaction and mechanical damage to the crops
- Potential reduction of environmental contamination
- Convenient use of compound and ready-mix nutrient solutions containing also small
concentration of micronutrients.
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 deepen the furrow on 90th day to save 35% of
water.
Drought Management:
i. Soak the setts in lime solution (80 kg Kiln lime in 400 lit) for one hour.
ii. Plant in deep furrows of 30 cm depth.
iii. Spray potash and urea each at 2.5 per cent during moisture stress period at 15 days interval.
iv. Spray Kaolin (60 g in 1 ltr. of water) to alleviate the water stress.
v. Under water scarcity condition, alternate furrow and skip furrow method is beneficial.
vi. Apply 125 kg of MOP additionally at 120 day of planting.
vii. Basal incorporation of coir waste @ 25 tonnes/ha at the time of last ploughing.
viii.Removal of dry trash at 5th month and leave it as mulch, in the field.
14. PRE-HARVEST PRACTICES
a. Apply cane ripeners

0i. Spray Sodium metasilicate 4 kg/ha in 750 litres of water on the foliage of crop at 6 months after
planting.
1ii. Repeat the same twice at 8th and 10th months to obtain higher cane yield and sugar percentage.
b. Assessing maturity of crops

i. Assess the maturity by hand refractometer brix survey and 18 to 20 per cent brix indicates
optimum maturity for harvest.
ii. Top-bottom ratio of H.R.Brix reading should be 1:1.
15. HARVESTING
i. Early varieties have to be harvested at 10 to 11 months age and mid-season varieties at 11 to
12 months age.
ii. Harvest the cane at peak maturity. Cut the cane to the ground level for both plant and ratoon
crops.
B. RATOON CROP
I. MANAGEMENT OF THE FIELD AFTER HARVEST OF THE PLANT CROP
Complete the following operations within 10 days of harvest of plant crop to obtain better
establishment and uniform sprouting of shoots.
1. Remove the trash from the field. Do not burn it. Irrigate the field copiously.
2. Follow stubble shaving with sharp spades to a depth of 4 - 6 cm along the ridges at proper
moisture.
3. Work with cooper plough along with sides of the ridges to break the compaction.
4. The gappy areas in the ratoon sugarcane crop should be filled within 30 days of stubble shaving.
The sprouted cane stubbles taken from the same field is the best material for full establishment.
The next best method is gap filling with seedlings raised in polybags.
5. Apply basal dose of organic manure and super phosphate as recommended for plant crop.
II. MANAGEMENT OF THE CROP

1. 25% additional N application on 5-7 days after ratooning.
2. Spray Ferrous sulphate at 2.5 kg/ha on the 15th day. If chlorotic condition persists, repeat twice
further at 15 days interval. Add urea 2.5 kg/ha in the last spray.
3. Hoeing and weeding on 20th day and 40th to 50th day.
4. First top dressing on 25th day, 2nd on 45th to 50th day.
5. Final manuring on 70th to 75th day.
6. Partial earthing up on 50th day. If junior-hoe is worked two or three times upto 90th day, partial
earthing up is not necessary.
7. Final earthing up on 90th day.
8. Detrashing on 120th and 180th day.
9. Trash twist propping on 180th day.
10. Harvest after 11 months.
C. SHORT CROP (NURSERY CROP)

SELECTION OF PROPER PLANTING MONTHS FOR RAISING NURSERY CROP IN RELATION TO
MAIN FIELD PLANTING
Raise six to seven months old nursery crop prior to main field planting as follows:
Raise nursery crop during Main field planting

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 7 months age
4. Remove trash by hand while preparing setts
5. Avoid bud damage
1. Transport the seed material to other places in the forms of full canes with trash intact.
2. Apply 50 kg of urea as top dressing additionally before one month of cutting the seed cane.
CROP PROTECTION
A. Pest Management: Economic threshold level for important pests
Pests ETL
15 % dead heart
Shoot borer
Chilo infuscatellus

 Cultural: Early season planting (Dec-Jan) ;
Shoot borer  Trash mulching on ridges on 3DAP
Chilo infuscatellus  Intercropping with green gram, black gram, daincha effectively
checks shoot borer.
 Spray Granulosis virus at 1.5 x 1012 PIB/ha twice on 35 and 50
days after planting (DAP) or release 125 gravid females of
Sturmiopsis inferens /ha on 30 and 45 DAP
 Apply any one of the following insecticides:
Soil application
Lindane 10 G 12.5 kg
Carbofuran 3 G 33 kg
Chlorpyriphos 10 G 12.5 Kg/ha
Spraying
Monocrotophos 36 WSC 1000 ml
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 1000 ml
Phosalone 35 EC 1000 ml
NSKE 5 % 25 Kg/ha
 Daincha intercropped sugarcane recorded the lowest early shoot
borer incidence.
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 l of water has been
found harmless to parasitoids and predators. A sticker like ‘teepol’ (250
ml for 500 l) can also be added to make the solution stick on to the
surface of the crop and it is preferable to use high volume sprayer to
be more effective. Need based spray of endosulfan 0.07% for lowest
damage is recommended. On cost benefit ratio basis NSKE 5% is
recommended.
 Release egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis at the rate of 2.5

Internode borer cc/release/ha. Six releases fifteen days interval starting from
Chilo sacchariphagus indicus fourth month onwards will be necessary.
 During rainy weather and when ants are present, release the
parasite through musquito net covered plastic disposable cups.
 Detrash the crop on the 150th and 210th day after planting.
 Release Isotima javensis at 100 pairs/ha
Top shoot borer
Scirpophaga excerptalis
 Spray any one of the following on the 150th and 210th day
Pyrilla (1000 l spray fluid):
Pyrilla perpusilla Malathion 50 EC 2000 ml
 Detrash on the above days
 Avoid excess use of nitrogen.
 Spray any one of the following when the incidence is noticed
Aleurodids (1000 l spray fluid):
Aleurolobus barodensis Fenitrothion 50 EC 2000 ml
 The pest generally occurs in ill drained soil.
Crop rotation,
White grub Deep ploughing during summer,
Avoid ratoons in infested fields,
Holotrichia consanguinea  Provide adequate irrigation, since under inadequate soil moisture
conditions, the pest appears in the root zone.
 Apply lindane 1.3 D 125 kg/ha near the root zone and give one
more round 30 days later
Termite  Flood irrigate the furrows to avoid termite attack in the furrows at
Odontotermes obesus the time of planting
 Sett treatment:
Dip the setts in imidacloprid 70 WS 0.1% or Chlorpyriphos 20
EC 0.04 % for 5 min.
 Soil application:
Apply lindane 1.3 D 125 kg/ha
 Spray:
Imidacloprid 200 SL at 250 ml in 250 l of water / ha
Mealy bug  Detrash as per schedule
Saccharicoccus sacchari  Drain excess water
 Apply any one of the following insecticides when the
incidence is noticed spray on the stem only:
Methyl parathion 50 EC 1000 ml
Malathion 50 EC 1000 ml
Scale insect  Spray dimethoate 0.06% on the 120th and 150th day after
Melanaspis glomerata 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.
Special problem: Woolly aphid (Ceratovacuna lanigera)

 The sudden outbreak of a new woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera was noticed in Karnataka and
Maharastra.
 The incidence was first observed in July 2002 in Sangli district of Maharastra.
 Though this is the first occasion of crop infestation by this pest, this has emerged as a pest of
economic significance, having resulted in major crop loss in the sugarcane.
 Attacked plants could be recognized from a distance by the following symptoms:
 White appearance of the lower surface of colonized top leaves; sooty mould growth and the
honeydew exudations deposited on the upper surface of lower or adjacent leaves; occasional white
woolly deposition on the ground under severe colonization.
 Established colonies, characterized by the presence of members most of which showed white woolly
filaments, can be generally observed from the second leaf downward in the grown-up crop. At low
numbers, colonization on leaves is restricted to a short perpendicular distance on either side of the
midrib for a considerable length of the leaf.
 Among the plants the attack is seen only in patches.
 Since the infestation has become a major cause for concern, major initiatives have been started by
the Department of Agriculture and ICAR.
Management strategies:
 Enforcement of compulsory IPM measures against woolly aphid infestation in newly planted and
ratoon sugarcane fields by invoking suitable provisions of the State Pest Act of the State.
 Harvesting of the entire matured sugarcane crop on priority for crushing as well burning of the trash.
 Application of granular systemic insecticides after two days of irrigation may reduce the infestation of
aphids even up to 30 days.
 Promotion of paired or wider row cultivation of sugarcane for taking effective control measures.
 Conservation and augmentation of identified potential biocontrol agents like Dipha aphidivora,
Micromus and coccinellids in woolly aphid infested fields.
 Conservation of lepidopteran predator, Dipha aphidivora predator population in limited areas of
sugarcane crop for further distribution and use thereof.
 Regular surveillance and monitoring of sugarcane woolly aphid for timely forewarning and adoption of
IPM measures including judicious use of recommended pesticides and bio-pesticides (Metarhizium
anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii).
 Avoiding transportation of aphid infested leaves from one location to another.
 Avoiding use of infested cane for seed purpose.
 Ensuring that the insecticides treated leaves are not used as fodder.
 Insecticide application at low levels or at initial stages of infestation may be restricted to only attacked
plants since the attack is seen only in patches
During acute incidence, spray any one of the following insecticides once or twice in affected patches:
Acephate 75SP 2gm/lit
Chlorpyrifos 25EC 2ml/lit
Monocrotophos 36WSC 2ml/lit
Endosulfan 35EC 2ml/lit
B) Disease management
Red rot (Colletotrichum falcatum)

1. Selection of setts from healthy nursery programme
2. Growing of recommended resistant and moderately resistant varieties viz., Co 86249, CoSi
95071, CoG 93076, CoC 22, CoSi 6 and CoG 5
3. Adopt sett treatment with Carbendazim before planting (Carbendazim 50 WP @ 0.05% or
Carbendazim 25 DS @ 0.1% along with 1.0% Urea for 5 minutes)
4. The irrigation interval in a red rot affected field must be lengthened. Once in 15 days during
tillering, growth phases and once in 25 days during maturity phase which restricts the spread
5. Removal of the affected clumps at an early stage and soil drenching with 0.1 % Carbandazim 50
WP or 0.25 % lime.
6. The trash of red rot affected field after harvest may be uniformly spread and burnt
7. The red rot affected field must be rotated with rice for one season and other crops for two
seasons.
Sett rot (Ceratocytis paradoxa)
1. Sett treatment with Carbendazim before planting (Carbendazim 50 WP @ 0.05% or Carbendazim
25 DS @ 0.1% along with 1.0% Urea for 5 minutes)
2. Proper drainage and planting of setts in 1-2 cm depth.
Smut (Ustilago scitaminea)
1. Growing of resistant and moderately resistant varieties viz., Co 86249, CoG 93076, CoC 22, CoSi
6 and CoG 5
2. Sett treatment with fungicides viz., Triadimefon @ 0.1% or Carbendazim @ 0.1% for 10 minutes.
3. Treating the seed setts with Areated Steam Therapy (AST) at 50 ºC for 1 hour or in hot water at
50 ºC for 30 minutes or at 52 ºC for 18 minutes
4. Roguing of smut whips with gunny bags/polythene bag and burnt
5. Discourage ratooning of the diseased crops having more than 10 per cent infection
Grassy shoot disease (GSD)
1. Rogue out infected plants in the secondary and commercial seed nursery.
2. Treat setts with aerated steam at 50°C for 1 hour to control primary infection.
3. Growing resistant varieties viz., Co 86249, CoG 93076 and Coc 22
4. Spray dimethoate @ 0.1 % to control insect vector
5. Avoid ratooning if GSD incidence is more than 15 % in the plant crop
Leaf spot (Cercospora longipes) : Spray Mancozeb 2.0 kg or Carbendazim 500 g/ha.
Rust (Puccinia erianthi) : Spray Tridemorph 1.0 litres or Mancozeb 2.0 kg/ha.
General:
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.
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)
C) Nematode management

Lesion nematode, Apply carbofuran 3 G at 33 kg/ha at the time of planting or 2 months
Pratylenchus coffeae 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 or apply pressmud at 15 t/ha or
Lance nematode, poultry manure at 1 t/ha before last ploughing in garden lands. Under
Hoplolaimus indicus wetland conditions, intercropping sunnhemp or marigold or daincha
coupled with application of pressmud 25 t/ha or neem cake 2 t/ha.
Reniform nematode
Rotylenchulus reniformis
Root knot nematode,

Meloidogyne spp.
SWEET SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. Season and Varieties
Sl. SEASON Variety DISTRICTS
No. (irrigated)
1. Kharif (June) SSV 84, RSSV 9 All Districts except Nilgris
2. Rabi ( Sept-Oct.) SSV 84, RSSV 9 All Districts except Cuddalore,
Thanjavur, Thiruvarur,
Nagapattinam and Nilgris
3. Summer(Mar.- April) SSV 84, RSSV 9 All Districts except Nilgris
Note: sowing should be avoided during July – August and November-January
2. Varietal particulars
PARTICULARS
1. Parentage : SSV 84
2. Duration (days) : 110 – 115
3. Area (districts) : All districts
4. Seasons (Pattam) : Thai, Chithirai, Adi and Purattasi
5. Grain yield Kg/ha : Irrigated : 1770
6. Green cane yield (t/ha) : Irrigated : 43.58
7. Plant height (cm) : 273.9
8. Juice extractability (%) : 47.1
9. Brix (%) : 16.5
10. Total soluble solids (%) : 14.1
11. Reducing sugars (%) : 2.1
12. Sucrose (%) : 11.8
13. Ethanol yield (Kl/ha) : 2.5 to 3.0
14. CCS (%) : 9.20
15. CCS (q / ha) : 24.30
16. Sheath colour : Green
17. Node : Green
18. Midrib : Dull white
19. Earhead shape : Medium cylindrical
20. Compactness : Semi compact
21. Grain colour : Pearly white
22. Special feature : Suitable of all season under irrigated
condition
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. TREATMENT OF SEED
Step 1: Treat the seeds 24 hours prior to sowing with Captan or Thiram 2 gm/kg of seed or
Metalaxyl 4 gm / kg of seed to control downy mildew.
Step 2: Treat the seeds required for one hectare with 3 packets (600gm) of Azospirillum using
rice gruel as binder.
Note: Dissolve 0.5 gm 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 1.0 kg of seed, pellet and shade dry to control
shootfly and stemborer.
2. FARM LAND PREPARATION

Form ridges and furrows at a spacing of 45 cm apart
3. SOWING
Seed rate of 10 kg/ha
Adopt a spacing of 45 x 15 cm (population 1,48,000/ha)
Sow the seeds at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil
Note: Use increased seed rate upto 12.5 kg per hectare and remove the shoot fly damaged seedlings at
the time of thinning or raise nursery and transplant only healthy seedlings.
4. IMPORTANCE OF INM
Application of inorganic nutrients alone in the long run will lead to soil and environmental
pollution. Hence integration organic and inorganic fertilizer will sustain the soil heath and improve the
cane yield of the sweet sorghum crop.
5. IMPORTANCE OF BALANCED NUTRITION

Application of balanced fertilizer at recommended dose in the right stage of the crop will not only
improve the productivity but also improve the soil fertility and reduce the environmental pollution.
6. EVALUATION OF FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT

Soil testing is suggested tool for evaluating the fertilizer requirement. It has to be done before the
cropping season well in advance so as to ascertain the native fertility of the soil and to recommend the
correct dose of fertilizer which will reduce the fertilizer cost.
7. RECOMMENDED INM
Apply 12.5 tons of FYM/ha at last ploughing.
Soil application of Azospirillum @ 10 packets (2.0 kg/ha) after mixing with 25 kg of FYM + 25 kg
of soil may be carried out before sowing/planting.
12.5 kg /ha of MN mixture mixed with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg and applied
over the furrows and on top 1/3 of the ridges.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations. If soil test recommendation is not
available adopt a blanket recommendation of 120 : 40: 40 kg of NPK/ha
8. STAGES OF APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS

Apply azospirillum and MN mixtures as basal
Apply half dose of N and full dose of P 2O 5 and K 2O basally before sowing.
Apply the balance N in two splits of 25% each on 15th and 30th day of sowing.
CROP PRODUCTION
9. Right pest control
1. General pests
Key pests Conducive factors Remarks
Borers Shoot fly Severe during summer in
Atherigona soccata Coimbatore and during October to
December in the southern districts
Delayed sowing (after July)
increases the infestation
Stemborer
Chilo partellus,
Sucking Aphids Cloudy and humid weather favours Vector of Sorghum
pests Rhopalosiphum maidis reproduction mosaic and
Melanaphis sacchari Sugarcane mosaic
poty viruses
Shoot bug Severe during dry weather (March Vector of Maize stripe
Peregrinus maidis to June) tenui virus
Mite Dry weather with high humidity and
Oligonychus indicus temperature
Diseases Downy mildew Cool humid weather
Leaf blight Rainfall and cool humid weather
Leaf diseases viz., Rainfall or drizzling and cool humid
Cercospora leafspot, weather
Rust, Colletotrichum leaf
spot
Earhead Earhead bug In irrigated sorghum the damage is
Feeders Calocoris angustatus severe during April to June and it is
less extent in rainfed crop during
August to January
Varieties with compact earhead
(Chitrai cholam) are more
susceptible than the ones with
lose earhead
Grain midge Sowing of early maturing high
Contarinia sorghicola yielding varieties on different dates
provides ideal condition for rapid
multiplication. Hence synchronized
sowing is needed
Earhead caterpillar
Helicoverpa armigera
Diseases Grain mould Rain or drizzling or dew during
flowering stage
Ergot Cool and humid weather
Storage Rice weevil Moisture content above 10 per cent
pest Sitophilus oryzae favours the reproduction.
Rice moth
Corcyra cephalonica
2. Integrated pest management strategies
Activity/ Stage/ Action

Cultural practices
Plough soon after harvest, remove and destroy the stubbles to reduce shoot fly and stem borer
infestation
Avoid sowing during the month of July-August and December-February sweet sorghum
immediately after the receipt of South West or North East monsoon to minimize the shoot fly
incidence.
Sowing of sweet sorghum should be completed in as short a time as possible to avoid
continuous flowering which favours grain midge and ear head bug multiplication.
Sowing period to be adjusted so as to prevent heading during rainy season and severe winter
for the management of ergot and grain mould diseases
Monitoring
Set up the TNAU low cost fish meal trap 12/ha till the crop is 30 days old for shoot fly.
Set up light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults of stem borer, grain midge and
earhead caterpillars.
Set up sex pheromone traps at 12/ha to attract male moths of Helicoverpa armigera from
flowering to grain hardening.
Cultural method
Rogue downy mildew infected plants up to 45 days after sowing
Need based
Shoot fly
Need based spraying of any one of the following insecticides
endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha
methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ ha
dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Neem Azal 1%
Stem borer
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/ha
endosulfan 4 G 15 kg/ha
phorate 10 G 8 kg/ha
carbofuron 3 G 17 kg/ha
carbaryl 4 G 20 kg/ha
endosulfan 4 D 10 kg/ha
phosalone 4 D 10 kg/ha
phenthoate 2 D 5 kg/ha
Spray any one of the following insecticides (500 l spray fluid/ ha). :
Carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha
Sucking pests
Spray methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha or dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha to control aphids and
shoot bug
Spray wettable sulphur 3.75 kg/ha or dicofol 1500 ml/ha to control mite pests
Downy mildew
Spray any one of the fungicides like Metalaxyl 500 g or Mancozeb 1000g/ha after noticing the
symptoms of foliar diseases, for both transplanted and direct sown crops.
Leaf blight, Cercospora, Colletotrichum leaf spots and Rust
Spray Mancozeb @ 1kg/ha. Repeat fungicidal application after 10 days if necessary
Earhead pests and diseases
Spray any one of the following insecticides on 3rd and 18th day after panicle emergence for the
control of earhead bug, midges and earhead caterpillar
carbaryl 10 D 25 kg/ha
malathion 5 D 25 kg/ha
phosalone 4 D 25 kg/ha
Neem Azal 1%
Grain mould
Spray any one of the fungicides like Mancozeb @ 1000g/ha in case of intermittent rainfall during
earhead emergence and repeat if necessary another spray 10 days later
Ergot
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
Mancozeb – 1000g/ha
Propiconazole 500ml/ha
3. Harmful effects of excessive use of pesticides/ dos and don’ts

Application of pesticides at the time of flowering/after flowering (for the management of earhead pests
and diseases) render the grain unfit for consumption purpose due to residual problems.
The following chemicals are phytotoxic to sorghum
2. Fenitrothion
3. Methyl parathian
4. Monochrotophos
5. Methyl Demeton
6. Thiometon &
7. Copper oxychloride
4. Weed management
Apply the pre-emergence herbicide Atrazine 50 WP – 500 gm /ha on 3 days after sowing followed by
one hand weeding on 40-45 days after sowing may be given.
If herbicides are not used, hand weed twice on 15-20 and 30-40 days after sowing.
5. Water management
Water requirement: 400-450 mm
Stages No. of irrigation Days of transplanting/sowing of
crop
Direct sown
Light soil
Irrigate for germination 1 1st day
Establishment 2 4th , 15th day
Vegetative phase 1 28th day*
Flowering stage 3 40th , 52nd & 64th day*
Maturity phase 2 75th , 88th day
Heavy soils
Irrigate for germination 1 1st day
Establishment 2 4th &17th day
Vegetative phase 1 30th day
Flowering stage 3 40th , 52nd & 75th day
Maturity phase 1 90th day
*Critical stage for water requirement
6. Post harvest management
Harvesting
Consider the average duration (100-110 days) of the crop and observe the crop. When the crop
attains physiological maturity the hilum region of the seed will become dark in colour and indicate the
ideal stage of harvest.
Cut the earheads and sundry the panicles to remove the excess moisture.
Cut the stem at ground level after the removal of leaves at the nodes.
Canes are made in to bundles of 10 to 15 canes each and transported to the mills for crushing.
The harvested cane should be covered with leaves (trashes) to avoid direct sun light.
The canes are to be transported to the mills within 48 hours of cutting.
Storage of seeds
Dry the seeds below 10 per cent and mix 100 kg of grains with 1 kg of activated kaolin to reduce the
rice weevil and rice moth incidence
Spray•malathion 50 EC 10 ml/lit @ 3 lit of spray fluid/100M2 over the bags during storage in godowns
TROPICAL SUGARBEET
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Introduction
Tropical sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris spp. Vulgaris var altissima Doll) is a biennial sugar producing
tuber crop, grown in temperate countries. This crop constitutes 30% of total world production and
distributed in 45 countries. Now tropical sugarbeet hybrids are gaining momentum in tropical and sub
tropical countries including Tamil Nadu as a promising energy crop and alternative raw materials for the
production of ethanol. Apart from sugar production, the value added products like ethanol can also be
extracted from sugarbeet. The ethanol can be blended with petrol or diesel to the extent of 10% and used
as bio-fuel. The sugarbeet waste material viz., beet top used as green fodder, beet pulp used as cattle
feed and filter cake from industry used as organic manure.
Tropical sugarbeet now emerged as commercial field crop because of the favourable characters
like (i) tropical sugarbeet hybrids suitable for Tamil Nadu (ii) Shorter duration of 5 to 6 months (iii) needs
moderate water requirement of 60-80 cm. (iv) higher sugar content of 12 – 15% (v) improve soil
conditions because of tuber crop and (vi) grow well in saline and alkali soil. The harvesting period of
sugarbeet coincides with March – June, the human resource of sugar factory in the off season may
efficiently utilized for processing of sugarbeet in the sugar mills, which helps in continuous functioning of
sugar mills.
Hybrids and duration

The tropical sugarbeet hybrids suitable for cultivation in Tamil Nadu are Cauvery, Indus and
Shubhra. The duration of these tropical hybrids will be 5 to 6 months depending on climatic conditions
prevailing during crop growth period.
Climate and season

Tropical sugarbeet require good sunshine during its growth period. The crop does not prefer high
rainfall as high soil moisture or continuous heavy rain may affect development of tuber and sugar
synthesis. Tropical sugarbeet can be sown in September– November coincide with North East monsoon
with a rainfall of 300 – 350 mm well distributed across the growing period which favours vegetative growth
and base for root enlargement. The optimum temperature for germination is 20 – 250C, for growth and
development 30 - 350C and for sugar accumulation in 25– 350C.
Season
Tropical sugarbeet is sown in September to November and harvested during March and May.
Field preparation
Well drained sandy loam and clayey loam soils having medium depth (45” cm) with fairly good
organic status are suitable. Tropical sugarbeet require deep ploughing (45 cm) and followed by 2 – 3
ploughing to obtain a good soil tilth condition for favorable seed germination. Ridges and furrows are
formed at 50 cm apart.
Manures and Fertilizers

S.No Manures and Fertilizers Basal Application Top dressing
1 Manures 12.5 tonnes /ha -
2 Biofertilizers
Azospirillum 2 kg /acre (10 pockets) -
Phosphobacteria 2 kg /acre (10 pockets)
3. Fertilizers
Nitrogen 75kg /ha 37.5 kg / ha each at 25 & 50 DAS
Phosphorus 75kg /ha -
Potassium 75kg /ha -
Seeds and sowing
Optimum population is 1,00,000 - 1,20,000 /ha. Hence use only pellated seeds 1,20,000 Nos /ha
which require 6 pockets (3.6kg / ha.-One pocket contains 20000 seeds (600 g)]. The recommended
spacing is 50 x 20 cm. The pellated seed is dippled at 2 cm depth in the sides of ridges at 20 cm apart
Weeding and Earthing up

The crops should be maintained weed free situation upto 75 days. Pretilachlor 50 EC @ 0.5 Kg
ai/ha or Pendimethalin @3.75lit /ha can be dissolved in 300 litres of water and sprayed with hand
operated sprayer on 0- 2rd day after sowing, followed by hand weeding on 25th day and 50th day after
sowing. The earthing up operations coincides with top dressing of N fertilizer.
Irrigation
Tripical sugarbeet is very sensitive to water stagnation in soil at all stages of crop growth.
Irrigation should be based on soil type and climatic condition. Pre-sowing irrigation is essential since at
the time of sowing, sufficient soil moisture is must for proper irrigation. First irrigation is crucial for the
early establishment of the crop. For loose textured sandy loam soil irrigation once in 5 to 7 days and for
heavy textured clay loam soil once in 8 – 10 days is recommended.The irrigation has to be stopped at
least 2 to 3 weeks before harvest. At the time of harvest if the soil is too dry and hard it is necessary to
give pre harvest irrigation for easy harvest. Light and frequent irrigation is recommended for maintaining
optimum soil moisture
Pest and diseases

Pests - Aphids, Tobacco caterpillar and Flea beetles
Diseases- Root and crown rot, Cercospora leaf spot and Root knot nematode
Integrated pest and disease management

Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg of seed
Summer ploughing and exposing the field to sunlight
Crop rotation for 3 years with Marigold or gingelly or sunnhemp for root rot and nematode
Soil application of Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50
kg of FYM before planting
Sow castor as trap crop around and within fields to attract adult Spodoptera moth for egg laying
Set up light traps (1 mercury / 5 ha) for monitoring Spodoptera litura
Setting up pheromone -Pherodin SL @ 12/ha for Spodoptera litura
Removal and destruction of Spodoptera egg masses, early stage larvae formed in clusters
Hand picking and destruction of grown up Spodoptera caterpillar
Need based
Spraying Spodoptera nuclear polyhedrosis virus at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
Spray NSKE 5% for aphids flea beetles and for early instar caterpillars
Use of poison bait pellets prepared with rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg, carbaryl 50% WP -
1.25 kg in 7.5 lit water for Spodoptera litura
Spray any one of the following insecticides using a high volume sprayer covering the foliage and
soil surface
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC - 2 ml / lit,Dichlorvos 76 WSC - 1 ml/lit,
Fenitrothion 50 EC - 1 ml/lit
Spray malathion 50 EC (2 ml/lit) for flea beetle and leaf webber
Spray Imidacloprid 200 SL (0.2 ml/lit) or methyl demeton 25 EC (2 ml/lit) or dimethoate 30 EC (2
ml/lit) for aphids
Applying neem cake @ 150 kg/ha for root rot
Foliar spray of Mancozeb 2.5 g / lit or Chlorothalonil 2 g / litre of water for Cercospora leaf spot
Neem cake @ 1 t/ha or carbofuran @ 33 kg/ha as spot application on 30 days after sowing for
nematode management
Harvest and yield

The tropical sugarbeet crop matured in about 5 to 6 months. The yellowing of lower leaf whirls of
matured plant, Nitrogen deficiency and root brix reading of 15 to 18% indicate the maturity of beet root for
harvest. The average root yield of tropical sugarbeet is 80 – 100 tonnes / ha.
Harvesting should be timed so as the roots reach the

factory within 48 hours for processing.
Till such time the roots should not be harvested.
TEMPLATE FOR TECHNOLOGY
CROP - TROPICAL SUGARBEET
Introduction
Tropical sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris spp. Vulgaris var altissima Doll) is a biennial sugar producing
tuber crop, grown in temperate countries. Now tropical sugarbeet hybrids are gaining momentum in
tropical and sub tropical belts including Tamil Nadu as a promising alternative energy crop for the
production of ethanol and alternate sugar producing crop. The ethanol can be blended with petrol or
diesel to the extent of 10% and used as bio-fuel. The bi-products of sugarbeet viz., beet top can be used
as green fodder, green leaf manure and raw material for vermi compost while beet pulp is used as cattle
feed and filter cake used as manure.
Right seed
Use pelleted seed
Variety -Nil
Hybrids - Cauvery, Indus and Shubhra
At present no seed production in India, seeds source-
Syngenta India Ltd., (Seeds division,) 1170 / 27, Revenue colony
Shivaji nagar, Pune-411005 Phone: 020-2553 5996 Fax:020 -2553 7571
Right technology
Seed Treatment : Already it is treated and marketed as pelleted seed.
Seeds Rate / ha: One 1.2 lakh pelleted seeds(3.6Kg)
Land Preparation:
 Thorough land preparation of 45 cm deep ploughing,
 Formation of ridges and furrows with a spacing of 50X20 cm and height of the ridges @15 -20
cm.
Sowing: Dibble the seed at 2 cm depth on the top of the ridge with a spacing of 20 cm between
plants.
Weed free environment up to 60th day
Pre-emergence application of Pretilachlor 50EC 0.5 Kg ai / ha in 500 litre of water or
Pendimethalin 30 EC 1.0 Kg ai/ha dissolved in 500 litre of water
Hand weeding on 25th and 50 th days after sowing
Right nutrition
Balanced application of organic and inorganic fertilizers
FYM 12.5 t/ha and basal application of 2 kg of Azospirillum and 2 kg of phosphobacteria
Based on the soil test value, inorganic fertilizer has to be applied. In the absence of soil test
value, blanket recommendation of 150:75:75 NPK kg/ha
Stages of application of fertilizer: Basal 50% N, full P and full K. Remaining 25% N on 20 to 25
days after sowing and 25% N on 40 to 45 days after sowing.
Timely and need based, placement of fertilizer and earthing up
Excess N should be avoided
Right pest and diseases management

Pests - Aphid, Tobacco caterpillar and Flea beetles
Diseases- Root and crown rot, Cercospora leaf spot and Root knot nematode
Integrated pest and disease management

Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/kg of seed
Summer ploughing and exposing the field to sunlight
Crop rotation for 3 years with Marigold or gingelly or sunnhemp for root rot and nematode
Soil application of Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50
kg of FYM before planting
Sow castor as trap crop around and within fields to attract adult Spodoptera moth for egg laying
Set up light traps (1 mercury / 5 ha) for monitoring Spodoptera litura
Setting up pheromone -Pherodin SL @ 12/ha for Spodoptera litura
Removal and destruction of Spodoptera egg masses, early stage larvae formed in clusters
Hand picking and destruction of grown up Spodoptera caterpillar
Need based
Spraying Spodoptera nuclear polyhedrosis virus at 1.5 x 1012 POB/ha
Spray NSKE 5% for aphids flea beetles and for early instar caterpillars
Use of poison bait pellets prepared with rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg, carbaryl 50% WP -
1.25 kg in 7.5 lit water for Spodoptera litura
Spray any one of the following insecticides using a high volume sprayer covering the foliage and
soil surface
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC - 2 ml / lit
Dichlorvos 76 WSC - 1 ml/lit
Fenitrothion 50 EC - 1 ml/lit
Spray malathion 50 EC (2 ml/lit) for flea beetle and leaf webber
Spray Imidacloprid 200 SL (0.2 ml/lit) or methyl demeton 25 EC (2 ml/lit) or dimethoate 30 EC (2
ml/lit) for aphids
Applying neem cake @ 150 kg/ha for root rot
Foliar spray of Mancozeb 2.5 g / lit for Cercospora leaf spot
Neem cake @ 1 t/ha or carbofuran @ 33 kg/ha as spot application on 30 days after sowing for
nematode management
Water management
Optimum EC up to 1 ds/m
It can be grown in water containing EC 1 to 2 ds/m
Irrigation schedule: Life irrigation on 3rd day
For vegetative stage(up to 45 DAS) - 4 irrigation, vegetative to tuber initiation (75 DAS) - 4
irrigation, tuber maturation(up to 125 DAS) - 4 irrigation and Maturity - 2 irrigation – up to 15-20
DAS maintain optimum soil moisture for good germination and population
Fertigation - Yet to be studied. Good response to fertilization based on review of literature
Post harvest management

Stop irrigation 15-20 days prior to harvest. This allows sugar accumulation
Just hand pulling and keeping the tops, store in a shaded conditions
Roots of sugarbeet reach the factory within 48 hours for processing
Yield 80 to 100 t/ha, Sugar recovery- 15 -16%
TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR JATROPHA CURCAS
Jatropha curcas is a multi purpose non edible oil yielding perennial shrub which originated in
tropical America and West Asia. It is commonly known as physic nut or purging nut. Jatropha curcas
belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae and has the tendency to produce latex and animals do not browse
the plant. This is a hardy and drought tolerant crop that can be raised in marginal lands with lesser input.
The crop can be maintained for 30 years economically.
The genus Jatropha has 176 species and distributed throughout the world. Among them, 12
species are recorded in India. The species Jatropha curcas is a promising one with economic seed yield
and oil recovery. The oil from Jatropha curcas can be used as biodiesel blend upto 20% . However, the
refined oil is a qualified neat biodiesel. The plant flowers a year after planting and the economic yield is
obtained from 4th year onwards, and the yield stabilization 5th year onwards.
The crop Jatropha has many advantages:
Produces non edible oil to be used as bio-diesel
Helps environment with low emission of sulphur and carbon monoxide
Ensures rural prosperity and offers assured income to the farmers
Prevents soil erosion
Oil cake is a good organic manure
1. RIGHT SEED
a. Importance of SRR and Certified Seeds
TNAU and Department of Agriculture have taken up elite model planting programme and this can
be converted for quality seed production from 2008 onwards. The SRR will be advocated after
establishment and coverage of sizable area.
a. Variety of seed
No variety has so far been evolved in Jatropha curcas throughout India. However, plantations can
be raised from the seeds collected from the existing natural plantation. Seed should be collected from
superior seed sources from the natural stand with more than 10 years of age. This represent fair genetic
expression and results in better growth and development. The seeds must contain more than 30% oil only
then extraction of oil is economical. A good quality seed may contain 1500 to 1800 seeds/kg. Freshly
collected seeds can be used for germination. However, high yielding types have been collected and are
being evaluated at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, which is ideal for cultivation. Presently, limited
quantity of seed is available.
c. Hybrids
TNAU is involved in interspecific hybridization to evolve hybrid lines for higher yield and higher oil
content. Presently, hybrids are in the pipeline.
d. Source
(1)Tamil Nadu Agricultural University , Coimbatore
(2) Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chatisgarh
2. RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
Plantation raised through Direct Sowing
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has not undertaken direct sowing of Jatropha seeds till date.
Direct sowing shall be taken up on an experimental basis in the ensuing monsoon season. However,
literature evidences are available regarding direct sowing. After land preparation, one cubic feet pits are to
made at suitable spacings and three seeds are to be sown in these pits. Upon germination, one well
grown seedling per pit is retained and the rest are culled out within 30 days. The culled out seedlings can
be used for gap filling.
Advantages
Saving of time, labour and money.
Large areas could be covered easily within a stipulated time period
Disadvantages
There is a high chance of heterogeneity in the stand and yield
Less survival percentage in adverse climatic condition.
Plantation raised through seedlings
Treatment of Seed
Seeds may be treated with water soaking or cow dung solution for 12 hours for enhanced
germination.
Nursery preparation
Jatropha is normally propagated through seeds. Well developed plumpy seeds are selected for
sowing. The germination ranges from 50-60 %.
Direct sowing in polybags

Seeds are directly sown in poly bags of 10 x 20 cm size filled with red soil, sand and farmyard
manure in the ratio of 2:1:1 respectively.
Seedlings raised through motherbed

Treated seeds are to be sown in the raised motherbeds of 10 x1 m size. Germination starts from
the third day and one week old seedlings can be pricked out and transplanted in polybags.
Nursery management
Shifting of the polybags has to carried out once in every 30 days coupled with root pruning.
Adequate watering has to be done taking care to avoid water stagnation. The seedlings can be kept in the
nursery for a period ranging from two months to six months.
Farm (Land) preparation

A disc/deep ploughing will help to improve the soil drainage and proper water holding capacity.
After land preparation, pits of size 30x 30 x30 cm may be dug and filled with soil and Farm Yard Manure
@ 5 kg/pit + 150 g Neem cake+100 g super+ biofertilizers + 20gm VAM 10 g each of azospirillum and
phosphobacteria before planting.
Transplantation
For better establishment of seedlings, monsoon seasons may be preferred for field planting
(June-July and October-November).The seedlings in the polybags are to be transported to the field and
are to be planted in the dug out pits with the mother soil after removing of the polybags. The weathered
dug out soil has to be filled in the pit and the soil is trampled with the feet to make the roots come in
contact with the soil. After planting, basin formation is essential in order to utilize the available moisture.
Spacing
An espacement of 2 x 2 m is generally recommended under rainfed condition for this species
(NOVOD Board). Since the canopy closes within two years under irrigated conditions, a wider spacing of
3 x 2 or 3 x 3 m is preferable to facilitate tractor ploughing.
Promotion of Jatropha Plantation

Jatropha intensification is possible through contract farming system. Government of Tamil Nadu
has already initiated contract farming system for this species and accordingly companies have been
identified for promotion of Jatropha district wise through people participation.
Incorporation of Jatropha in agroforestry systems can be done which will help the farmers to
realize the returns from the agricultural inter crops during the gestation period. Studies in Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University have shown that cow pea was found to be the best crop to be combined with
Jatropha.
Wasteland development through Jatropha is yet another potential means of intensification of the
species. This in turn will help to improve soil conservation and fertility, enhance ground water recharging
and aid in conversion of wastelands into productive lands over a period of time. Besides, they also
conform to the needs of carbon credit programme under Kyoto Protocol.
3. RIGHT NUTRITION
From 2nd year onwards, fertilizers are applied. For one acre 20:120:60 kg of NPK respectively
applied in two equal doses in June- July and Oct-Nov. after flowering . From 3 th year onwards, 150g super
phosphate is recommended over and above the regular dose.
Gibberellic acid 50 ppm is sprayed at the time of flowering to Induce and increase flowering and
better pod development
4. RIGHT PEST CONTROL

Factors influencing the occurrence of pests/ diseases
Diseases/pests Conducive factors
Nursery
Damping off Heavy seed rate, ill drained heavy soils, presence of decaying organic matter,
poor ventilation and poor sunlight.
Main field
Leaf webber During the growth of new flush immediately after rain
Thrips Hot weather
Scutellerid bugs
Dry root rot Dry temperature of 300 C and above, prolonged dry season followed by
irrigation.
Leaf spot Temperature is 25- 300 C with relative humidity of above 80 %.
Integrated disease management strategies

A. Seed : Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens @10g/kg
of seed.
B. Nursery : Raised seed bed has to be prepared, away from shady
and well drained soils.
C. Main Field : Soil application of Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas
fluorescence @2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50Kg of FYM,
before planting.
Need based application

Spray Bt @ 1g/litre or neem oil (2%) or monocrotophos36 WSC @1.25 ml/litre or profenophos 50
EC (1ml/litre) for leaf webber.
Control
Spray Methyl Parathion 25 EC @ 2ml/litre or dimethoate 30 EC @2ml/litre or monocrotophos 36
WSC @ 1.25 ml/litre for thrips.
Scutellerid bugs
This pest can be controlled by spraying carbosulfan 25 EC @ 1ml/litre
Root rot management

Root rot may become a problem in the beginning and be controlled by application of 1% of
Bordeaux drenching or application of neem cake @ 150 kg /ha.
5. WATER MANAGEMENT
In general, the water requirement of the species is low. The crop requires a life irrigation on the
third day after field planting. After this, irrigation at an interval of 15 to 20 days may be done, based upon
need.
6. PRUNING
Early pruning at 6 to 8 months after planting or just before flowering is advisable. First pruning
must be at 45 cm from ground level which will enhance more number of auxillary branches. Pruning has
to be taken up for the first three years to increase number of fruiting branches.
Second pruning must be made in the newly developed shoots by cutting two thirds of the new
flush leaving one third in the plant. Similar procedure has to be followed on the new flush upto the
completion of the third year. The pruning operation can be adapted and modified according to the location
and also growth and development of the plant. Avoid flowering and seed setting during the first two years
in order to develop a broader canopy.
7. INTERCROPPING
Being a perennial crop, intercrops can be raised in between the rows for the first two years. Crops
like tomato, sunflower, ash gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, cowpea and blackgram can be
grown profitably. Among these crops, studies conducted in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University indicated
that cow pea was the best intercrop under Jatropha during the initial years.
8.POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT

The fruits are harvested after change of colour of capsule from yellow to brown and shrinking of
fruit capsules for easy dehusking.
i) Thrashing by Manual separation by beating
ii) Mechanical separation using decorticator
Seeds can be shade dried and stored in gunny bags at room temperature.
Yield – Rainfed 3rd year 500 kg/ha
6th year 1250 kg/ha
Irrigated 1st year 2100 kg/ha
General (conclusion)
Jatropha curcas is a potential crop for production of bio-diesel. Production and processing of bio-
diesel will reduce the import cost of diesel thereby saving foreign exchange.
Team members
Name Designation
Dr.M. Paramathma : Professor and Head, Tree Breeding
Mr. K.N.Chandran : JDA (Crops)
Mr.P.M.Pandian : DDA (Oilseeds)
Dr.T.Manokaran : Professor, Entomology
Dr.A.Balakrishnan : Professor, Agronomy
Mr.G.Thirumalaisamy : ADO, Aravakuruchi
Mr.E.R.Subramanian : ADO, Bhavanisagar
Mr.R.Rajasekar : AO (Agronomy), Tirunelveli
FORAGE CROPS
FODDER CHOLAM
CROP IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICTS/SEASONS VARIETIES
A. Irrigated (Jan - Feb and Apr – May)
All districts CO 27, COFS 29 (Multicut Cholam)
B. Rainfed (Jun - Jul)
All Districts CO 27
(Sep - Oct)
All Districts CO 27, K 10
Yield Potential and Quality Characters

Characters CO 27 K 10 COFS 29
Green fodder yield (t/ha) 44.40 15 160-170 (5-6 cuts)
Protein content (%) 7.93 9.20 8.41
Dry matter (%) 24.17 - 23.60
Sugar (%) 7.40 - -
Plant Height (cm) 262 260 220-250
Number of tillers 1 - 10-15
Number of leaves 18.66 12 80-105
Leaf length (cm) 78.43 75 75-90
Leaf breadth (cm) 6.18 8 3.5-4.6
Leaf stem ratio 0.20 - 0.2-0.25
Note: Fodder Cholam can be intercropped with CO 5 and COFC 8 Cowpea at 1:1 ratio and harvested
together to provide nutritious fodder.
IRRIGATED CHOLAM
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. PLOUGHING
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)and 10 packets of Phosphobacteria (2000g) or 20 packets of
Azophos (4000g)

Form ridges and furrows of 6 m long and 60 cm apart and plant on either side of the ridge
For CO-27
a. Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow the
blanket recommendation of 60 : 40 : 20 kg N, P and K /ha.
a. Apply half the dose of N and full dose P and K basally before sowing.
b. Top dressing : 30 kg N/ha on 30 days after sowing
c. For the ratoon crop, apply 30 kg N/ha immediately after the harvest and irrigate
For COFS 29(multicut variety) : Apply 45 : 40 : 40 kg N,P, K/ha as basal and 45 kg N as top
dressing on 30 DAS followed by the application of 45 kg N/ha after every cut. After 4th cut, apply
40 kg P and 40 kg K along with 45 kg N to sustain the fodder yield and quality.
Application of Azospirillum(2000g/ha) and Phosphobacterium(2000g/ha) together as a mixture or
Azophos(4000g/ha) along with 75% recommended dose of N and P fertilizer enhanced the yield
besides saving of 25% of fertilizer dose.
5. SOWING
a. Seed rate : CO-27 -50 kg/ha and COFS 29 – 5 kg/ha
b. Spacing : 30 x 10 -15 cm
c. Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 3 packets (600g) of
Phosphobacteria or Azophos 6 packets (1200g)
* COFS 29 seed has one month seed dormancy.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing. Life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10 days,
according to need based.
7. WEED MANAGEMENT
First hand weeding on the 20th day of sowing and if necessary 2nd hand weeding between 35 - 40
days after sowing.
8. PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not recommended for fodder crops. However, for seed production, the following
insecticides are recommended
 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
9. HARVESTING
Harvest at 50% flowering for fodder
RAINFED CHOLAM
CROP MANAGEMENT
Apply 12.5 t/ha and incorporated in the soil at the time of last ploughing.
2. SEED RATE
40kg/ha for CO 27
3. SOWING
Sow the seeds well before the onset of monsoon
4. SPACING
30 x 15 cm
5. FERTILIZER
30 : 20: 20 kg N, P and K / ha for Alfisols (Red soil).
40 :20 kg N and P/ ha for Vertisols (Black soil).
6. PLANT PROTECTION
Not recommended
CROP PROTECTION
Pest management - for seed crop

 Spray any one of the following insecticides on the 10th and
Shoot fly 17th day of sowing:
Atherigona soccata Endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml/ha
(Spray fluid – 250 l)
 Spray any one of the following insecticide on the foliage on
Stem borer 30th day of sowing:
Chilo partellus Endosulfan 35 EC 750 ml/ha
 Dusting the leaf whorl with any one of the following dusts
mixed with sand to make up to 50 kg:
FODDER CUMBU
CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. VARIETY : CO 8
2. SEASON : Irrigated : Throughout the year
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. SOIL
All types of soils with good drainage.
2. PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
Plough with an iron plough once and with a country plough twice.
3. SEED TREATMENT
a) Removal of ergot affected seeds and sclerotic if any by soaking in 20% salt solution (2.5 kg of
common salt in 12.5 litres of water).
b) Seed treatment with fungicides 24 hours prior to sowing.
4. 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 (2000g) and phosphobacterium (2000g) or Azophos (4000g) along
with 75% of recommended dose of N and P fertilizers enhanced the yield besides saving of 25%
of fertilizer dose.
5. SEED RATE
10 kg/ha.
6. SPACING
25 x 10 cm.
7. AFTER CULTIVATION
First hoeing and weeding on 30th day after sowing.
8. IRRIGATION
Once in 10 days
9. PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not recommended
10. HARVEST
Harvest at boot leaf stage, 40 - 45 days after sowing.
11. GREEN FODDER YIELD

25-30 t/ha
Note: CO 8 fodder cumbu can be intercropped with CO 5 or COFC 8 cowpea that can be harvested
together to provide a nutritious fodder to cattle.
FODDER MAIZE
CROP IMPROVEMENT

Season : Throughout the year for fodder in all districts under irrigated condition.
Composite/hybrids: African Tall, Ganga 5

Characters African Tall
Green fodder yield (t/ha) 42.00
Crude protein (%) 9.80
Dry matter (%) 17.65
Plant height (cm) 302.00
Number of leaves 13.30
Leaf length (cm) 81.30
Leaf breadth (cm) 8.15
Stem thickness (cm) 1.77
Leaf-stem ratio 0.21
CROP MANAGEMENT
I. PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
1. PLOUGHING
Plough the field twice with an iron plough and three or four times with country plough.
Apply and spread FYM or compost at 25 t/ha on unploughed field along with 10 packets of
Azospirillum (2000 g) and 10 packets of Phosphobacteria (2000g) inoculum or 20packets of Azophos
(4000g)and incorporate the manure into the soil during ploughing.

Form ridges and furrows using a ridger, 30 cm apart are 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 30 : 40 : 20 kg N, P2O5 and K2 O / ha. Apply 30 kg N/ha at 30 days after
sowing as top dressing.
5. SOWING
a. Spacing : 30 x 15 cm, Seed rate : 40 kg/ha
b. Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g) Azospirillum inoculant and 3 packets (600 g) of
phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200g)before sowing.
6. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing and give life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10
days.
. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoeing and weeding are done as and when necessary.
8. HARVESTING
Harvest the crop when the cob is in the milky stage.
Note: * Fodder Maize can be intercropped with CO 5 or COFC 8 Cowpea at 3:1 ratio
and harvested together to provide nutritious fodder.
TNAU vermicompost at 5 t/ha + 75% recommended dose of fertilizer for intercropping of maize
and cowpea produces green fodder yield of 105 t/ha/yr ( 3 crops/ year) which is sufficient to
maintain 7 adults and 3 young cattles. The dung obtained from these animals can be used for on
farm production of 19.4 tonnes of vermicompost per year.
SEED PRODUCTION
LAND REQUIREMENT
Land should be free from volunteer plants
ISOLATION
SPACING
Adopt 60 x 20 cm
FERTILIZER
Apply NPK @ 175 : 90 : 90 kg ha-1 + 25 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 as basal application
HARVEST
Seeds attained physiological maturity on 40th day after anthesis
SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Captan @ 2g/kg + Carbaryl @ 200mg/kg-1 of seeds
STORAGE
Treated seeds can be stored upto 1 year under insect free condition
OTHER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

NEELAKOLUKATTAI (BLUE BUFFEL GRASS) - (Cenchrus glaucus)

CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. SEASON
North-East Monsoon
2. VARIETY
CO-1
Characters CO 1
Green fodder yield (t/ha/year) 40 (4 cuts)
Seed yield (kg/ha/year) 55 - 60
Crude fibre (%) 34.62
Phosphorus (%) 0.26
Calcium (%) 0.58
Carbohydrate (%) 41.01
Iron (ppm) 385
Zinc (ppm) 24
Manganese (ppm) 56
IVDMD (%) 49.45
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. SOIL TYPE
Well drained soil with high calcium content is suitable.
2. PLOUGHING
Plough the field twice or thrice with an iron plough to ensure good tilth.
5 t/ha
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations. If the soil test is not done, follow the
blanket recommendation of 25: 40: 20 kg N, P and K per hectare.
b. Basal dressing: Apply full dose of NPK before sowing.
c. Top dressing: After every harvest apply 25 kg N/ha during the rainy season.
5. SOWING
a. Seed rate: 6 - 8 kg/ha or 40,000 rooted slips/ha.
b. Spacing: 50 x 30 cm.
Fresh seeds have dormancy for 6 - 8 months. To break dormancy, soak the seeds in 1 %
potassium nitrate solution for 48 hours prior to sowing.
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, Kolukattai grass can be intercropped with Stylosanthes
scabra in the ratio of 3:1.
9. GREEN FODDER YIELD:

A pure crop yields 40 t/ha/year in 4 - 6 cuts.
GUINEA GRASS (Panicum maximum)

CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. VARIETY : CO 2
2. SEASON
Irrigated : Throughout the year
Rainfed condition : Monsoon season
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. SOIL
All types of soil with good drainage.
Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form ridges and furrows at 50 cm spacing.
3. MANURING
Basal: FYM 25 t/ha; NPK 50:50:40 kg/ha
Top dressing: 25 kg N/ha after each cut.
4. SEED RATE
2.5 kg/ha seeds or 40,000 rooted slips.
5. SPACING
50x 50 cm
Hoeing and weeding on 30th day after sowing. Earthing up once after harvests.
7. IRRIGATION
Once in ten days or depending on soil condition.
8. PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not recommended.
9. HARVEST
First cut 75-80 days after germination or 45 days after planting of slips. Subsequent cuts at
interval of 45 days.

260 t/ha per year in 8 cuts.
Note: Guinea grass can be intercropped with Desmanthus (Velimasal) at 3:1 ratio and can be
harvested together and fed to the animals.
SEED PRODUCTION
LAND REQUIREMENT
Land should be free from volunteer plants.
ISOLATION
PRESOWING SEED TREATMENT

Mechanical scarification for 2 minutes improves the seed germination by breaking dormancy.
CROP MANAGEMENT
Seeds produced after first cut results in high quality seed
HARVEST
Seed attain physiological maturity fifth week and sixth week after 50 per cent flowering in seed to
seed method and slip to seed method respectively.
Grade the seeds with BSS 14 x 14 sieve.
STORAGE

DEENANATH GRASS (Pennisetum pedicellatum)

CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. VARIETY : CO 1
2. SEASON
Can be grown throughout the year under irrigated condition. Suitable for growing in the monsoon
season under rainfed condition
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. SOIL
All types of soil with good drainage. Does not come up well on heavy clay soil or flooded or
waterlogged conditions.
Plough 2-3 times to obtain good tilth and form beds and channels.
3. MANURING
Basal: FYM 25 t/ha
NPK 20 : 25 : 20 kg/ha
Top dressing: 20 Kg N on 30th day after sowing
50% of this has to be applied for rainfed crop
4. SEED RATE
2.5 kg/ha
5. SPACING
35 x 10 cm or solid sowing in lines 30 cm apart.
Hoeing and weeding on 30th day after sowing
7. IRRIGATION
Once in ten days or depending on soil condition
8. PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not recommended
9. HARVEST
55-60th day after sowing.

Irrigated crop : 25-30 t/ha first crop.
Ratoon crop : 15-20 t/ha
Rainfed crop : 15-20 t/ha
SEED PRODUCTION
LAND REQUIREMENT
ISOLATION
Adopt 10 mt for certified seed production
PRESOWING SEED MANAGEMENT

Seed dormancy can be broken by mechanical scarification in a defluffer followed
by soaking in a mixture of GA3 (200 ppm) and KNO3 (0.25%) (1 : 1) for 16 hours.
Pelleting with DAP @ 60 g/kg and arappu leaf (Albizzia amara) powder @ 500g/kg-1 of seed
enable easy handling of seed during sowing and also for better establishment.
HARVEST
Deenanath grass (cv Pusa 3) attained physiological maturity at fifth week after 50
flowering, while it took six weeks for cv. TNDN.1.
Delayed harvesting resulted in shattering.
The middle and proximal portions of the spike produce high quality seeds.
Germination was higher for the seeds from the first and second formed tillers
SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seeds with Captan @ 4g / kg-1 of seed
STORAGE

As in crop management techniques
CUMBU - NAPIER HYBRIDS

CROP IMPROVEMENT

Season Throughout the year in all districts
Hybrids recommended CO-3 and KKM-1
Characters CO 3
Green fodder yield (t/ha/yr) 400
Dry matter yield (t/ha/yr) 65.12
Crude protein yield (t/ha) 5.40
Mean plant height (cm) 300 - 360
No. of leaves per clump 450
No. of tillers per clump 30 - 40
Leaf-stem ratio 0.70
Leaf width (cm) 3.00 - 4.20
Leaf length (cm) 80 - 95
Calcium (%) 0.86
Phosphorus (%) 0.24
Oxalate (%) 2.51
IVDMD (%) 60
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. PLOUGHING
Plough with an iron plough two to three times to obtain good tilth.
25 t/ha
3. FORMING RIDGES
Form ridges and furrows using a ridger, 60 cm apart.
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as for as possible. If soil testing is not
done, follow the blanket recommendations of 150:50:40 of NPK in kg/ha.
ii. Apply full dose of P,K and 50% N basally before planting. Top dressing of 50% N on 30 DAS.
iii. Repeat the basal application of 75 kg N/cut for sustaining higher yield
iv. Application of Azospirillum (2000g) and phosphobacterium (2000g) or Azophos (4000g) 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 hill.
ii. Spacing 50 x 50 cm and 40,000 planting material are 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 nutritive 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 yields around 400 t/ha.

400 t/ha
NOTE: 1. Quartering has to be done every year or whenever the clumps become unwidely and large.
2. Wherever necessary to alleviate 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 fodder.
LUCERNE – KUDIRAI MASAL (Medicago sativa)
CROP IMPROVEMENT
1 VARIETY : CO 1
2. SEASON
Can be sown in Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Dharmapuri, Krishinagiri and Hosur regions
during July- December. Not suitable for very hot and very cold climates.
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
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. PLOUGHING
Plough three or four times with country plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread FYM or compost at 12.5 t/ha
3. FORMING BEDS
Form beds of size 10 m2 or 20 m2 depending on the availability of water and slope of land.
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.
5. SEED RATE
20 kg/ha
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).
6. SPACING
25 cm x solid sowing
7. WATER MANAGEMENT
Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
8. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hand weeding is given as and when necessary.
9. PLANT PROTECTION
a) Generally not recommended
b) Wherever the parasite Cuscuta is observed uproot the affected plants along with the soil and
burn
10. HARVESTING
First harvest 75 - 80 days after sowing. Subsequent harvests are made at intervals of 25 - 30 days.

80-100 t/ha in 12-13 cuttings/year
12. SEED YIELD

150-200 kg/ha
HEDGE LUCERNE - VELIMASAL ( Desmanthus virgatus )

CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. SEASON
Irrigated : Throughout the year
Rainfed : June - October
CROP MANAGEMENT
PREPARATORY CULTIVATION
1. PLOUGHING
Plough two to three times with an iron plough to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost

Form ridges and furrows 50 cm apart using ridger and irrigation channels across furrows.
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 25 : 40 :20 kg NPK/ha.
b Apply full dose of NPK basally before sowing.
5. SOWING
a) Pure crop
Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand on the side of the ridges
b) Mixed Crop
Sow the Velimasal seeds in one row and plant Cumbu- Napier hybrid grass in the subsequent
three rows (at 1:3 ratio)

c) Velimasal seeds are to be treated with Rhizobial culture at 3 packets/ha (600 g).
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)

Grass
Characters Velimasal Grass +Legume
(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
SEED PRODUCTION
PRESOWING SEED TREATMENT

Acid scarification with conc.sulphuric acid @ 200 ml kg-1 of seed for 15 minutes.
SPACING
Adopt 60 x 20 cm
FERTILIZER
Basal NPK @ 25:40:20 kg/ ha-1
After first cut – 45:60:40 kg NPK ha-1 as basal
FOLIAR SPRAY
Salicylic acid 200 ppm thrice after 50 per cent flowering at 10 days interval
HARVEST
Seed attain physiological maturity at 35 days after anthesis, when the pods turn brown and seeds
become shiny brown.
PICKING
Harvest the pods in different pickings
Delayed harvest leads to 100% shattering loss.
SEED SIZE
Grade the seed using BSS 14 x 14 sieve
SEED TREATMENT
Treat the seed with diflubenzuron @ 2 ppm as slurry treatment for scarified seeds
Scarified seed can be stored upto 12 months without viability loss.
STORAGE
Use gunny or cloth bags for short term storage with seed moisture content of 10%.Use polylined
gunny bag for medium term storage with seed moisture content of 8%.
FODDER COWPEA
CROP IMPROVEMENT
Season and Varieties :
1. Season :
Irrigated : June-July-Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai.
2. Varieties : CO 5 and COFC 8
Characters CO 5 COFC 8
Green fodder yield (t/ha) 17 to 19 17-20
Dry matter content (%) 14.64 15.5
Crude protein content (%) 20.00 20.7
Plant height (cm) 93.00 100-120
No. of branches 2-3 3-4
No. of leaves 12 13-15
Leaf length (cm) 12.1 13.5
Leaf width (cm) 8.2 9.1
Leaf stem ratio 0.83 0.95
CROP MANAGEMENT
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
FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS
a. Form ridges and furrows of 6 m length and 30 cm apart.

If ridges and furrows are not made, form beds of size 20 m2 depending on the availability of
b.
water
3.APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER
Apply NPK fertilizers as per the soil test recommendations as for as possible. If soil testing is not
4. SOWING
a. The seeds are to be treated with Rhizobial culture at 3 packets/ha (600 g) using rice kanji as
binder.
b. Seed rate : 25 kg/ha.
c. Spacing : 30 x 15 cm
5.. IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

Irrigate immediately after sowing, Life irrigation on third day and thereafter once in ten days.
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
Hoeing and weeding are given as and when necessary.
7. PLANT PROTECTION
Generally not recommended.
8. HARVESTING
Harvest 50 - 55 days after sowing (50% flowering stage).

Irrigated : 20-30 t/ha
Rainfed : 10-15 t/ha
CROP PROTECTION
Pest management
 Spray any one of the following insecticides in 250 lit of
Sucking pests water for one ha:
Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml
Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml
Phosphomidon 40 SL 500 ml
 Stop spraying 20 days before harvest.
MUYAL MASAL (STYLO) - ( Stylosanthes scabra )

CROP IMPROVEMENT
1. SEASON
June - July to September - October.
2. VARIETIES
a. S.hamata (Annual)
b. S.scabra (Perennial)
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. PLOUGHING
Plough the field two to three times to obtain good tilth.
Apply and spread 10 t/ha of FYM or compost
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
b. Apply full dose of NPK basally.
5. SOWING
a. Seed are to be treated with 3 pockets rhizobium culture (600 g/ha).
b. For line sowing (30 x 15 cm) the seed rate is 6 kg/ha and for broadcasting 10 kg/ha.
c. 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
and scarified seeds are again to be presoaked in cold water overnight. (or) Seeds can also be
scarified in hot water by immersing the seeds for 4 minutes in hot water of 80º C and the 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.

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 about 30 to 35 t/ha/year from
the third year onwards.
SEED PRODUCTION
LAND REQUIREMENT
ISOLATION
SOWING SEASON
October to January
PRE-SOWING SEED TREATMENT
Remove the dormancy by acid scarifyng of seed with conc. H2SO4 @ 200 ml / kg-1 of seed for 4
minutes
Seed fortification with (0.25%) KNO3 for 3 hours improved germination
SEED EXTRACTION
Use paddy dehusker with 0.2 mm clearance with rotating discs.
GRADING
Grade the seeds using BSS 16 x 16 wire mesh sieve.
SEED TREATMENT
LEUCAENA – SOUNDAL ( Leucaena leucocephala )

CROP IMPROVEMENT

Season Varieties
Jun - Jul Hawaiian giant (Ivory coast), CO 1
Rainfed (Sep - Oct) K 8, Giant Ipil - Ipil, CO 1
CROP MANAGEMENT
1. PLOUGHING
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

Form ridges and furrows (using a ridger) 6 m along and 1 m apart and irrigation channels across
the furrows.
Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If soil testing is not
a.
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 can also be
done by dipping the seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three minutes and washing
thoroughly with tap water. Another easiest method is hot water treatment by soaking the seeds 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 hot water may be poured out and cold water added to steep the seeds over night.
Seeds can also be simply soaked in plain water for 72 hrs before sowing.
c. After scarification, treat the seeds with Rhizobial inoculant using rice kanji as binder.
6. IRRIGATION 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 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.

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 obtained after 2 years of initial growth and
pruning to a height of 100 cm.
PUDIA SOUNDAL (Leucaena diversifolia)

CROP MANAGEMENT
The package of practices are same as that of soundal. This variety is improvement over soundal
and has psyllid resistant.
SILAGE MAKING
Silage is the fodder material which is subjected to several chemical changes under air tight
condition. For silage making, the fodder crops should not be succulent in nature. The moisture condition
should be 70-75 per cent at the time of harvest. It should not be prepared during rainy season.
I. PREPARATION OF SILAGE
CHAFFING
Crops should be harvested at optimum stage having the moisture content of 70-75 perce nt and
dried in the field for 4-5 hours. Ensiling chaffed green fodder gives quality silage as it facilitates easier and
compact packing and as a result the air pockets are reduced to a minimum. The forage material for
ensiling has to be chaffed in a chaff cutter to pieces of 1-3 cm size.
PRESERVATIVES/FEED ADDITIVES
Salt and jaggery/ molasses, each at the rate of 1% on green weight basis is used as
preservatives. A saturated solution has to be prepared by dissolving in limited quantity of water and
sprinkled on the chaffed material and mixed wee.
FILLING THE SILOKUDIR

The prepared forage material should be filled layer by layer, 15-20 cm thickness at a time, in the
silokudhir/silo and well pressed by manual trampling to remove air pockets. Filling must be completed
quickly and the gunny stitched tight and the polythene sealed using a candle flame as tightly as possible.
OPENING THE SILOKUDIR

Silo can be opened for feeding 30-35 days after ensiling. It can be easily stored for 3-6 months or
even more if anaerobiosis is maintained. In Kisan silo, comparatively better anaerobiosis is maintained
and the storage life is much longer, even upto six months or more. Once the silo is opened then it has to
be used as quickly as possible to avoid spoilage. To reduce spoilage due to aerobiosis, after opening the
silo and removing the required quantity of silage, the top must be covered with the excess gunny and
polythene and a small weight (brick) may be placed to reduce air entry and to retain compaction.
SILAGE FEEDING
Silage is normally fed during lean periods when green fodder availability is scarce. Usually one
fourth of the green fodder ration is supplemented with silage and other roughage meets the rest. For
example, an animal fed with 35 kg green fodder per day, 9 kg silage is sufficient and other roughage ad
lib is recommended for better health and milk production. Feeding excessive silage or only silage may
upset the stomach (rumen) conditions and cause ill effects. It is advisable to feed 6-9 kg silage
depending on the animal weight and milk yield. Thus the silage prepared in one 125 kg silokudir will help
to feed an animal for 14-21 days or the 180 kg Kisan silo will be enough for 20-30 days depending on the
feeding rates 9 or 6 kg per day, respectively.
OYSTER MUSHROOM- PACKAGE OF PRACTICES
Oyster mushroom is the second most popularly cultivated mushroom in the world. As the shape
of the mushroom resembles oyster shell it is called oyster mushroom. Different species and varieties of
edible oyster mushrooms in different colours are available in Nature. It can be cultivated indoor
throughout the year in entire Tamil Nadu. However, during summer months in the plains of state, extra
care is needed to maintain the required climatic conditions in the cropping rooms.
Suitable substrates
Based on the lignin and cellulose contents present in the agricultural wastes and the variety
selected for cultivation the total yield and productivity may vary. Paddy straw and wheat straw are the best
substrates for cultivation followed by sugarcane bagasse, maize cob and waste cotton. Oyster mushroom
can also be grown on cotton stalks and sorghum stalks
Cropping room
In the cropping rooms a temperature range of 24-28oC; relative humidity >80% and light intensity
of about 800-1200 lux should be maintained. Normally for small scale growing thatched sheds roofed with
coconut or palmyra leaves will be useful. However, when the volume of production is more, R.C. rooms
with perfect climate control system will help to reduce the risk of contamination. Approximately two sheds
with an area of 30 m2 each are required for growing 20 Kg of oyster mushrooms per day.
Mushroom spawn
Sorghum or wheat grains are useful for spawn preparation. Half cooked grains, are mixed with
calcium carbonate @ 20g per kg of grains(dry weight), thoroughly mixed and filled in polypropylene bags
( 5’x11’ size) provided with PVC rings as neck. The bags are tightly plugged with non-absorbent cotton
and sterilized at 1.42-kg/cm2 pressure (126oC) for 1.5-2.0 h in an autoclave. When the bags are cool, they
are aseptically inoculated with fresh cultures of oyster mushroom fungus. The work should be done in a
culture room or in a laminar flow chamber. After inoculation the spawn bags are stored in a clean room for
15-20 days before use. These bags with white mycelial growth serve as mother culture. Each mother
spawn bag can be used for inoculating 30 bed spawn bags that can be prepared following the above
procedure. It is advisable to have a thorough training in a standard research laboratory like TNAU, before
starting spawn production unit.
Method of bed preparation

For oyster mushroom bed preparation 60x30 cm or 75x45 cm polythene or polypropylene bags
are generally used. Paddy straw is chopped in to small pieces of 2-3 cm and soaked in water for 4-5
hours followed by hot water treatment or steaming for 45-60 minutes (at 80 -110 oC). Later the paddy straw
bits are shade dried until the moisture level in the substrate is 65% (can be checked by squeezing paddy
straw with hands. Excess water should not drop while squzeeing). Using this straw bits cylindrical beds
are prepared following layer method of spawning. Each spawn bag can be used for the preparation of two
oyster mushroom beds. After bed preparation two or three vent holes of one cm dia. are to be made for
aeration. The beds are incubated in cropping rooms. Depending upon the variety, within 15-20 days the
spawn running will be completed and the beds turn white. At this stage 6-8 additional holes are to be
made on the bed surface to facilitate the emerging buds to come out. At this stage water spraying on the
beds in the form of fine mist is to be done to regulate perfect growing conditions. Fresh air circulation
should also be regulated to get good yield.
Harvest
Within 2-3 days of complete spawn run buds appear on the bed surface and they attain
harvesting maturity within a day or two. After first harvest additional holes are made on bed surface or the
polythene bag is completely removed to facilitate second and third harvests. Within 7-10 days second
harvest can be obtained from the beds. Similarly within another 7-10 days third harvest can be made.
Fully grown mushrooms should be harvested before water spray. The total crop cycle will be 45-50 days.
Special Characters CO (OM) 2 Oyster mushroom

CO (OM) 2 Oyster mushroom variety has an attractive shape and more fleshiness. Average
weight of individual mushrooms range from 25-30 g.
The buds are bluish grey initially which fade to white at harvesting maturity.
The sporophore possesses eccentrically attached conspicuous stipe and the margin of the pileus
is in rolled and incurved.
An average mushroom yield of 635 g / bed (containing 500 g of dry paddy straw) is obtained (127
per cent bio-efficiency).
When compared to other commercially exploited oyster mushroom varieties like Pleurotus florida,
CO 1, M2 and Ooty1, CO 2 oyster mushroom gave increased yield.
CO 2 oyster mushroom contains 23.6 per cent protein, 2.2 percent Fat, 52.4 per cent
Carbohydrate and 12.9 per cent Fibre on dry weight basis.
Under normal conditions the mushrooms can be stored up to 3 days.
This mushroom experiences very minimum damage during packing and transport compared to all
other oyster mushroom varieties.
The flavour and taste of CO 2 oyster mushroom variety have been rated as good to excellent. It is
highly suitable for the preparation of different kinds of recipes.
Factors responsible for sustainable yield of oyster mushroom

Good quality mother spawn and bed spawn
Good quality paddy straw
Perfect growing conditions in cropping rooms
Perfect method of paddy straw treatment before bed preparation
Optimum moisture level in the substrate before bed preparation
Good hygiene in the cropping rooms and bed preparation yard
Picking the mushrooms at right stage of harvest
Boiling or steaming are the best methods of substrate treatment. However, chemical treatment
method (soaking paddy straw bits for 16-18 hours in carbendazim 7.5 g + formalin 125 ml + 100 lit. of
water) is also followed in some places. Chemical treatment method predisposes Coprinus and
Trichoderma contamination in mushroom beds. These beds are often infested by phorid and sciarid flies.
In addition, handling formalin is health hazardous.
Important Oyster Mushroom varieties suitable for growing in Tamil Nadu
Variety Species Colour Yield Bio-efficiency Year of

(g/500 g of (%) release
paddy straw)
CO 1 Pleurotus White 420 84 1986
citrinopileatus
APK 1 P. eous Rose coloured buds 900 180 1995
fading to white
at maturity
MDU 1 P.djamor White 530 106 1996
*Ooty 1 P.ostreatus Grayish white 550 110 1998
MDU 2 P.flabellatus White 480 96 2000
CO(OM) 2 Hypsizygus Blue coloured buds 640 128 2004
ulmarius fading to white
at maturity
* Suitable for growing in foot hilly areas and foot hills

MILKY MUSHROOM (APK 2) - PACKAGE OF PRACTICES
Milky mushroom loves tropical climate and can be cultivated indoor in high temperature
and high humidity areas. It is robust, fleshy, milky white and resembles button mushroom. The
commercial production techniques for milky mushroom cultivation have been standardized at
TNAU during 1998 for the first time in the entire world.
Special Characters
A new edible species for the tropics: While mushrooms like Agaricus, Pleurotus,
Volvariella, Lentinulla and Auricularia are well known to the world mushroom growers,
milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) is a potentially new species for international trade.
Attractive colour and shape: This mushroom is Umbrella like and almost resembles
button mushroom in shape and appearance at early stages of growth. The sporophores
are robust, attractive and milky white in colour.
Easy to cultivate: The cultivation technology is very simple and involves less cost compared
to button mushroom. No special compost is needed for the cultivation. The cultivation process
resembles to that of bag method of cultivation of oyster mushroom but for the additional
process of casing.
Suitable for hot humid climate: Milky mushroom grows well at a temperature range of
25-35°C and relative humidity more than 80 per cent. It can be cultivated throughout the
year in the entire plains of India.
More yield: In cylindrical polybags, a mean yield of about 350 g/bed (which contains
250g of paddy straw on dry weight basis), which works out to 140 per cent bio-efficiency,
can be harvested.
Short duration: Mushrooms can be harvested from 24-28 days after spawning and the
total crop cycle is 45-50 days. While compared to button mushroom this is shorter in
duration.
More weight/button: On an average single mushroom weighs 55-60 g and some times a
maximum weight of 472 g/button has been recorded.
Increased shelf life: The shelf life of milky mushroom is 3-5 days under normal
conditions and this mushroom is highly suitable for drying, canning, soup powder
preparation and pickle making.
Protein rich: Protein content of milky mushroom is 32.3 per cent.
Attractive market price: In market this mushroom fetches Rs.70-80/kg while oyster
mushroom and button mushroom are being sold for Rs.35-40 and Rs.70-80 per kg
respectively.
Suitable 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. However, for commercial production paddy straw
will be the best substrate.
Mushroom Spawn
Following the same method for oyster mushroom spawn, mother spawn and bed spawn
of milky mushroom is mass multiplied and used for bed preparation.
Mushroom Bed Preparation

Polythene bags of 60x30 cm or 75x45 cm size are used for mushroom bed preparation.
Chaffed paddy straw bits of 3-5cm in length are soaked in cold water for 4-5h. After draining the
excess water, the straw bits are boiled for 45-60 min. in a separate drum. Some times, steam
treatment of substrate 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
50
and cylindrical beds are prepared following layer method of spawning as we do in case of oyster
mushroom. With each bottle of spawn 2 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 12-15 days at 30 – 35oC.
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.
Cropping
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. The beds are regularly sprayed with water to
maintain 50-60 per cent moisture level on the casing surface. Pinheads 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.
Nutritive Value of Mushrooms (%) (Dry weight)
Mushroom Moisture Protein Fat Carbohydrate

Oyster mushroom 90 18-22 1.7 55.0
Milky mushroom 85 32.0 0.7 59.8
51
COMPOSTING OF SOLID WASTES
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 (250g) of Pleurotus sp.
are required to decompose 1 tonne of coir pith. In an elevated shady place or a thatched shed,
level the area and mark an area of 5x3 meter. First spread 100 kg of coir pith on this marked
area. Then spread one bottle of Pleurotus spawn over this layer. Again spread another 100 kg of
coir pith and over this spread one kg of urea uniformly. Likewise repeat the alternate application
of Pleurotus sp and urea over the each 100 kg of coir pith layer for the whole 1 tonne of pith.
Sprinkle water to attain a moisture level of 50 to 60%. The compost will be ready in about two
months. The height of the heap is to be above 1 meter while stacking. Sprinkle water when the
moisture percent goes below 50%. At the end of the composting period, the coir pith is changed
in 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%.
Composting of Weeds and Commercially Non Utilized Plants (Parthenium, Water hyacinth,
Ipomea )
Composting is one of the useful ways for utilizing the some of the weeds and non-
commercial plants like Parthenium, Water hyacinth, lpomoea etc. instead of their eradication. The
plants can be composted using Trichoderma viridi and Pleurotus sajor-caju as a microbial
consortium with supplementation of urea. Select an elevated shady area of a thatched shed and
marks an area of 5x1.5 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-meter height is reached. Sprinkle water to attain a moisture level of 50% to 60%. The
surface of the heap is covered with a thin layer of soil. Water should be sprinkled depending
upon the necessity to maintain the moisture around 50%. A turning is given at the end 20 days to
give a thorough mixing of outside material with that of the inside ones. The bio-converted
compost will be ready in about 40 days time.
Bio-CROP – An Enriched Organic Manure from Coir Dust

Bio-CROP is a nutrient rich organic manure obtained by composting coir dust along with
poultry manure, rock phosphate and microbial inoculants Pleurotus sajor-caju, Bacillus sp,
Trichoderma sp and Pseudomonas sp. The production of Bio-CROP is a simple and rapid
technique to compost coir dust within 60 days time. Bio- CROP is a composted coir dust. Bio-
CROP is an acronym. Bio-stands for Bio-manure. C- for Coir dust, R- for Rock phosphate, O- for
Organisms, P- for Poultry litter. The following materials are required to compost coir dust and
produce “Bio-CROP”.
Inputs
Coir dust = 1 tonne
Poultry manure = 200 kg
Rock phosphate = 10 kg
Pleurotus sajor-caju = 2kg
Microbial inoculants = 2 kg
(Bacillus sp + Trichoderma sp + Pseudomonas sp)
Methodology
A partially shaded area should be selected for composting of coir dust. The floor of the
selected area must be hard to prevent leaching of water or nutrients from the compost. Spread
one ton of coir dust over the floor selected for composting. A hard-cemented surface is ideal for
composting. Other wise the floor should be hardened by putting stones and other hardy materials.
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Poultry manure (200 kg) and rock phosphate (10 kg), Pleurotus sajor caju (2 kg), microbial
inoculum (2 kg) consists of Bacillus, Trichoderma, and Pseudomonas are added to the coir dust.
All the above materials are mixed together thoroughly with coir dust. After thorough mixing it
should be sprinkled with water and formed in to a heap. The moisture level should be maintained
at 60% level through out the composting period. However water should not be dripped out of the
composting material. For uniform composting of coir dust, the compost should be turned once in
every 10 days. There will be reduction in volume of coir dust and all the material will be changed
to black in color after 60th day with an earthy odor from the composted material. It will have high
water holding capacity. The composted coir dust is called as “Bio-CROP’ which contains the
following nutrients.
Nutritive value of Bio-CROP

Parameters Composition Parameters Composition
Carbon 28 % Iron 1419 mg kg-1
Nitrogen 1.82 % Manganese 116 mg kg-1
Phosphorus 2.34 % Zinc 169 mg kg-1
Potassium 0.91 % Copper 115 mg kg-1
Cellulose 4.20 % C/N ratio 15.94
Lignin 15.39 %
Advantages of Bio-CROP
1. The Bio-CROP is produced in a period of 60 days, whereas in other methods the
compost is produced 90 to 120 days.
2. Bio-CROP is environment friendly organic manure, suitable for all soils and crops. It is
processed from natural biomass adopting organic method and utilizing bio-agents for
decomposition of coir dust.
3. Application of Bio-CROP improves the physico-chemical properties of the soil by
increasing the nutrient availability in the soil and improving the soil structure, aggregation,
porosity and water holding capacity. The soil fertility is enhanced.
4. Bio-CROP supplies macronutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) as well as
micronutrients (Iron, Manganese, Copper and Zinc) to the corps.
5. It is an excellent organic medium and basal manure for application in planting pits for
corps and forest trees especially in areas of water scarcity and drought.
6. Bio-CROP is an excellent soil ameliorant and soil conditioner for correcting soil problems.
Hence it can be used as a component of biological reclamation system for bringing
alkaline, saline and also ill drained soils back to remunerative farming.
TNAU Vermi Biocompost Technology

Degradation of organic wastes by earthworm is known as Vermicomposting.
Phase of vermicomposting
Phase 1 Processing involving collection of wastes, shredding, mechanical separation of the metal,
glass and ceramics and storage of organic wastes.
Phase 2 Pre digestion of organic waste for twenty days by heaping the material along with cattle dung
slurry. This process partially digests the material and fit for earthworm consumption. Cattle
dung and biogas slurry may be used after drying. Wet dung should not be used for
vermicompost production.
Phase 3 Preparation of earthworm bed. A concrete base is required to put the waste for vermicompost
preparation. Loose soil will allow the worms to go into soil and also while watering, all the
dissolvable nutrients go into the soil along with water.
Phase 4 Collection of earthworm after vermicompost collection. Sieving the composted material to
separate fully composted material. The partially composted material will be again put into
vermicompost bed.
Phase 5 Storing the vermicompost in proper place to maintain moisture and allow the beneficial
microorganisms to grow.
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VERMICOMPOST PRODUCTION METHODOLOGY
Selection of suitable earthworm
For vermicompost production, the surface dwelling earthworm alone should be used.
The earthworm, which lives below the soil, is not suitable for vermicompost production. The
African earthworm (Eudrillus engenial), Red worms (Eisenia foetida) and composting worm
(Peronyx excavatus) are promising worms used for vermicompost production. All the three
worms can be mixed together for vermicompost production. The African worm (Eudrillus
eugenial) is preferred over other two types, because it produces higher production of
vermicompost in short period of time and more young ones in the composting period.
Selection of site for vermicompost production

Vermicompost can be produced in any place with shade, high humidity and cool.
Abandoned cattle shed or poultry shed or unused buildings can be used. If it is to be produced in
open area, shady place is selected. A thatched roof may be provided to protect the process from
direct sunlight and rain. The waste heaped for vermicompost production should be covered with
moist gunny bags.
Containers for vermicompost production

A cement tub may be constructed to a height of 2½ feet and a breadth of 3 feet. The
length may be fixed to any level depending upon the size of the room. The bottom of the tub is
made to slope like structure to drain the excess water from vermicompost unit. A small sump is
necessary to collect the drain water. In another option over the hand floor, hollow blocks / bricks
may be arranged in compartment to a height of one feet, breadth of 3 feet and length to a desired
level to have quick harvest. In this method, moisture assessment will be very easy. No excess
water will be drained. Vermicompost can also be prepared in wooden boxes, plastic buckets or in
any containers with a drain hole at the bottom.
Vermiculture bed
A vermiculture bed or worm bed (3 cm) can be prepared by placing after saw dust or
husk or coir waste or sugarcane trash in the bottom of tub / 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.
Waste selection for vermicompost production

Cattle dung (except pig, poultry and goat), farm wastes, crop residues, vegetable market
waste, flower market waste, agro industrial waste, fruit market waste and all other bio degradable
waste are suitable for vermicompost production. The cattle dung should be dried in open sunlight
before used for vermicompost production. All other waste should be predigested with cow dung
for twenty days before put into vermibed for composting.
Putting the waste in the container

The predigested waste material should be mud with 30% cattle dung either by weight or
volume. The mixed waste is placed into the tub / container upto brim. The moisture level should
be maintained at 60%. Over this material, the selected earthworm is placed uniformly. For one-
meter length, one-meter breadth and 0.5-meter height, 1 kg of worm (1000 Nos.) is required.
There is no necessity that earthworm should be put inside the waste. Earthworm will move inside
on its own.
Watering the vermibed

Daily watering is not required for vermibed. But 60% moisture should be maintained
throughout the period. If necessity arises, water should be sprinkled over the bed rather than
pouring the water. Watering should be stopped before the harvest of vermicompost.
Enriching vermicompost
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Vermicompost can be enriched with beneficial microorganism like Azotobacter,
Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria, and Pseudomonas. This enrichment process will give high
nutritive value and high biological value of vermicompost. In the enriched vermicompost, apart
from high nutrient content, the number of beneficial organism is more. For one tonne of waste
processing, one kg of Azophos (which contains both Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria) should
be inoculated twenty days after putting the waste into the vermibed.
Harvesting vermicompost
In the tub method of composting, the castings formed on the top layer are collected
periodically. The collection may be carried out once in a week. With hand the casting will be
scooped out and put in a shady place as heap like structure. The harvesting of casting should be
limited up to earthworm presence on top layer. This periodical harvesting is necessary for free
flow and retain the compost quality. Other wise the finished compost get compacted when
watering is done. In small bed type of vermicomposting method, periodical harvesting is not
required. Since the height of the waste material heaped is around 1 foot, the produced
vermicompost will be harvested after the process is over.
Harvesting earthworm
After the vermicompost production, the earthworm present in the tub / small bed may be
harvested by trapping method. In the vermibed, before harvesting the compost, small, fresh cow
dung ball is made and inserted inside the bed in five or six places. After 24 hours, the cow dung
ball is removed. All the worms will be adhered into the ball. Putting the cow dung ball in a bucket
of water will separate this adhered worm. The collected worms will be used for next batch of
composting.
Nutritive value of vermicompost

The nutrients content in vermicompost vary depending on the waste materials that is
being used for compost preparation. If the waste materials are heterogeneous one, there will be
wide range of nutrients available in the compost. If the waste materials are homogenous one,
there will be only certain nutrients are available. The common available nutrients in
vermicompost is as follows
Organic carbon = 9.5 – 17.98%

Nitrogen = 0.5 – 1.50%
Phosphorous = 0.1 – 0.30%
Potassium = 0.15 – 0.56%
Sodium = 0.06 – 0.30%
Calcium and Magnesium = 22.67 to 47.60 meq/100g
Copper = 2 – 9.50 mg kg-1
Iron = 2 – 9.30 mg kg-1
Zinc = 5.70 – 11.50 mg kg-1
Sulphur = 128 – 548 mg kg-1
Storing and packing of vermicompost

The harvested vermicompost should be stored in dark, cool place. It should have
minimum 40% moisture. Sunlight should not fall over the composted material. It will lead to loss
of moisture and nutrient content. It is advocated that the harvested composted material is openly
stored rather than packed in over sac. Packing can be done at the time of selling. If it is stored in
open place, periodical sprinkling of water may be done to maintain moisture level and also to
maintain beneficial microbial population. If the necessity comes to store the material, laminated
over sac is used for packing. This will minimize the moisture evaporation loss. Vermicompost
can be stored for one year without loss of its quality, if the moisture is maintained at 40% level.
Biocapsule
Biocapsule has been developed for precisely placing organic manure and biofertilizer
inoculum in the rhizosphere of plants. Each biocapsule contains 0.5g of organic manure mix,
which consists of composted coirdust, composted poultry manure and vermicompost. Each
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compost has been taken in equal quantity and mixed together. In that mixture, biofertilizer
inoculum, Azophos (0.2%) is inoculated and allowed to multiply in the compost. When this
biocapsule is placed along with the seed, the emerging root will have good contact with
comprehensive nutrient source of organic manure mix and biofertilizer inoculum (Azospirillum and
Phosphobacteria). The biocapsule outer coating will get dissolve with in 20 minutes after contact
with water, and the entire content of capsule is with in the root region.
The performance of this biocapsule was evaluated by testing it on Zinnia with fifty percent
of recommended dose of fertilizer. The zinnia plant raised from biocapsule applied pot recorded
higher growth and increased the flower vase life for another by two days when compared to
control plant where the recommended inorganic fertilizer was only applied.
Biofilm
Biofilm are solid substrate over which specific microorganism are grown. The solid
substrate act as base material for fixing the microorganism on the surface itself without suffering
of drifting from one place to another place in the aqueous medium. The solid substrate selected
for making biofilm should hold more number of microorganisms in a unit area.
Among the solid waste screened for making biofilm, typha root pith accommodates more
number of microorganisms in a unit area (413x10’ CFU/g). So, select typha root pith for making
biofilm. Inoculate Bacillus culture into the respective broth and put sterilized typha root pith inside
the broth when Bacillus culture is growing, the cells also grow inside the root pith. After the
maximum growth, take the typha root pith and put inside the dye effluent for removing the color.
44% of color can be removed from the dye effluent after treating with biofilm.
TNAU microbial consortium for composting municipal solid waste

A microbial consortium consists of efficient microorganisms that are responsible for
degrading lignin, cellulose, hemi-cellulose, protein, fat etc. These microorganisms (bacteria,
fungi, actinomycetes) should be grown separately in the respective broth, and the grown cultures
should be mixed in the carrier material (lignite). Then all these cultures should be mixed together
to form a consortium. This microbial consortium is sufficient to compost all the biodegradable
waste including biodegradable municipal solid waste. This microbial consortium is designated as
TNAU microbial consortium.
Methods of composting the Municipal Solid Wastes

Biodegradable municipal solid waste should be separated and collected for composting.
Five hundred kg of material should be heaped in the compost yard
In that heaped waste, 1 kg of TNAU microbial consortium should be applied in the form of
slurry to cover the full waste material. This 1 kg microbial consortium can be mixed with
5 litres of water to make slurry. This slurry is sufficient to cover 0.5 tonne of material
Then, 50 kg of cowdung should be mixed with 30 litre of water to form cowdung slurry.
This cow dung slurry should be sprayed over the heap of municipal solid waste
Then, 1 kg of urea should be mixed with solid waste
60% moisture should be maintained through out the period of composting
Compost should be turned up once in 15 days to create good aeration, and for thorough
mixing. Because of this practice, a uniform composted material will be obtained
Solid waste can be composted with in 90 days by this method with the indication of
reduction in the volume, appearance of dark coloured materials and a small of earthy
odour
After the completion of composting, compost should be sieved through normal mesh to
separate unwanted and partially composted material
Value addition of poultry waste compost

A known quantity of poultry droppings and coir pith @ 4:5 ratio should be mixed well to
attain a C/N ratio of 25:1 to 30:1 which is considered to be the optimum C/N ratio for compositing.
Pleurotus sajor-caju, a lignocellulolytic organism, should be inoculated into the mix @ 2 packets
per tonne of waste in order to speed up the composting process. The mix should be heaped
under the shade. The moisture content of the mix should be maintained within 40 – 50%.
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Periodical turning should be given on 21st, 28th and 35th day of composting. Another two packets
of Pleurotus sajor – caju is to be added when turning is given on the 28th day of composting. A
good quality compost will be obtained in 45 days, which contains 2.08% N, 1.93 % P and 1.41 %
K with C/N ratio of 10.16
Nitrogen conservation in poultry droppings

Poultry waste, which contains higher concentration of nitrogen, is one among the animal
manures, which can highly contribute to agricultural production. But in poultry droppings, nearly
60% of nitrogen, which is present as uric acid and urea, is lost through ammonia volatilization by
hydrolysis. Composting with suitable organic amendments such as sawdust, coir dust and paddy
straw can reduce ammonia loss from poultry droppings and thereby nitrogen can be effectively
conserved. Anaerobic method of composting found to be effective in reducing nitrogen loss from
poultry droppings. Acidification with elemental sulphur inhibits the ammonia volatilization. So,
poultry droppings, coir pith and elemental sulphur can be mixed in the ratio of 20:2:1 for
composting. Anaerobic condition can be created by plastering of heaps with red earth and
allowed for 60 days. This method of anaerobic composting of poultry droppings reduces the loss
of nitrogen by 22% over control.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE UTILIZATION FOR LAND RECLAMATION

AND CROP PRODUCTION
Application of Untreated Distillery Effluent (Spentwash) for the Reclamation of Sodic Soils
Amendments generally used to reclaim sodic soils are gypsum, phosphogypsum, iron
pyrites and elemental sulphur. All these are inorganic in nature. Some of the organic amendments
to reclaim the sodic soils are press-mud, farmyard manure (FYM), coir dust and green manures.
The direct discharge of untreated distillery effluent (spentwash) to reclaim and improve the
productivity of the sodic soils is now advocated. Untreated distillery effluent (spentwash) is acidic
(pH: 3.8 – 4.2) with considerable quantity of potassium, calcium and magnesium and traces of
micronutrients. Organic compounds, mainly the humic related melanoidins improve the bio-
catalytic potential of the treated soil.
Hence, only one time application of 3.75 to 5.00 lakhs litres of untreated distillery effluent
(spentwash) per hectare of sodic soils in summer months is recommended. Natural oxidation can
be induced for a period of six weeks with two intermittent dry ploughing at a particular interval.
Then, after 45 – 60th day of application, soil is to be irrigated with fresh water and drained. This
treatment reduces the pH and exchangeable sodium percentage to normal level and increases
the productivity of the sodic soils. After this reclamation practice, rice crop can be raised in the
effluent applied field adopting the conventional cultivation technique. Application of this effluent
again to the next crop/season or year after year and also to the land nearby drinking water
sources is not advocated.
Application of Treated Distillery Effluent to Crops

Treated distillery effluent contains nitrogen 1200 mg L -1, phosphate 500 mg L -1,
potash 12000 mg L-1, calcium 1800 mg L-1 and iron 300 mg L-1. Since the effluent has
higher dissolved salts, 50 times diluted effluent can be irrigated to sugarcane, banana,
ragi, sunflower, grasses, cotton and soybean.
It can also be used as one time application to fallow land at the rate 20,000 to 40, 000
litres per hectare. It should be allowed for complete drying over a period of 20 to 30 days.
The effluent applied field is to be thoroughly ploughed two times for the natural oxidation
and mineralization of organic matter. After that, crops can be raised in the effluent applied
field adopting the conventional methods. Application of this effluent again to the next
crop/season or year after year and also to the land nearby drinking water sources is not
advocated.
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Irrigation of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents
Pulp and paper effluents contain lot of dissolved solids and stabilized organic matter. The
properly treated effluent with EC less than 1.2 dSm-1 as such can safely be used for irrigation with
appropriate amendments viz., pressmud @ 5 tonnes ha-1 (or) fortified pressmud @ 2.5 tonnes ha-
1
or daincha as in -situ green manure (6.25 tonnes ha-1).
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. This
treated effluent can be used for irrigation in these soils for the following crops and varieties along
with recommended doses of amendments viz., pressmud @ 5 tonnes ha-1, or fortified pressmud
@ 2.5 tonnes ha-1 or daincha as in situ green manure (6.25 tonnes ha-1).
Crops Varieties
Rice : IR 20, TRY 1, CO 43.
Maize : CO 1
Sunflower : CO 2
Groundnut : TMV 7
Soybean : CO 1
Sugarcane : CO 6304 (Ruling variety) COSi 86071, COC 95071,
CO 86032
Tapioca : CO (TP) 4, CO 2, CO 3, MVD 1
However, irrigating this treated effluent to oil seed crops like gingelly and castor, pulses
like greengram and blackgram is not advocated as they were found to be sensitive for this type of
effluent irrigation.
Crops and Varieties Suitable for Tannery Waste Affected Soils

Based on the results of field trials conducted at Vellore district, the following crops, trees
and their varieties are recommended for the tannery waste affected soils
Crops Varieties
Cereals : Rice (TRY 1, CO 43, Paiyur 1, ASD 16)
Millets : Ragi (CO 12, CO 13)
Oilseeds : Sunflower (CO 4, Morden) and Mustard
Cash crops : Sugarcane (COG 94076, COG 88123, COC 771)
Vegetables : Brinjal, Bhendi, Chillies, Tomato (PKM 1)
Flowering crops : Jasmine, Neerium, Tuberose
Trees : Eucalyptus, Casuarinas and Acacia
Reclamation of papermill effluent irrigated soil

Application of 7.25 t ha-1 of gypsum is recommended to reclaim the TEWLIS area soils of
Karur district (Moolimangalam, Pandipalayam, Pazhamapuram, Thadampalayam and
Ponniagoundanpudur) where the treated paper mill effluent is being continuously used for
irrigation since 1995.
Application of pressmud @ 6 t ha-1 along with Blue Green Algae (15 kg ha-1) and Gypsum
(50% Gypsum requirement) is also effective in reclaiming the saline sodic soil with continuous
papermill effluent irrigation and to increase the green fodder yield of Lucerne.
TNAU constructed wetland technology

TNAU constructed wetland technology is recommended for treating the papermill effluent
using species viz., Typha latifolia, Pharagmitis australis and Cyperus pangorei with plant density
of 2.5 lakhs shoots ha-1 (25 shoots m-2). Around 1 ha of wetland area is required to treat 1000 m 3
of wastewater per day with a retention time of 2 – 3 days.
58
The wetland beds should be lined with an impermeable liner made of PVC or high-
density poly ethylene (HDPE). The bottom most layer of wetland should be filled with ½ to 1”
pebbles to a depth of 6 cm followed by Pea gravel of 6 cm, coarse sand and fine sand each of 7
cm and the top layer with soil to a depth of 9 cm.
59
SERICULTURE
A. MULBERRY (Morus spp. ) CULTIVATION

1. IRRIGATED
1.1. MULBERRY VARIETIES

Kanva 2 (M 5), MR 2, S 36, S 1635, DD, V 1
1.2. SOIL TYPE

Deep red soil or red loamy soil. Avoid saline, alkaline or highly acidic soils.
1.3. NURSERY
Select 800 m2 area near water source for raising saplings required for planting one
hectare of main field.
Apply 1600 kg of FYM.
Raise nursery beds of 4 m x 1.5m size. The length can be of convenient size depending
upon the slope and irrigation source.
Semi-hardwood cuttings of 10 to12 mm diameter, free from pests and diseases are
selected from 6 to 8 months old well established garden.
The cuttings should be of 15 to 20 cm length with 3 to 4 active buds and should have 45o
slanting sharp clean cut (without splitting the bark) at the bottom end.
Use power operated mulberry cutter (TNAU stem cutting machine) for quick cutting of
propagation material with an output of 1000 cuttings per hour.
Mix one kg of Azospirillum (AZP2 culture) in 40 l of water and keep the bottom ends for 30
minutes in it.
Apply VAM @ 100 g/m2 of nursery area and irrigate.
Plant the cuttings in the nursery at 15 cm x 7 cm spacing at an angle of 45o.
Ensure exposure of atleast one active bud in each cutting.
Dust one kg endosulfan 4D or malathion 5D or quinalphos 1.5D to prevent termite attack.
Drench the soil with carbendazim 50WP (2 g/l) or apply Trichoderma viride 0.5 g/ m2 to
prevent root rot and collar rot.
After weeding, apply 100 g of urea/m2 of nursery between 45 and 50 days after planting.
Transplant 90 to 120 days old saplings.
1.4. MAIN FIELD

Plough the land with mould board plough followed by cultivator and rotavator.
Use chisel plough to break hard pan by operating the plough in criss-cross direction at 50
cm distance.
During the last plough, apply 20 t of FYM or 5.6 t of vermicompost / ha.
1.4.1. Planting
Plant the saplings in ridges and furrows at 90 cm x 90 cm spacing (normal row) or at
75/105 cm x 90 cm spacing under paired row system.
Planting should coincide with onset of monsoon. Gaps should be filled up, to maintain a
population of 12,345 plants/ ha.

Manures and Fertilizers
FYM : 20 t/ha/yr
Fertilizers : 300 : 120 : 120 kg NPK / ha / yr
Apply in split doses after every pruning
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Application after Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
pruning (kg) (kg) (kg)
1st 60 60 60
2nd 60 -- --
3rd 60 60 60
4th 60 -- --
5th 60 -- --
Total 300 120 120
For the variety V 1, apply 375 : 140 : 140 kg NPK/ ha./ yr (in equal splits as above)
Note: Apply the fertilizers based on the Soil Test recommendations to optimize the NPK
requirement.
Nitrogen
Apply Azospirillum in five split doses at 4 kg/ha, each time, after every pruning to
compensate 25 % of inorganic N fertilizer.
In situ growing and incorporation of sunnhemp, combined with bio-fertilizer can save 50
% of N.
Phosphorus
Apply phosphorus solubilizing bacteria at 10 kg/ha/yr in two equal splits.
Apply phosphorus as Enriched FYM (EFYM) in two equal splits along with first and third
application of nitrogen.
Preparation of EFYM ;
Mix 375 kg Single Super Phosphate with 750 kg FYM, moisten and keep it in an
anaerobic condition for 45 days.
Micronutrients
Spray 1 % FeSO4 or 0.5 % ZnSO4 or both whenever the deficiency symptoms are
noticed.
1.4.3. Inter crop

After every pruning, grow short term crops like greens, greengram, blackgram, coriander,
cowpea, horsegram and sunnhemp.

Weeding should be done manually or chemically after pruning, based on need.
Apply glyphosate at 7.5 ml with 10 g of ammonium sulphate / l of water.
1.4.5. Water management

Irrigate the field once in seven to eight days based on the need. Drip irrigation, if followed,
can save 40 % of water requirement.
1.4.6. Pruning
Once in a year, bottom pruning is done leaving a stem of 10 cm height. Other prunings are
done at a height of 30-35 cm from ground level. Totally five prunings are practiced every
year.
1.4.7. Harvesting
First leaf harvest can be made six months after planting. Subsequent leaf harvests can be
taken 45 days after pruning. Five harvests can be had in an year.
Varieties Leaf yield (t/ha/yr)

Kanva 2, MR 2, S 36, S 1635 35-40
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DD 40-45
V1 55-60
2. Chawki garden
Maintain a separate chawki garden for rearing young age worms. Otherwise a part of the
main field (5 % area) can be allotted for this purpose.
Variety : S 36 (more suitable because of high carbohydrate and protein content)
FYM : 40 t/ha/yr
Fertilizers : 225: 150: 150 NPK kg/ha/yr in eight splits
Irrigation : once in five days.
Yield : 25 t/ha/yr in 12 harvests.
Note: V 1 is also suitable for chawki rearing with high nutrient input.
3. RAINFED
Varieties : S 13, S 34, S 1635, RFS 135, RFS 175
Spacing : 90 cm x 90 cm in pit system of planting
Manures and Fertilizers :
FYM : 20 t/ha/yr
Fertilizer : 100 : 50 : 50 kg NPK/ ha./ yr
Apply in split doses after pruning
Time of Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

application (kg) (kg) (kg)
1st crop 50 50 50
2nd crop 50 - -
Total 100 50 50
Leaf yield : 12 – 15 t/ha/yr
4. Pest and disease management
4.1. Pests
(Pink mealy bug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus)(Tukra .4.1.1

Cut and burn the affected shoots.
Spot application of endosulfan 4D or malathion 5D around the bushes to kill the phoretic
ants.
Spray dichlorvos 76 WSC @ 1 ml/l (safe waiting period -10 days).
Release predatory coccinellids, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri @ 750 beetles/ ha or
Scymnus coccivora @ 1000 beetles /ha
4.1.2. Thrips (Pseudodendrothrips mori)

Spray dichlorvos 76 WSC @ 2 ml/l or malathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/l
4.1.3. Leaf webber (Diaphania pulverulentalis)

Irrigate the mulberry field immediately after pruning to expose the leaf webber pupae.
Release pupal parasitoid, Tetrastichus howardi @ 50,000/ha next day after pruning and
egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis @ 5cc/ha at 10 days after pruning.
Spray dichlorvos 76 WSC @ 1 ml/l (500 ml/ha) on 30 days after pruning.
Clip and burn the affected shoots.
4.1.4. Black scale (Saissetia nigra)

Scrap with a plate to dislodge the insects.
Spray malathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/l.
4.2. Diseases
62
4.2.1. Root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp.)
Apply neem cake @ 1 t/ha in five split doses
Uproot and burn the diseased plants.
Apply copper oxychloride @ 2g/l in the affected areas
or
apply antagonistic biocontrol agents viz., Trichoderma viride or Pseudomonas fluorescens or
Bacillus subtilis @ 25g/plant as soil treatment.
4.2.2 Powdery mildew (Phyllactinea corylea)

Spray Wettable Sulphur or carbendazim @ 2g /l
B. SILKWORM (Bombyx mori) REARING

1. Silkworm races
Multi x Bivoltine (cross breeds) :

Irrigated areas : BL24 x NB4D2, PM x CSR2, PM x NB4D2, APM1x APS8
(Swarnaandhra), BL43xNB4D2,
Rainfed areas : PM x C.Nichi, BL23 x NB4D2
Bivoltine hybrids: CSR2 x CSR 4, CSR 18 x CSR 19, KSO1 x NP 2.
2. Rearing house
A well ventilated CSB model rearing house with separate ante room, chawki room, late
age worm rearing room and spinning hall should be used for silkworm rearing.
Avoid rearing in dwelling house and in thatched sheds.
3. General disinfection
Spray 2 % formalin with 0.3 % slaked lime or 2.5 % chlorine dioxide with 0.5 % slaked
lime @ 2 l/m2 area for disinfecting the rearing house.
Dip the rearing equipments in 2 % bleaching powder solution and sun dry before use.
Dust 5% bleaching powder with slaked lime powder @ 200 g/m 2 around the rearing house
and the passages, and sprinkle water @ 1 l /m2 floor area.
4. Incubation of eggs
Incubate the eggs at 25oC temperature and 80 % humidity.
At head pigmentation stage (about 48 hours before hatching), keep in dark condition by
wrapping in black paper or by keeping them in a box (black boxing).
5. Optimum rearing conditions
Instar Period Temp Humidity Leaf size Size of Quantity of leaves (kg)
(days) (0C) (%) (cm2) the required for 100 DFLs
cleaning Cross Bivoltines
net (mm) breeds
Early
I 3-4 27-28 85-90 0.5 – 2.0 2 4-5 6-7
II 2-3 26-27 80-85 2.0 – 4.0 2 6-8 9-10
Late
III 4-5 25-26 75-80 4.0 – 6.0 10 30-35 ** 35-40 **
IV 4-5 24-25 70-75 Entire 20 80-90** 120-150**
V 7-9 22-24 70-75 Entire 20 700-800** 800-950**
Total 820-938 1070-1157*
* New CSR breeds / hybrids require 15 to 20 % higher quantity of leaves.
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**Note: The ratio between stem and leaves in the shoot ranges from 3:2 to 1:1. The shoots can
be harvested and used accordingly for shoot rearing.
6. Chawki rearing and cleaning :

In a tray of 120 cm x 90 cm x 10 cm size, 20 DFLs are brushed and reared till the end of
second age.
From brushing to the end of second age, the larvae are fed with tender leaves.
The leaves are selected from the largest glossy leaf, 3rd and 4th from the top for I instar
larvae.
The 5th to 8th leaves are used to rear the second instar larvae.
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.
7. Shoot rearing for late age worms

Provide separate rearing house for shoot rearing in shady areas.
Fabricate the rack stand with wood or steel and the rearing seat with wire mesh/bamboo
mat.
Shoot rearing rack of 1.2m x 11m size is sufficient to rear 50 DFLs.
Provide 15 cm border on all sides of the shelf to prevent the dispersal of the larvae.
Arrange the shelves in three tier system with 50 cm space between the tiers
Clean the bed once in each instar
For cleaning, place two ropes parallelly on the bed and place the new shoots over the
ropes. After all the worms have moved on to the new shoots, take the rope from the bed
and remove the remains and refuses.
8. Shoot harvesting and feeding

Harvest the shoots at 1 m height from ground level at 60 to 70 days after pruning.
Store the shoots vertically upwards in dark cooler room.
Provide thin layer of water (3 cm) in one corner of storage room and place the cut ends of
shoots in the water for moisture retention.
Provide a layer of newspaper in rearing shelf.
Spread the shoot in perpendicular to width of the bed.
Place top and bottom ends of the shoots alternatively to ensure equal mixing of different
qualities of leaves.
Transfer the third instar larvae to shoots immediately after moulting.
Apply soyaflour twice @ 5g /kg of shoots on first day of first feeding during fourth and fifth
instars.
9. Pest and disease management

9.1. Pest
9.1.1. Uzi fly (Exorista bombycis)
Provide physical barriers like wire mesh or nylon net in the doors and windows of the
rearing rooms.
Spray uzicide (1 % benzoic acid) over the larvae to dislodge the eggs.
Dissolve “uzi tablets” in water (2 tablets/l) or Asiphor 15 ml/l of water in white bowls to
attract the adults (uzitrap). Keep them near windows/ at the entrance of rearing room.
Release hyperparasitoid, Nesolynx thymus @ 1000 adults/ DFL during night hours, in
three split doses @ 80, 160 and 760/DFL during fourth and fifth instars, and after cocoon
harvest respectively.
9.2. DISEASES
9.2.1. General bed disinfection
Avoid smearing of cowdung in rearing trays.
Keep the rearing bed thin and dry by applying slacked lime at 30 to 50 g/ m2.
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Apply bed disinfectants such as Sakthi or Vijetha or Resham Jyothi or Sanjeevini @ 4 kg/
100 DFLs to prevent the secondary transmission of diseases.
9.2.2. Grasserie (Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus )

Dip the mulberry leaves with aqueous extract of Psoralea corylifolia @ 800 mg/l of water
and feed third instar worms or dust turmeric powder + chalk powder (1:5) @ 4 kg/100
DFLs on third instar larvae.
9.2.3. Bacterial diseases (Bacillus, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Serratia)

Treat the mulberry leaves with antibiotics like streptomycin or tetracycline or ampicillin @
500 mg/l of water and feed them to third instar larvae.
9.2.4. Fungal diseases (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Aspergillus flavus)

Mix 10 to 20 g of mancozeb with one kg of slaked lime powder and dust the mixture on larvae
@ 30 to 50 g/m2.
Disinfect rearing rooms and trays with 4 % pentachlorophenol to control Aspergillosis.
9.2.5. Pebrine (Nosema bombycis)

Surface disinfect the layings in 2 % formalin for 10 minutes before incubation.
Collect and burn the diseased eggs, larvae, pupae, moths, bed refuses, faecal pellets, etc.
10. Moulting care

Apply slaked lime @ 30 to 50 g/m2 when all the worms settle for moult for uniform
moulting.
11. Mounting
For early and uniform spinning of cocoons, apply Sampoorna @ 20 ml (dissolved in 4 l of
water)/100 DFLs over the leaves and feed to silkworms.
Avoid hiring of mountages.
Arrange 800 to 900 worms per m2 on a mountage.
Mountages should be kept in shade in a well ventilated place in slanting position during
spinning.
Rotary mountages can also be used (one set of rotary mountage can accommodate 1560
worms).
12. Harvesting
Harvest the cocoons of crossbreeds and bivoltines on 5th and 7th day after spinning,
respectively.
Yield
Cross breeds : Rainfed 20-25 kg/100 DFLs
Irrigated 50-60 kg/100 DFLs
Bivoltines : 60-70 kg/100 DFLs
65
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 pentandraand 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. Seedlings are raised for 4-5
months to reach 50 cm height.
Planting : To be taken up with 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
known to form nodules with local Rhizobium. 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.
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Simarouba glauca
Origin : New Introduction from El Salvatodr, (Brazil).The tree is commonly
found in Brazil at elevations ranging from sea level to 3000 feet,
but the more heavily populated natural stands are encountered at
medium elevation of 1,500 to 2,500 ft. prefers sub humid climates
with annual precipitations of between 800 and 2000 millimetres
and temperature from 20 to 26°C.
Rotation age (felling age) : 60-80 years
Spacing : 4 m x 4m , 6-8.0 m interval
Preparatory cultivation : The preparation of the site is a completed by May-June, and
ploughing with disc is initially suggested.
Nursery : Simaruba seedlings are raised during April-June in poly bags filled
with nursery mixture. Seedlings older than 2 months can be
transplantied. The grafts of elite lines or the apomietic seedlings
with known sex should preferred for planting to get higher and
earlier return.
Planting : In rain fed marginal lands / Wastelands transplanting is done in the
beginning of monsoon so that the plants can establish well by the
end of raining season.
Pit size : 45 x 45 x 45 cm size half filled with top soil and 3-5 kg compost.
The plants grow well with a protective watering of 2-5 l/week
during the first summer
After care : Regular weeding in the first two years of growth is recommended.
Special feature For effective pollination and good bearing planting of
andromonoecious and female plants in a 1:20 ratio in the right
geometry is advocated (or) some selected female plants may be
grafted with a few branches, of high yielding andromonoecious
grafts.
Plant protection : No major pest and diseases; Only some mites and bark feeder
found
Yield : Simaruba seeds contain 60-65 percent oil; Each well grown tree
yields up to 10 kg of seeds (i.e. 5-6 kg of oil and 4-5 kg of oil
cake) and a well established tree gives an oil yields alone 600-
800 kg/ha/ year after 10 years of planting
Uses : Edible oil, soap making, medicinal value, remedy for diarrhoea,
lubricants, varnishes, light furniture, match sticks
Eucalyptus spp.
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 is 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.
The preferred espacement is 2 x 2 m and seedlings are planted in pits 30 cm 3 size. 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.
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Survival of planted seedlings in the field is influenced by the following:
i) Deeper pits of 30x30x45 cm 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.
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.
Planting during the early phase of the monsoon, especially within a fortnight of commencement
vii)
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 this 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. Even though 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 rain fed 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.
68
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 cm3 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.
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.
69
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 euglosaand
white rot Tramates floccasaare 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%,
carbohydrate 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.
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)
70
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, Ceiba pentandra can be differentiated into three
types.
1. C.pentandra var. india
2. C.pentandra var. caribea
3. C.pentandra var. afria
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
dullpale 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.
Mainfield
Spacing: 7 x 7 m
Pit size: 30 cm3
Planting: During rainy season or at any time with irrigation facilities
Weeding: Should be done twice, for 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 utilized 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
71
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
earth 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) Eligma narcissus an 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.
Pongamia pinnata
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, is a nitrogen-fixing, fodder and important tree borne oil
seed of the leguminous family.
Origin: It is native to humid and subtropical environments along the coasts and river
banks in India and Myanmar, and will thrive in areas having an annual rainfall ranging from
500mm to 2500 mm.
Distribution: India and Burma and this species have been introduced to humid tropical
low land in the Philipines, Malaysia, Australia United States and Indonesia.
Rotation: Grown in 30 years rotations for fuel wood
Spacing: 2 x3 m (or) 3x3 m for block planting
6 x 8 m for avenue planting and on field borders.
Nursery: Pungam is easily propagated by seeds and stem cutting. Seed is dibbled in the
nursery beds any time after collection preferably in the beginning of hot weather, at a spacing of
7.5 cm x 15 cm. Mulching of sown beds is helpful. Germination commences after about 10 day
and completed in about a month. Pricking out improves the growth. Seedlings attain a height of
25-30 cm by the end of first growing season and / or about 60 cm by the beginning of the next
rainy season, when they may be planted out entire, with ball of earth, or in the form of stumps.
The stem cuttings of 20-30 cm long and 2-4 cm in diameter are prepared in the month of
November to February when plants become leafless. Cuttings are planted in the month of
November to February at 60 x 30 cm distances.
Planting: Seedlings about 60 cm in height are suitable for planting with ball of earth, or in
the form of root and shoot cuttings, in pits 45-60 cm3.
After Care: Young plants should be provided with sufficient soil moisture by occasional
watering for at least two seasons.
Plant Protection: Karanj plants may be attacked by defoliaters, leaf miners and
sapsuckers. Beside fungi attack the seedlings and trees are Ganoderma lucidum (root rot) and
Fomes merillii.
Special Features : Nodulation capacity and biodiesel property of the oil.
Tending: Two (or) three weedings are required per year for the first 2-3 years of sowing /
planting. For the avenue trees, side branches should be pruned to get proper bole
Yield and Economics: Trees often reach height in 4 (or) 5 years, bearing at age of 4-7
years. A single tree is said to yield 9-90 kg seed per tree, indicating a yield potential of 900-9000
kg seed/ha, and seed contain oil 25% of which weight be rendered as oil (assuming 100
trees/ha). In general, Indian mills extract 24 -27.5% oil, village crushers, 18-22% oil.
Uses: Timber, Fire wood, Fodder, Fibre, Oil, Manure, Food, Pest control, Poultry feed,
Folk medicine.
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73
Jatropha curcas
Jatropha curcas is multipurpose non-edible oil yielding perennial shrub originated in tropical
America.
Family : Euphorbiaceac
Special Features : Hardy and drought tolerant and non-browsable and latex producing plant. The oil
from J. curcas can be used as biodisel blend upto 20%.
Rotation : Economically maintained upto 30 years
Climate : It grows well under subtropical and tropical climates. It can tolerate extremes of
temperature but not the frost.
Soil : It is grown in wide range of soils. It comes up in the margined land and also in
problem soil.
Propagation : Jatropha is normally propagated through seeds. Well developed plumpy seeds are
used for sowing. Germinated seeds are sown in poly bags of 10 x 20 cm size filled
with red soil / sand and farmyard manure in the ratio of 1:1:1 respectively.
Planting of : - In one acre 1000 plants can be planted
Jatropha - Spacing: 2 m x 2m
Pits : 30 cm3 may be dug and filled with soil and organic (5 kg FYM+ 100 g Neem cake +
100 g super) per pit be fore planting.
Planting time : Monsoon season (June-July, October-November)
Manures and : 20: 120: 60 kg of NPK / acre in 2nd year onwards applied during September-October
fertilizer
Irrigation : Fortnight interval
After care : Weeding may be attended
Canopy : The terminal growing twig is to be pinched to induce secondary branches. Likewise
Management the secondary and tertiary branches are to be pinched or pruned at the end of first
and second year to induce a minimum of 25 branches at the end of third year.
Yield : 9 months after sowing the seedling produce flowering and 3 rd year onwards the
economic yield started. We obtain 500 kg – 1000 kg / seed per acre under rain fed
and 3000 kg/ac under irrigated condition.
Plant protection : Pest (Bark eater) and collar rot disease; Drenching with cropper oxyzhloride controls
the collar rot disease.
Tectona grandis
Origin : Indigenous to India and North-East part of Java.
Rotation : In natural forest rotation is 100-120 years, in artificial regeneration it is 70-80
years and in coppice regeneration it is 40-60 years.
Climate and soil : Mostly occurs in monsoon climate, under tropical and sub tropical conditions.
Sandy loam soil and has 6-7 pH not exceeds 8.5 & well drained.
Rainfall : 1000-1500 mm and even less than 750 mm per year.
Spacing : 1.8x1.8 m, 2x2 m is generally initially applied. (Then thinned)
Nursery : 50-60% germination percentage and 2.5 to 3 kg seeds are required to prepare
practices one mother bed and derived 1000-1500 seedlings. Stumps are prepared out of
seedlings that of 25 cm long collar (2-3 cm) and 22-23 cm of tap root.
Planting : It is done in pre monsoon period which has high success. Square or line planting
is done in 45-60 cm3 size pits for seedlings and for stump planting 15 cm
diameter holes and 30 cm depth are prepared.
Plant protection : Leaf defoliaters (Hyblaea pueira) and leaf skeletonizer (Eutectona machaeralis)
Important pest
Important : Leaf blight (Rhictonia solani) and fungal on fruits (Alternaria sp)
disease
Special features : Presence of "Tectol" phenol in sap gives high resistance to sap wood rot.
Uses : Timber value is superior, so called "King of Trees". It can use for all purpose.
Yield : It Yields volume 1.58 cum of timber per year per tree (increment).
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AGROFORESTRY OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT AGROCLIMATIC
ZONES OF TAMIL NADU
The state of Tamil Nadu has experienced drought almost every fourth or 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 precipitation 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 early 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 establish 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 soil 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 Rhizobiuminoculation as evident in
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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.
The non-leguminous species have responded favourably to the application of

Azotobacter and Arbuscular Mycorrhizalcultures 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 & 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 auriculiformis, 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 Eastern 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 finger
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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
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
arabicafor planting along the field bunds, Dalbergia 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 monsoons. 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
Hevea 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.
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78
79
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. Integration 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 help 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 utilization 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 taken. Of all the treatments, in Paiyur, in a 2.00 acre farm,
the dairy based farming gave the maximum income (Rs.12,180/ha/yr) and employment (518
mandays) in a year. In Yercaud the dairy cum poultry farming gave the maximum income (Rs.13,
822/ha/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 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 utilized 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.20,188 per ha and Rs.11,730 per ha in IFS and CCS respectively. The additional employment
generated from IFS was 150 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 - rice fallow Pulse) and a net income
of Rs.22,676 was obtained from the modified cropping system (Rice - rice - cotton / 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 farming system over existing cropping system. The existing
cropping system could generate only 252 mandays whereas mixed farming system generated
396 mandays. The additional employment generated from mixed farming was 144 mandays over
and above the existing method of cropping.
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Another comparative study was carried out with rice-rice-rice fallow pulses as
conventional cropping System (CCS) and with rice-rice-rice fallow blackgram/rice fallow cotton
and fodder grass along with 3 milch animals as Integrated Farming System. The results 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.
Inclusion of dairy unit generated an additional employment of 190 mandays. The total additional
employment generated by dairy based mixed farming was 396 mandays over the cropping
system.
Research on Integrated Farming System was done both at on-station and on-farm
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 at TNAU
Coimbatore.
Wetlands
In wetland situation 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.70,619/ha -1 yr-1 and that of
the control was Rs.33,446/- ha-1 yr-1. Of the income from Integrated Farming System 59.3per cent
was from cropping, 8.7per cent from poultry, 7.4 per cent from fish culture and 24.6 per cent from
mushroom. The additional net income realized from the integrated farming system was Rs.18,360
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.20, 702 per
hectare per year.
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 of 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 realized 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. 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 substations.
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
81
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 organized 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 for various agro-climatic zones of tamilnadu

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 faming system models proposed based on the research carried out
and could be recommended with slight modification for each agro-climatic zone 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 5 kg
oyster mushroom production per day will result in higher net return of Rs.35,000/ha/ year (or)
Integration of Rice-Gingelly-Maize and Rice-Soybean-Sunflower in 0.90 ha with 0.10 ha
polyculture fish rearing, 100 pairs of pigeon and 5kg mushroom production per day could result in
higher return of Rs.88, 700 in one ha farming with additional employment of 300 man days/year.
The highest net return of Rs.1, 31,118 could be possible by integration of goat (20 female + one
male), fish (400 numbers of polyculture), along with improved cropping system for wetlands.
Irrigated upland
Integration of six crossbred milch animal with 2 m3 biogas production, 2 kg mushroom
production and 20 bottles of mushroom spawn with farm forestry and homestead garden results
in higher net return of Rs.34, 580 with 1250 man days employment in one hectare farming under
irrigated upland condition.
Rainfed land
Integration of grain crop cultivation with fodder production and silvipastoral trees involving
trees like subabul, acacia sp., and thorn less prosophis interplanted with cenchrus grasses and
rearing of 20 female and one male of Tellicherry goat results in additional income of Rs. 5970/ ha
in rainfed farming.
II. NORTH WESTERN ZONE
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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. 28, 580/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 cows resulted in a net return of Rs. 19,
900 (or) crop cultivation along with goat rearing (6 Nos.) fetched Rs. 25,400 (or) cropping with
duck and fish rearing resulted in a net return of Rs. 24,110. When the above system is integrated
with mushroom cultivation has resulted in a net return of Rs. 25,000 per year.
V. SOUTHERN ZONE
Integration of rice based cropping with fish rearing and poultry in one ha land area
fetched an additional income of Rs. 9530 in Periyar - Vaigai Command Area.
Integration of milch cow and fish rearing with rice based cropping system in wetlands of
Tirunelveli district will fetch revenue of Rs. 25,210 as net income. In rainfed black clay soil,
integration of cropping with fruit tree cultivation and goat rearing resulted in better returns.
Adoption of improved farming system models can result in the advantages listed below.
Higher food production to equate the demand of the exploding population of our nation
Increased farm income through proper residue recycling and allied components
Sustainable soil fertility and productivity through organic waste recycling
Integration of allied activities will result in the availability of nutritious food enriched with
protein, carbohydrate, fat, minerals and vitamins
Integrated farming will help in environmental protection through effective recycling of
waste from animal activities like piggery, poultry and pigeon rearing
Reduced production cost of components through input recycling from the byproducts of
allied enterprises
Regular stable income through the products like egg, milk, mushroom, vegetables,
honey and silkworm cocoons from the linked activities in integrated farming
Inclusion of biogas & agro forestry in integrated farming system will solve the
prognosticated energy crisis
Cultivation of fodder crops as intercropping and as border cropping will result in the
availability of adequate nutritious fodder for animal components like milch cow, goat /
sheep, pig and rabbit
Firewood and construction wood requirements could be met from the agroforestry
system without affecting the natural forest
Avoidance of soil loss through erosion by agro-forestry and proper cultivation of each
part of land by integrated farming
Generation of regular employment for the farm family members of small and marginal
farmers
83
WEEDS
MANAGEMENT OF PROBLEM, PERENNIAL AND PARASITIC WEEDS
I. Cynodon dactylon (Arugu) & Cyperus rotundus (Koarai)
Management of perennial weeds like Cynodon dactylon & Cyperus rotundus by the
application of Glyphosate 10 ml + AGF activator 2 ml / lit of water (or) Glyphosate 15 ml + 20 g
Ammonium sulphate / lit of water.
Approach : Post emergence, total, translocative herbicide

Stage of weed : Active growing, pre flowering stage
Sprayer : Hand operated Knapsack / Backpack
Nozzle : WFN 24 & ULV 50 with 30 Psi
Spray volume : 250-300 litre / ha
Application technology
Non-Crop situation - Blanket application
Cropped situation - Pre-sowing / planting - Stale seed bed (Blanket application)
Established Crops - Directed application using hoods.
Note: Rain free period / waiting period: 48 hours
II. Solanum elaegnifolium (Kattu Kandan kathiri)

Post-emergence application of Glyphosate 20 ml alone or 10 ml in combination with 2, 4-
D sodium salt 6 g / litre.
Note: The application should be during the active growth / vegetative phase of weed
III. Parthenium hysterophorus (Parthenium natchu chedi)

•Manual removal and destruction of Parthenium plants before flowering using hand glouse /
machineries (or)
•Pre-emergence application of atrazine 4 g / litre in 500 litres of water / hectare (or)
•Uniform spraying of sodium chloride 200g + 2 ml soap oil / litre of water (or)
•Spraying of 2,4-D sodium salt 8 g or glyphosate 10 ml + 20g ammonium sulphate + 2 ml soap
solution / litre of water before flowering (or)
•Post-emergence application of metribuzin 3 g / litre of water under non crop situation.
•Raising competitive plants like Cassia serecea and Abutilon indicum on fallow lands to replace
Parthenium (or)
•Biological control by Mexican beetle, fungal pathogen and nematodes (or)
Note : Parthenium can be decomposed well before flowering and used as organic manure.
IV. Ipomoea carnea (Neyveli kattamanakku)

•Foliar application of 2,4-D sodium salt 8 g + urea 20g + soap oil 2 ml / litre of water and then
removal and burning of dried weeds (or)
•Manual / mechanical removal of grownup plants in channels during summer (or)
Note : Composted Ipomoea carnea plants can be used as organic manure preferably in rice
fields.
84
V. Eichhornia crassipes (Agaya thamarai)
Manual / Mechanical removal and drying
Application of 2,4-D sodium salt 8g + urea 20g or Paraquat 6 ml / litre of water
Note : Vermi-composting and composting of dried water hyacinth and can be used as
organic manure in irrigated upland ecosystems.
VI. Portulaca quadrifida (Shiru pasari)

Post-emergence tank mix directed application of glyphosate 10 ml / ha + 2,4-D sodium
salt 5g / lit to control Portulaca quadrifida in cropped fields.
Note: Not to use above herbicides in broadleaved crops particularly cotton and
bhendi.
VII. Striga asiatica (Sudu malli)

Pre-emergence application of atrazine 1.0 kg/ha on 3rd DAP + hand weeding on 45 DAP
with an earthing up on 60 DAP combined with post-emergence spraying of 2,4-D 6 g
(0.6%) + urea 20 g (2%) / litre of water on 90 DAP + trash mulching 5 t/ha on 120 DAP
VIII. Orabanche (Pukaielai kalan)

Plant hole application of neem cake 25 g / plant or drenching of copper sulphate 5%
provides partial control of Orabanche in tobacco.
85
SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
A constraint free soil environment is very important for achieving higher food production.
The major soil constraints affecting the crop production in Tamil Nadu are
a) Chemical constraints : salinity, sodicity, acidity and nutrient toxicities
b) Physical constraints : high or low permeability, sub soil hard pan,
surface crusting, fluffy paddy soils, sandy soils etc.
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. Acid soils
Acid soils are characteristically low in pH ( < 6.0). Predominance of H + and Al 3+ cause
acidity resulting in deficiency of P, K, Ca, Mg , Mo and B. This soils are prevalent in a) hilly tracts
of Ooty, Kodaikkanal and Yercaud b) Laterite soils of Pudukkottai, Kanyakumari etc
Application of lime as per the lime requirement test uniformly by broadcast and incorporation is
recommended.The alternate amendments like dolomite, basic slag, flue dust, wood ash, pulp mill
lime may also be used on lime equivalent basis.
4. Iron and Aluminum toxicity

These are characterized by the presence of higher concentration of Fe 2+ and Al 3+ , more
specifically in flooded soils. Prevalent in Kanyakumari and Pudukkottai Districts. ( pH 4 – 6 )
Application of lime as per the lime requirement along with the recommended dose of NPK and
organic manure will suppress the toxicity.
For ` Ela ` soils of Kanyakumari district (Alfisols, pH : 4-5 ) ,. application of lime as per
lime requirement with recommended NPK + foliar spray of 0.5 % ZnSO4 + 0.2% CuSO4 +1%
DAP + 1% MOP thrice during AT to PI will help to over come the problem in rice. Based on the
screening tests, the rice cultivars of the region have been rated for their tolerance to Fe toxicity
Highly susceptible : ADT 36
Mod. susceptible : ADT 42, IR 50, CORH 1
Less susceptible : TPS 1, ASD 16 & 18, IR 64, JJ 92, TKM 9,
CO 37 & CO 41
5. 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.
6. 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
86
approximately 13 per cent ) once in three years could reduce the percolation losses. Addition of
tank silt for coastal sandy soils is recommended for for enhancing their productivity.
7. 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-1could bring additional yields of about 30 per cent over control.
8. 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 or gypsum at 2 t ha -1
and FYM at 12.5 t ha-1.
9. 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.
10. Low permeable black soils

Application of 100 cart loads of red loam soil and deep ploughing the field with mould
board plough or disc plough during summer to enhance the infiltration and percolation .
Application of FYM , composted coir pith or pressmud at 25 t ha-1 per year will improve the
physical properties and internal drainage of the soil
11. High permeable red soils.

Application of tank silt or black soil at 25 t ha-1 per year along with FYM , composted coir
pith or pressmud at 25 t ha-1 and deep ploughing the field with mould board plough or disc plough
during summer to improve the water holding capacity of the soil
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.') 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 har.d pan in the sub soil. Besides, it ploughs upto
45cm depth. Chisel plough is a heavy iron plough which goes up to 45 cm depth, thereby
shattering 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 of FYM / pressmud / composted coir pith per ha evenly on the surface.
 Give two ploughings using a country plough for incorporating the added manures.
 The broken hard pan and incorporation of manures make the soil to conserve more
moisture. .
87
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 intercorporating 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.
Deep ploughing in rainfed cotton (Chisel ploughing)

In clay loam rainfed soils where there is occurance of hard pan, the infilteration rate,
water holding capacity, root proliferation and nutrient uptake is affected ultimately resulting in
poor yield. Chisel ploughing one way at a depth of 40 - 50cm with 50cm interval once in three
years in rainfed soils was found to increase the root proliferation and soil moisture retention(24-
30%) thereby it increases the cotton kapas yield by 25% over tiller ploughing twice
88
SURGE IRRIGATION
Even as advanced pressure irrigation method, such as drip and sprinkler systems are in
vogue the traditional gravity surface irrigation methods still remain inevitable due to their simplicity
in layouts and low installation and operational expenses. However the short strip furrow and
check basin layouts (the primary surface irrigation methods in Tamilnadu) warrant division of the
irrigated fields into a number of square or rectangular (2m x 2m to 6m x 6 m ) plots
encompassed by criss-cross ridges and feeder channels for facilitating irrigation flow from head
to tail end of the field. This eventually results in prolonged irrigation application time and reduced
irrigation efficiencies of 55 -65% only due to excessive seepage, deep percolation and runoff
losses (35-45%). Besides, the criss- cross layout with cross ridges and feeder channels leads to
a land loss of 15 -25%. In view of minimizing the land and water loss and to accomplish high level
of irrigation and water use efficiencies a relatively new surface irrigation method called “surge
irrigation” was introduced in TNAU campus with extensive experimental trials on it’s hydraulic
performance evaluation and crop compatibility during 1992-95.
Features of Surge irrigation

The term “ Surge irrigation” refers to the delivering irrigation flows into individual long
furrows (more than 25m upto 200m) in an intermittent fashion of predetermined ON-OFF time
cycles (5 minutes to 10 minute) with the design duration of irrigation. During the ON time water
front advances into the furrow over a certain length and during the subsequent OFF time the
water applied partially saturates the soil and infiltration rate gets reduced on the advanced length.
When water is delivered in the succeeding ON time, the water front advance gets accelerated
due to the reduced intake rate and eventually it reaches the tail end of long furrow with in 30
-50% of the design duration of irrigation. This process of ON OFF water supply and cutoff results
in highly minimized deep percolation and runoff losses (hardly exceeding 20%). Hence, high
uniformity of soil moisture distribution with in the effective root zone is achieved over the entire
furrow length resulting in enhanced irrigation efficiencies of more than 85% to 95%. In addition
due to the series of long furrows emanating from a single head channel, the criss -cross ridges
and feeder channel of division are eliminated thereby limiting the land loss within 5% only.
Contributions of TNAU in surge irrigation research

Manual semi automated and automated surge irrigation layouts were designed and the
irrigation parameters such as the individual furrow discharges (30 lit/min to 120 lit/min),
surge cycle ON-OFF times (5 min to 30 min), surge cycle ratio (0.25 to 0.66), furrow
gradients (0.1% to 0.6%), furrow size (30-120cm) and furrow length (50-200m) could be
optimized through mathematical models.
A significant contribution from TNAU is the development of an original emprical model
(senthilvel, 1995) for the prediction of waterfront advance times and resulting irrigation
water distribution efficiencies.
Soil suitability : sandy clay loam and loamy soils only
Crops tested : maize sunflower and sorghum
Water saving : 25-40%
Land saving : 15-25%
Labour saving : 40%
Limitations
Surge irrigation systems do not show marked differences in land and water saving in
extremely clay or sandy soils. Besides, surge irrigation technology is still in the infant stage in
India and requires popularization through extension methods.
89
MICRO IRRIGATION
Micro irrigation is a modern method of irrigation; by this method water is irrigated through
drippers, sprinklers, foggers and by other emitters on surface or subsurface of the land. Major
components of a micro irrigation system is as follows,
Water source, pumping devices (motor and pump), ball valves, fertigation equipments,
filters, control valves, PVC joining accessories (Main and sub main) and emitters.
In this system water is applied drop by drop nearer the root zone area of the crop.
The drippers are fixed based on the spacing of crop. Many different types of emitters are
available in the market. They are classified as Inline drippers, on line drippers, Micro tubes,
Pressed compensated drippers.
Drip irrigation is most suitable for wider spacing crops. Micro sprinkler irrigation system is
mostly followed in sandy or loamy soils. This system is most suitable to horticultural crops and
small grasses. In this method water is sprinkled in a lower height at various directions.
Portable micro sprinklers are also available. They distribute slightly more water than
drippers and micro sprinklers. They spray water in not more than one meter. It is used for
preparing nursery and lawns in soils with low water holding capacity.
Advantages of drip irrigation system

Water saving and higher yield
High quality and increased fruit size
Suitable for all types of soil
Easy method of fertigation and chemigation
Saving in labour and field preparation cost
Disadvantage of drip irrigation system

High initial investment
Clogging of emitters
Possible damage of system components due to animals, etc.,
Investment cost mostly differs based on spacing of the crops

Generally, the reasons for clogging are solid particles (sand, rust), soft dirt (organic
matter, algae, micro organism, salt), sediments (salt in the fertilizers).
Filtration is the main key factor to the success or failure of the system. The main of
filtration is to stop dirt particles which damage any components of the system.
To remove salt encrustation, 30 per cent commercial hydrochloric acid can been used at
the rate of one liter per one m3 area. (One part HCl mixed with 5 parts of water)
To remove algae and fungal clogging 5 to 500 ppm sodium hydrochloride (10 per cent
chlorine) can be used.
Maintenance of drip system

Back washing and sand filters has to be cleaned
Frequent cleaning of emitters and drippers
Flushing at every irrigation
Cleaning of sub main and main pipes
Cleaning of PVC pipes and laterals and acid or chlorine may be used to remove clogging.
Water used and yield of crops in micro and conventional irrigation methods
Methods Water Water use
% water Yield % increase
Crop of require- efficiency
saving kg ha-1 in yield
irrigation ment (cm) (kg ha mm-1)
Drip 97.00 45.00 87500 52.00 90.20
Banana Surface 176.00 - 57500 - 32.67
Drip 94.00 56.00 170000 33.00 180.85
Sugarcane
Furrow 215.00 - 128000 - 59.53
90
Drip 27.80 48.00 32500 23.00 116.90
Grapes
Surface 53.20 - 26400 - 49.62
Drip 28.00 66.27 3250 25.00 116.10
Cotton
Furrow 83.00 - 2600 - 31.33
Drip 17.70 79.34 887 55.34 50.11
Beetroot
Surface 85.70 - 571 - 6.66
Drip 10.80 75.72 1186 13.49 109.80
Radish
Surface 46.40 - 1045 - 22.52
Drip 73.88 67.89 23490 69.47 0.32
Papaya
Surface 225.80 - 13860 - 0.06
Drip 20.00 60.00 71400 3.03 3570
Mulberry
Surface 50.00 - 69300 - 1386
Tomato Drip 18.40 39.00 48000 50.00 260.86
Surface 30.00 - 32000 - 106.66
(WTC Annual Reports 1985-2003)
Affordable micro irrigation systems

Affordable micro irrigation system is mostly suitable to kitchen garden, nursery and
ornamental crops.
1. Bucket kit system

Bucket kit system is defined for kitchen garden suitable for women, marginal and small
farmers. It consists of a bucket (15 lit.) 10 metre long lateral (12mm) fitted with drippers (4 LPH),
which can irrigate about 100 plants in approximately 15 m2 area. The bucket is placed at a height
of 1m (3 feet) and water is filled for 4 to 5 times daily.
2. Drum kit system

This system is ideally suitable to kitchen garden and small commercial vegetable
growers. The drum is having 200 liter capacity which would supply water approximately 500
plants by filling the drum twice daily. It consists of lateral (16mm and 12mm). One number of
16mm lateral and five 12mm laterals are used. This system could cover an area of 120 m 2 (3
cents).
3. Micro sprinkler system

Micro sprinkler kit is suitable for farmers with access to pressurised water. It is very useful
for groundnut, vegetables, nurseries home gardens, and lawns etc. It can be connected with a tap
from an overhead tank or a domestic water pump. It consists of 15 micro sprinklers with pipes
irrigating an area of 250 m2 (6 cents). Fertigation can also be done through this method.
Sl.No. Item Selling Cost/Unit Area covered by the kits

1. Bucket Kit Rs.225 20 m2 (0.5 cent)
(Drip system)
2. Drum Kit Rs.600 120 m2 (3.0 cents)
(Drip system) (Excluding Drum Cost)
3. Micro sprinkler kit Rs.900 240 m2 (6.0 cents)
Fertigation
Fertigation is a method of fertilizer application in which fertilizer is incorporated within the
irrigation water by the drip system. In this system fertilizer solution is distributed evenly in
irrigation. The availability of nutrients is very high therefore the efficiency is more. In this method
liquid fertilizer as well as water soluble fertilizers are used. By this method, fertilizer use efficiency
is increased from 80 to 90 per cent.
91
Fertilizer efficiencies of various application methods
Fertilizer use efficiency (%)
Nutrient
Soil application Fertigation
Nitrogen 30-50 95
Phosphorous 20 45
Potassium 50 80
Advantages of fertigation
Nutrients and water are supplied near the active root zone through fertigation which
results in greater absorption by the crops.
As water and fertilizer are supplied evenly to all the crops through fertigation there is
possibility for getting 25-50 per cent higher yield.
Fertilizer use efficiency through fertigation ranges between 80-90 per cent, which helps to
save a minimum of 25 per cent of nutrients.
By this way, along with less amount of water and saving of fertilizer, time, labour and
energy use is also reduced substantially.
Water saving, yield and profit under drip and drip fertigation systems
Water Yield (t/ha) Profit (Rs/ha)
Crops Saving Convent Drip+ Conventi Drip +
Drip Drip
(%) ional Fertgn onal Fertgn
Banana 35 26 30 37 81000 98000 120000
Sugarcane 29 120 160 207 30000 47000 68000
Tomato 32 45 56 65 56000 77000 95000
Fertilizer used in fertigation

Urea, potash and highly water soluble fertilizers are available for applying through
fertigation.
Application of super phosphorus through fertigation must be avoided as it makes
precipitation of phosphate salts. Thus phosphoric acid is more suitable for fertigation as it
is available in liquid form.
Special fertilisers like mono ammonium phosphate (Nitrogen and Phosphorus), poly feed
(Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium), Multi K (Nitrogen and Potassium), Potassium
sulphate (Potassium and Sulphur) are highly suitable for fertigation0 as they are highly
soluble in water. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo are also supplied along with special fertilisers.
Fertilizers commonly used in fertigation
N – P2O5 – K2O Solubility

Name
content (g/l) at 20 C
Ammonium nitrate 34-0-0 1830
Ammonium sulphate 21-0-0 760
Urea 46-0-0 1100
Monoammonium phosphate 12-61-0 282
Diammonium phosphate 18-46-0 575
Potassium chloride 0-0-60 347
Potassium nitrate 13-0-44 316
Potassium sulphate 0-0-50 110
Monopotassium phosphate 0-52-34 230
Phosphoric acid 0-52-0 457
Specialty water soluble fertilizers

Name N% P2O5 % K2O %
92
Polyfeed 19 19 19
Polyfeed 20 20 20
Polyfeed 11 42 11
Polyfeed 16 8 24
Polyfeed 19 19 19
Polyfeed 15 15 30
MAP 12 61 0
Multi-K 13 0 46
MKP 0 52 34
SOP 0 0 50
N fertigation
Urea is well suited for injection in micro irrigation system. It is highly soluble and
dissolves in non-ionic form, so that it does not react with other substances in the water. Also urea
does not cause precipitation problems. Urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, calcium
ammonium sulphate, calcium ammonium nitrate are used as nitrogenous fertilizers in drip
fertigation.
P fertigation
Application of phosphorus to irrigation water may cause precipitation of phosphate salts.
Phosphoric acid and mono ammonium phosphate appears to be more suitable for fertigation.
K fertigation
Application of K fertilizer does not cause any precipitation of salts. Potassium nitrate,
Potassium chloride, Potassium sulphate and mono potassium phosphate are used in drip
fertigation.
Micro nutrients
Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo could be used as micro nutrients in drip fertigation.
Fertigation equipments
Three main groups of equipments used in drip system are :
Ventury
Fertilizer tank
Fertilizer pump
Ventury
Construction in the main water flow pipe causes a pressure difference (Vaccum) which is
sufficient to suck fertilizer solution from an open container into the water flow. It is very easy to
handle and it is affordable even by small farmers. This equipment is most suitable for smaller
area.
Fertilizer tank
A tank containing fertilizer solution is connected to the irrigation pipe at the supply point.
Part of the irrigation water is diverted through the tank diluting the nutrient solution and returning
to the main supply pipe. The concentration of fertilizer in the tank thus becomes gradually
reduced.
Fertilizer pump
The fertilizer pump is a standard component of the control head. The fertilizer solution is
held in non-pressurised tank and it can be injected into the irrigation water at any desired ratio.
Therefore the fertilizer availability to each plants is maintained properly.
93
Cost of fertigation equipments
Sl.No. Fertigation devices Cost (Rs.)

1. Ventury type 1200
2. Fertilizer Tank 3000
3. Injectors 12000
Economics of drip irrigation system

The initial investment in drip irrigation system is mainly depends upon the spacing of
crops. The initial cost will be almost 20-25 thousand rupees per hectare for wider spacing crops
such as coconut, mango, grapes and for orchard crops. The initial cost is approximately 50-70
thousand rupees per hectare for close spacing crops such as sugarcane, banana, papaya,
mulberry, turmeric, tapioca, vegetables and flower crops.
94
AGROMETEOROLOGY
CROP PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

DRYLAND
1. Length of Growing Period
Length of growing period is defined as a period in which the available soil moisture is
enough to meet the evapotranspiration requirement of dry land crops and hence the dry land
productivity is assured. Based on scientific study (Jeevananda Reddy, 1983), length of growing
period for different rain gauge stations of each district of different agroclimatic zones of Tamil
Nadu have been computed. The length of growing period is given as ‘G’ with starting and ending
of length of growing period in terms of Meteorological standard weeks. If the G is less than 5
weeks period it means that always crop failures will occur. The G period must be a minimum of 14
weeks (98 days) which permit the dry land crop to attain its potential productivity. If the growing
period is 14 weeks, a single dry land crop can be cultivated. If G period is between 14 to 20
weeks, suitable inter cropping system can be recommended. If the G period is more than 20
weeks long duration crop / double crop can be organized.
The following information indicates length of growing period for different district of Tamil
Nadu. Based on the G period, suitable dry land crop may be selected.
1. North Eastern Zone

District Station G period No. of G period
(Met. Standard week) (No. of weeks)
Thiruvaalur Athipettu 34-52 19
Ponneri 33-52 20
Poonamallee 32-52 21
Saidapet 32-52 21
Tirutani 31-50 20
Tiruvallur 31-51 21
Kanchipuram Chengalpattu 30-52 23
Cheyur 33-52,1 21
Covelong 31-52 22
Kanchipuram 29-51 23
Madurantakam 30-52 23
Sriperumudur 31-51 21
Uttiramerur 30-51 22
Vayalur 34-52 19
Vellore Ambur 33-46 14
Arakkonam 29-51 13
Gudiyattam 33-47 15
Sholingnur 31-49 19
Tiruppattur 31-45 15
Vaniyambadi 32-45 14
Vellore 30-50 21
Walajapet 30-50 21
Tiruvannamalai Arani 30-50 21
Chengam 31-49 19
Cheyyar 30-50 21
Polur 30-50 21
Tiruvannamalai 31-50 20
Vandavasi 29-51 23
Viluppuram Gingee 30-51 22
Tindivanam 31-52 22
Tirukkovilur 30-50 21
95
Ulundurpettai 32-51 20
Vanur 32-52,1 22
Viluppuram 31-51 21
Cuddalore Cuddalore 32-52,1,2 23
Kurinjippadi 32-52,1 22
Marakkanam 32-52 21
Panruti 31-52 22
Porto Novo 33-52, 1,2 22
Srimushnam 33-52 20
Tittagudi 31-51 21
Vriddhachalam 31-51 21
Perambalur Chettikulam 35-48 14
Jayamkonda 35-52 18
cholapuram
Uppiliyapuram 38-48 11
Chennai Nungambakkam 32-52 21
2. North Western Zone

Dharmapuri Denkanikota 32-46 15
Dharmapuri 32-46 15
Harur 33-47 15
Hosur 33-45 13
Krishnagiri 33-45 13
Palacode 32-46 15
Pennagaram 33-45 13
Rayakottai 33-46 14
Thalli 31-44 14
Uttangarai 31-46 16
Salem Attur 33-48 16
Omalur 29-45 17
Salem 27-45 19
Sankari Durg 33-45 13
Tammampatti 34-49 16
Valapadi 33-46 14
Namakkal Namakkal 33-46 14
Paramathi 35-45 11
Rasipuram 30-45 16
Sendamangalam 32-45 14
Perambalur Ariyalur 35-50 16
Perambalur 35-50 16
3. Western Zone
Coimbatore Annur 38-47 10
Avanashi 38-47 10
Coimbatore 41-47 7
Mettupalayam 39-50 12
Palladam 41-47 7
Periyanaiakampalayam 38-49 12
Pollachi 24-31, 41-47 8, 7
Sulur 41-46 6
Tiruppur 38-47 10
Udumalaipettai 41-48 8
96
Erode Bhavani 34-47 14
Dharapuram 40-47 8
Erode 34-47 14
Gopichettipalayam 35-47 13
Kangayam 38-47 10
Kodumudi 38-44 7
Perundurai 35-47 13
Sathyamangalam 35-47 13
Talavadi 34-45 12
Namakkal Tiruchengodu 34-45 12
Karur Aravakkurichi 39-46 8
Karur 39-45 7
Dindigul Nilakottai 36-47 12
Palani 40-49 10
Theni Periakulam 38-49 12
Uttamapalayam 40-48 9
Madurai Usilampatti 36-49 14
Tiruchchirapalli Manaparai 36-48 13
4. Cauvery Delta Zone

Met. Standard week) (No. of weeks)
Thanjavur Atirampattinam 34-52 19
Kattuumvadi 39-51 13
Kumbakonam 34-52 19
Papanasam 35-52 18
Pattukottai 35-52 18
Thanjavur 35-51 17
Tirukkatupalli 35-49 15
Vallam 33-50 18
Thiruvarur Kudavasal 35-52,1 19
Mannargudi 34-52,1 20
Muttupet 35-52,1,2 20
Nannilam 35-52,1 19
Neidavasal 35-52,1,2 20
Nidamangalam 35-52,1 19
Thiruvaiyaru 35-50 16
Thiruvarur 35-52,1,2 20
Tirutturaippundi 35-52,1,2 20
Valangiman 35-52 18
Nagapattinam Mayuram 35-52,1 19
Nagapattinam 37-52,1,2 18
Sirkazhi 34-52,1,2 21
Tarangambadi 35-52,1,2 20
Tiruppundi 36-52,1,2,3 20
Vedaranniyam 35-52,1,2,3 21
Tiruchchirapalli Kulattur 36-48 13
Kulittalai 38-47 10
Lalgudi 38-49 12
Manapparai 36-48 13
Musiri 38-47 10
Tattayyangarpettai 36-47 12
Tiruchchirapalli 36-48 13
Perambalur Turaiyur 36-47 12
Cuddalore Chidambaram 33-52,1,2 22
Kattumannarkovil 33-52,1 21
Pudukkottai Arantangi 34-50 17
97
5. Southern Zone
Ramanathapuram Kamudi 41-47 7
Mudukulattur 41-49 9
Pamban 42-52,1 12
Paramakudi 40-48 9
Ramanathapuram 41-52 12
Theethanathanam 41-51 11
Tiruvadanai 41-50 10
Vattaram 41-51 11
Virudunagar Arupukottai 39-48 10
Sattur 41-48 8
Sivakasi 41-48 8
Srivilliputtur 41-49 9
Virudunagar 38-48 11
Watrap 39-50 12
Tuticorin Arasadi 43-49 7
Kayattur 41-49 9
Kovilpatti 41-49 9
Kulasekarapatnam 42-52 11
Morekulam 42-51 10
Ottappidaram 41-48 8
Sattankulam 42-50 9
Srivaikuntam 42-50 9
Tiruchchendur 42-52 11
Tuticorin 43-50 8
Tirunelveli Ambasamudram 42-52,1 12
Ayikudi 42-51 10
Kadaiyam 42-52,1 12
Kadaiyanallur 42-51 10
Kirnurnam 43-51 9
Nanguneri 42-51 10
Palayamkottai 42-50 9
Radhapuram 42-49 8
Sankarankovil 41-49 9
Shencottah 41-51 11
Sivagiri 41-52 12
Tenkasi 41-52 12
Tirunelveli 42-51 10
Sivaganga Manamadurai 39-48 10
Sivaganga 35-48 14
Tirupattur 33-48 16
Madurai Cholavandan 36-48 13
Madurai 34-48 15
Melur 33-49 17
Nattam 33-49 17
Peraiyur 36-49 14
Tirumangalam 34-49 16
Pudukkottai Adanakottai 37-49 13
Alangudi 36-50 15
Annavasal 36-47 12
Ilupur 36-48 13
Karambakkudi 38-50 13
Kilanilai 38-49 12
Marungapuri 35-49 15
98
Ponnamaravati 34-48 15
Pudukkottai 35-49 15
Tirumayam 36-48 13
Udyalipatti 37-47 11
Viralimalai 38-48 11
Dindigul Chattrapatti 38-50 13
Dindigul 36-49 14
Vedasunthur 38-48 11
Theni Bodinayakanur 39-48 10
6. High Rainfall Zone

Kanyakumari Aramboli 41-49 9
Eranial 19-29, 39-48 11, 10
Kalial 14-50 37
Kolachel 21-30, 40-48 10, 9
Kottaram 42-48 7
Kulasegraram 12-50 39
Kuzhitturai 15-48 34
Meycode adanadi 15-49 35
Mulakumood 15-31, 40-49 17, 10
Nagerkoil 20-26, 40-48 7, 9
P.P. Channel 16-29, 40-50 14, 11
Pechiaprai 13-50 38
Puthendam 13-50 38
Rajakkammangalam 19-27, 40-48 9, 9
Seetapal 19-26, 40-48 8, 9
Shorlakode 18-25, 36-47 8, 12
Thadikarekonam 14-49 36
Thamaraikulam 42-47 6
7. Hilly and High Altitude Zone

Station G period No. of G period
District (Met. Standard week) (No. of weeks)
The Nilgiris Devala 17-50 34
Glen Morgan 16-50 35
Gudalur 17-49 33
Kallatty 17-51 35
Ketty 18-52,1 36
Kodanadu 18-52,1,2 37
Kotagiri 14-52,1-3 40
Kundha (Kailkund) 21-52,1 33
Naduvattam 16-49 34
Ootacamund 16-51 36
Coimbatore Anaimalai 32-52,1 22
Dindigul Kodaikanal 32-52,1 22
Salem Yercaud 34-50 17
99
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, Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram, Thrivallur The Nilgiris
Karur, Perambalur, Madurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram
Theni, Dindugal, Dharmapuri , Krishnagiri
Ramanathapuram, Salem ,Namakal
Sivagangai,Viruudunagar, Pudukottai
Tirunelveli, Tuticorin Thanjavur ,Nagai & Thiruvarur
Kanyakumari
Velore, Thiruvannamalai
North East Monsoon

Dry sub humid Moist sub humid Per humid
MI= (-) 33 to 0 MI= 0 to 20 MI=100 and
Coimbatore, Erode, Triuchirapalli, Karur, Perambalur, above.
Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri. The Nilgiris
Pudukottai, Madurai, Theni, Dindugal,
Salem, Namakal
Sivagangai, Vridunagar,
Ramanathapuram, Kanchipuram,
Thiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai,
Cuddalore,Villupuram, Thanjavur,
Nagai, Thiruvarur, Kanyakumari,
Thirunelveli, Tuticorin
3. Rain fall pattern in Tamil Nadu

The rainfall pattern of Tamil Nadu based on the criteria of rainfall quantity and Seasons of
precipitation is given below: (NCA, 1976)
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
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

A2 B2 (C1 B1 A1 E1) C2 D1 E1
Where in,
i) Alphabets in bracket denote rainfall in monsoon season months.
ii) Left to bracket denotes rainfall in pre-monsoon months.
100
iii) Right to bracket denotes rainfall in post monsoon months.
iv) Numerical suffix gives the number of months.
101
Rainfall pattern in Tamil Nadu
Rainfall Taluks in which the pattern is seen
E4 (E4) C2 E 2 Aruppukottai, Paramakudi, Muthukulathur, Thiruvadanai, Sathur,
Srivilliputhur, Kovilpatti, Vilathikulam, Sankarankovil, Thoothukudi,
Srivaikuntam, Udumalpet, Coimbatore, Dharapuram, Palladam,
Gobichettipalayam, Bhavani, Erode, Avinashi, Uthamapalayam, Palani,
Kodaikanal, Vedasandur, Dindugul, Nilakottai, Usilampatti, Thirumangalam,
Periakulam, Karur
E4 (E4) B1 C2 E1 Tiruchendur, Nanguneri, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Ramanathapuram
E4 (E4) A1 B2 E1 Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Lalgudi, Musiri
E4 (C1 E3) C2 E2 Thuraiyur, Kulithalai, Tiruchirappalli, Manapparai, Pollachi, Agastheswaram
E4 (C1 E3) A1B1 C1 E1 Mayavaram, Nannilam
E4 (C2 E2) C1 E3 Vaniyambadi, Thirupathur, Uthankarai, Thirukoilur, Kallakurichi, Perambalur,
Kulathur, Alangudi, Thirumayam, Harur, Athur, Thanjavur, Aranthangi,
Arakkonam, Walajapet, Cheyyar, Arani, Polur, Chengam,
Thiruvannamalai,,Gudiyatham, Vellore, Thiruthani, Madurai North, Madurai
South, Melur, Thirupathur, Sivaganga, Chengam, Wandavasi.
E4 (C2 E2) B1C2 E1 Virudhachalam, Ariyalur, Udayarpalayam, Kumbakonam, Papanasam,
Mannargudi, Pattukottai, Orathanadu, Tenkasi, Shencottai, Thiruvallur,
Sriperumpudur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Maduranthagam, Tindivanam,
Villupuram.
E4 (C2 E 2) A1 B1 C1 E1 Ponneri, Saidapet, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi.
C1 E 3(C1 E 3) C1 E3 Hosur, Denkanikottai,
C1 E 3(C2 E2) C1 E 3 Omalur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Mettur, Salem, Rasipuram, Sangagiri,
Thiruchengodu, Namakkal.
4. Pre monsoon sowing

Based on the probability of receiving sowing rains, pre monsoon dry seeding weeks have
been identified for the different districts of Tamil Nadu, which 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. Thrinelveli 39 to 40 Sep 24 to Oct 7
7. Virudhunagar 38 to 39 Sep 17 to 30
5. Water balance study

Water balance study was conducted for Tamil Nadu based on the Water Requirement
Satisfaction Index (WRSI). It is suggested that sorghum can be sown during 36th Std week
against 16th Std week. The data from the table indicate that if it is sown during 16 th Std week, the
crop may suffer due to soil moisture stress. 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
102
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, 26th Std week, 23rd Std week.
Further studies were made from water balance for rainfed crops of Virudhunagar district
and the information are presented in the table
District Location Crop Soil Sowing Final Moisture

week harvest stress
(MSW) (MSW) period(MSW)
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Cotton Black 36 4 1 to 4
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Cotton Black 36 4 3 to 4
Virudhunagar Sattur Cotton Black 36 4 1 to 4
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Cotton Black 36 4 2 to 4
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Cotton Black 36 4 1 to 4
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Cotton Black 36 4 1 to 4
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Cotton Black 37 5 51to 5
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Cotton Black 38 6 1 to6
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Cotton Black 38 6 51to 6
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Cotton Black 39 7 1 to 7
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Cotton Red 36 4 49 to 4
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Cotton Red 36 4 51 to 4
Virudhunagar Sattur Cotton Red 36 4 52 to 4
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Cotton Red 36 4 50 to 4
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Cotton Red 36 4 49 to 4
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Cotton Red 36 4 51 to 4
103
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Pulses Black 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Pulses Red 36 48 -
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Redgram Black 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Redgram Black 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Black 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Redgram Black 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Redgram Black 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Redgram Black 36 01 -
104
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Black 37 02 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Black 38 03 03
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Redgram Red 36 01 -
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Redgram Red 37 02 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Redgram Red 37 02 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Red 37 02 02
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Redgram Red 37 02 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Redgram Red 37 02 02
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Redgram Red 37 02 01 to 02
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Redgram Red 38 03 02 to 03
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Redgram Red 38 03 03
Virudhunagar Sattur Redgram Red 38 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Redgram Red 38 03 03
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Redgram Red 38 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Redgram Red 38 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sorghum Black 36 52 48 to 52
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sorghum Black 36 52 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Sorghum Black 36 52 49 to 52
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Black 36 52 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sorghum Black 36 52 48 to 52
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sorghum Black 36 52 49 to 52
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Black 37 01 -
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Black 38 02 02
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sorghum Black 39 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Black 39 03 02 to 03
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sorghum Red 36 52 48 to 52
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sorghum Red 36 52 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Sorghum Red 36 52 49 to 52
105
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Red 36 52 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sorghum Red 36 52 48 to 52
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sorghum Red 36 52 49 to 52
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sorghum Red 37 01 51 to 01
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sorghum Red 37 01 52 to 01
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sorghum Red 38 02 49 to02
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sunflower Black 43 03 -
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sunflower Black 43 03 -
Virudhunagar Sattur Sunflower Black 43 03 02 to 03
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sunflower Black 43 03 -
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sunflower Black 43 03 02 to 03
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sunflower Black 43 03 02 to 03
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sunflower Black 44 04 02 to 04
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sunflower Black 44 04 04
Virudhunagar Sattur Sunflower Black 44 04 02 to 04
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sunflower Black 44 04 04
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sunflower Black 44 04 01 to 04
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sunflower Black 44 04 02 to 04
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sunflower Red 43 03 52 to 03
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sunflower Red 43 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Sattur Sunflower Red 43 03 52 to 03
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sunflower Red 43 03 01 to 03
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sunflower Red 43 03 51 to 03
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sunflower Red 43 03 52 to 03
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Sunflower Red 44 04 01 to 04
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Sunflower Red 44 04 01 to 04
Virudhunagar Sattur Sunflower Red 44 04 52 to 04
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Sunflower Red 44 04 01 to 04
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Sunflower Red 44 04 51 to 04
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Sunflower Red 44 04 52 to 04
Virudhunagar Aruppukottai Groundnut Red 26 41 33 to 41
Virudhunagar Rajapalayam Groundnut Red 26 41 31 to 41
Virudhunagar Sattur Groundnut Red 26 41 30 to 41
Virudhunagar Srivilliputtur Groundnut Red 26 41 29 to 41
Virudhunagar Tiruchuli Groundnut Red 26 41 32 to 41
Virudhunagar Virudhunagar Groundnut Red 26 41 30 to 41
106
Note: During moisture stress period suitable agro- techniques may be adopted. If moisture stress
period is long concerned sowing week may not be viable.
6. Weather Based Management Technologies

i) Nutrient management for thaladi season rice
Application of 200:75:75kg NPK/ha for November 15th transplanted crop (Co45 or Co43)
under split application of N at 40, 20, 20 and 20% respectively during basal, active tillering,
panicle initiation and flowering while 75 percent P and K as basal and 12.5 percent P and K as
foliar spray twice at panicle initiation and flowering stages.
ii) Acceptable insitu moisture conservation practice for rainfed groundnut –sunflower and
maize
During South West monsoon season groundnut sowing along the contour and ridging to
be done three weeks after sowing. During NEM, especially for sunflower, the same technology of
contour sowing followed by ridging three weeks latter can be adopted. In respect of maize,
sowing and tieing alternate furrows with mulching of locally available material can be practiced.
iii) Sustainable dryland management for hybrid maize

Sowing of dryland hybrid maize (UMH 28) at 38 th meteorological standard week (17th – 23
Sept.) with modified crop production recommendation based on medium range weather forecast
is suggested. During cropping period an amount of 427.6 mm of rainfall was received in 28 rainy
days.
iv) Time of sowing and nutrient level for sorghum under different rainfall situations in
dryland (black soil) of western agroclimate zone of Tamil Nadu
Sowing of sorghum variety CSV15 before the receipt of monsoon rainfall (Premonsoon
sowing) with 60:30:0 kg NPK / ha during above average rainfall year and 40:20:0 Kg NPK / ha
during below average rainfall year. The result is applicable when seasonal climate forecast
information is available in advance.
v) Technical feasibility of introducing new irrigated cropping system of Greengram –

Maize – Sunflower against the outdated cropping system of Cotton – Sorghum – Finger
millet of western agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu
Sowing of crops at normal sowing of concerned crops viz.; 33 Meteorological Standard
Week (MSW) for (Aug 13-19) greengram, 48th MSW (Nov 26-Dec2) for maize and 15th MSW
(April 9-15) for sunflower with 100 percent inorganic source of recommended nutrients for green
gram (12.5:50:0 kg NPK / ha) and sunflower (40:20:20 kg NPK/ ha) and 25% organic N alone and
75 percent inorganic source of nutrient recommended to maize (135:62.5: 50 kg NPK/ ha) for the
new tailored cropping system of Greengram –Maize – Sunflower.
vi) Potential season and sowing window for CoH3 Hybrid Maize under irrigated condition
Sowing of irrigated Maize hybrid CoH3 in the second fortnight of August during Kharif
season with integrated application of both organics and inorganic at 50:50 either as blanket
(135:625:50 kg NPK/ha) or as soil test based recommendation.
vii) Potential transplanting window for hybrid rice

Planting hybrid rice CORH2 either on 26th September or at 3rd October as compared to
planting in normal date of planting of 19th September which is recommended for planting rice
variety especially for the variety ADT39.
107
viii) Polyethylene film mulch for irrigated groundnut
Spreading of seven micron thickness black polyethylene film as mulch to irrigated
groundnut along with pre-plant incorporation of fluchloralin @ 1.0 kg ai/ha under flat.
ix) Forewarning disease incidence in groundnut

Forewarning model was developed against late leaf spot and rust diseases in groundnut.
The model was validated and the deviation is around 10 percent. The model was developed for
both for Aliyarnagar (mountain climate) and Vridhachalam (Marine climate) domain.
Late leaf spot disease

i. Aliyarnagar domain
Y = -755.72 + 18.54 Z11 Y = Percent disease incidence
ii. Vridhachalam domain Z11 = Weighted maximum temperature
Y = 671.21 + 12.44 Z11
Rust disease
i. Aliyarnagar domain
Y= - 699.58 + 21.05 Z11 Y = Percent disease incidence
ii. Vridhachalam domain Z11 = Weighted maximum temperature
Y = 599.23 + 9.16 Z11
7. Basic information
i. Crop – weather studies
Rice grain yield of Kuruvai and Thaladi seasons over 30 years (1961 – 1990) were
correlated with concerned weather data. Reproductive stage was very critical to prevalence
weather parameters both for Kuruvai and Thaladi seasons. In addition maturity stage of Kuruvai
and Vegetative stage of thaladi season were also critical to weather.
During Thaladi season, correlation study indicated the positive relationship for maximum
temperature at vegetative and reproductive stages.
ii. Management response to seasonal climate forecast in cropping system

Two locations viz. Avinashi and Thiruchengodu were considered for the study. Model to
simulate the yield of crops (Groundnut, Cotton).
The chance of achieving (65%) at least 1000 kg/ha of peanut occur, when the Southern
Oscillation Index (SOI) phase is positive for April / May. Conversely there is only 32% chance of
achieving such a yield in years when the SOI is falling. Similar analysis was conducted for cotton
and economic performance of both systems was compared on gross margin basis. Results
indicate that in positive SOI years, peanuts out performed in cotton in 70 percent of years, but
income difference can still range from Rs.(-)15,000 to (+) 15,000 / ha. However under falling SOI
conditions peanut only had minor advantage in 40% of years (up to Rs.3,800/ ha).
iii. Seasonal rainfall Vs El-Nino

Analyses of long term average of Southwest monsoon rainfall during El-Nino years
revealed that during El-Nino years, the amount of rainfall found decreased in all the locations of
Tamil Nadu as compared to normal rainfall of this season, except Northeastern parts of Tamil
Nadu. Analyses of long term Northeast monsoon rainfall indicate that during El-Nino years there
was increase in amount of rainfall than normal in all the locations of Tamil Nadu.
iv. Tamil years Vs annual rainfall forecast

The annual rainfall of a particular Tamil year in a cycle of 60 years was not the same for
the corresponding Tamil years on the forth coming cycle and one can expect an opposite event.
v. Stars Vs Seasonal rainfall forecast
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The star Revathi had greater influence on rainfall during hot weather period (March- May)
while during Southwest monsoon (June – Sept) and Northeast monsoon seasons (Oct – Dec),
stars Maham and Uthiram respectively did influence seasonal rainfall.
In the monthly analysis at 30% probability, the star Uthiram had influenced in getting
rainfall of > 20mm during July and November months. While during other months the stars viz.
Maham, Pooradam, Kettai, Swathi and Moolam showed their influence to get < 20mm of rainfall.
vi. Pest and weather relationship study in cotton

When maximum and minimum temperature got increased, the infestation from American
bollworm also got decreased. In contrast, positive relationship existed for pink bollworm for the
above weather parameters. In the case of aphid, maximum temperature, diurnal variation,
Relative Temperature Disparity, bright sunshine hours, and wind speed, had negative relationship,
while positive correlation was observed for minimum temperature.
vii. Study on the weather relationship of eriophyid mite in coconut

The maximum temperature had negative correlation with nuts affected in all the varieties
(Tall (east coast), Dwarf (yellow), Tall X Dwarf, Orange, and Dwarf X Tall) at three months after
spathe emergence; where as positive correlation was obtained for maximum temperature one to
two months before spathe emergence in respect of Tall (east coast) and Dwarf x Tall varieties. In
general eriophyid mite affected nuts were either positively and negatively influenced by minimum
temperature and relative humidity respectively (0722 IST and 1422 IST). From the stepwise
regression analysis made, one to two months earlier or one to two months after spathe
emergence, wind speed had higher influence on the nuts affected with mite irrespective of
varieties except Tall x Dwarf .
viii. Probing the association of lunar phases “Thithies” with rainfall at Coimbatore
Based on the interaction between earth and moon in relation to sun, each month is
governed by both new moon and full moon. In between these two, there are fourteen thithies
covering the 14 days interval. A study was undertaken to find out the association between rainfall
and the different thithies. Results revealed that the first eight thithies succeeding new moon, and
eight thithies preceding the new moon did relate to annual rainfall events. Higher rainfall occurred
normally during the eight thithies preceding the new moon as compared to thithies succeeding
the new moon. Almost similar results could be noticed for both Southwest and Northeast
monsoon seasons. Analysis also indicated that towards full moon phase, the thithi Shasthi (sixth
phase) is associated with high rainfall while such effect was noticed at Ekadasi (eleventh phase)
thithi towards new moon. High intensity events occurred frequently during new moon phase as
compared to full moon phase.
8. 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 dry land crop
production. Proper understanding of the climate and issuing weather forecast based on the
dynamic nature of atmosphere would help in multiple ways. Four different weather forecasts are
presently made. They are now casting, short range, medium range and long range.
Among the 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 dry land environment.
In this context, a project on the establishment of National Centre for Medium Range
Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) and Development of Agro-meteorological service was approved by
the Government of India and implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
in mission mode. Currently local weather forecast based on Direct Model output of General
Circulation Model (GCM) is prepared by NCMRWF and given to Agromet Advisory Service units
located at different State Agricultural Universities (SAU) including seven in Tamil Nadu, four under
TNAU (Coimbatore, Pechiparai, Kovilpatti and Aduthurai) and two under Tamil Nadu Veterinary
and Animal Sciences University (Chennai and Namakkal) and one at Kannivadi (MSSRF). In turn
the SAU prepares weather based agro advisory bulletin and communicate to the farmers for
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making decisions on agricultural activities based on anticipated weather change. The forecast
covers, cloud cover, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, maximum temperature, and minimum
temperature. This forecast is given for four days from Tuesday to Friday and again from Friday to
Monday and thus it covers a whole week.
9. Seasonal climate forecast

Seasonal climate forecast is being given to all districts of Tamil Nadu through TNAU
Research Stations both for South-west and North-east monsoon seasons with a lead time of 15
days. This forecast contains the seasonal rainfall both in temporal and spatial dimensions. This
forecast is based on probability analysis made through Australian Rainman Software. The inputs
are location specific rainfall data more than twenty one years and real time southern oscillation
index and sea surface temperature. This type of forecast is being given from 1999 onwards and
presently institutionalized by the TNAU. Based on the verification of the forecast, the accuracy
goes up to 70 per cent. Since the forecast is given with a lead time the information is highly
useful for farm planning and hence it becomes response farming in nature.
Table of Meteorological Standard Week

Std. Week. Month Dates Std. Week. Month Dates
No. No.
1 January 1-7 27 July 2-8
2 8-14 28 9-15
3 15-21 29 16-22
4 22-28 30 23-29
5 29-4 31 30-5
6 February 5-11 32 August 6-12
7 12-18 33 13-19
8 19-25 34 20-26
9 26-4* 35 27-2
10 March 5-11 36 September 3-9
11 12-18 37 10-16
12 19-25 38 17-23
13 26-1 39 24-30
14 April 2-8 40 October 1-7
15 9-15 41 8-14
16 16-22 42 15-21
17 23-29 43 22-28
18 30-6 44 29-4
19 May 7-13 45 November 5-11
20 14-20 46 12-18
21 21-27 47 19-25
22 28-3 48 26-2
23 June 4-10 49 December 3-9
24 11-17 50 10-16
25 18-24 51 17-23
26 25-1 52 24-31**
* In leap year the week No.9 will be 26 February to 4 March, i.e. 8 days instead of 7.
**Last week will have 8 days, 24 to 31 December.
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 an
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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. 1000/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 200/ ha.
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2. LOW DRAFT CHISEL PLOUGH
a. Function
The implement could be used for deep tillage upto a depth of 40cm 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. 7,500/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs.700/ ha.
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3. TRACTOR DRAWN CHANNEL FORMER
a. Function
To form irrigation channel of bunds of size 300 mm and 800 mm channel size at
required intervals in ploughed soil. The channel size can be adjusted.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 190 kg
v. Capacity : 3000 m run per hr
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 6 per 100 m run
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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
iv. Weight : 240 kg
v. Capacity : 1700 m run per hour
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 10 per 100 m run
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5. POWER TILLER OPERATED TERRACER CUM LEVELLER
a. Function
For land leveling, terracing, bund forming and for forming soil and water
conservation structures.
b. Specification
i. Type : Power tiller front mounted
ii. Power requirement : 8 to 10 hp power tiller
Iii Overall dimension : 780 x 1000 x 580 mm
Iv Weight : 35 kg
v Capacity : 0.08 m3
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.4,000/-
d. Cost of operation : Cost of moving 1 m3 of soil is Rs.4.20
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II. SOWING IMPLEMENTS
1. BROADCASTER
a. Function
The centrifugal type unit that is carried by 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
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 20 per ha
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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
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 230/ ha.
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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
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 250/ha.
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4. TRACTOR DRAWN CULTIVATOR MOUNTED SEED PLANTER
a. Function
This planter can be mounted on 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
iv. Weight : 425 kg
v. Capacity : 4 ha/ day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs. 12,000/- (Planter attachment to the cultivator)
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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
iv. Weight : 375 kg
v. Capacity : 3 ha/day
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6. BASIN LISTER CUM SEED PLANTER
a. Function
For forming 1250 x 30 x 15 cm sized basins along with the line sowing of the crops
like groundnut, sorghum, maize and pulses. Suitable for low rainfall regions.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 525 kg
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7. RIDGER SEEDER
a. Function
For tilling, ridge forming and sowing delinted cotton, soybean, blackgram,
greengram, cowpea simultaneously on the sides of the ridges at the required depth.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 425 kg
v. Capacity : 3.5 ha/day
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 480/- ha
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8. IMPROVED PADDY SEEDER
a. Function
To sow pregerminated paddy seeds at equal intervals manually.
b. Specification
i. Type : Manually operated implement
iv. Weight : 10 kg
d. Cost of operation : Rs 250/ha
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9. PADDY – DAINCHA SEEDER
a. Function
To sow pregerminated paddy seeds at equal intervals manually.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 10 kg
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10. PADDY TRANSPLANTER
a. Function
For transplanting mat type paddy seedlings in six rows in puddled and leveled soil
b. Specification
Two labourers, One for operation and another
ii. Power requirement :
for transporting mat seedlings
iv. Weight : 16 kg
d. Cost of operation : Rs.600/ha.
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11. POWER TILLER OPERATED CUP SEEDER
a. Function
To sow seeds in rows with power tillers for crops like maize, bengal gram and pulses.
b. Specification
i. Type : Mounted
ii. Power requirement : 8-10 hp power tiller
iv. Weight : 110 kg
v. Capacity : 1.6 ha per day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs 10000/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs 200 /ha.
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12. AIR ASSISTED SEED DRILL
a. Function
To sow small sized seeds like cumbu, sesame and sorghum using tractor.
b. Specification
i. Type : Mounted
ii. Power requirement : 35 to 45 hp Tractor
iv. Weight : 295 kg
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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 at a soil
moisture content of 8 to 10 per cent.
1b. Specification
2i. Type : Manually operated
3ii. Power requirement : One labour
4iii. Overall dimensions : 1100 x 650 x 1050 mm
5iv. Weight : 3 kg
6v. Capacity : 0.05 ha/day
7c. Cost of the unit : Rs. 450/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs.1600 / ha
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2. CONO WEEDER
0a. Function
1For weeding in Paddy crop cultivated in rows.
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 6 kg
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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 only 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. 2000/-
d. Cost of operation Rs. 85/ha.
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2. FOOT WEAR OPERATED MANUAL SPRAYER
a. Function
For spraying in kitchen garden, Ornamental gardens and poultry farms
b. Specification
iv. Weight : 10 kg with pesticide
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.1000 /-
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3. POWER TILLER OPERATED BOOM SPRAYER
a. Function
For spraying chemicals in field crops like cotton, maize and pulses.
b. Specification
i. Type : Mounted
ii. Power requirement : Power tiller
iv. Weight : 115 kg
v. Capacity : 6.4 ha /day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.20,000
d. Cost of operation : Rs 120 /ha
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4. SPRAYER FOR COCONUT TREE
a. Function
To spray chemicals in tall coconut trees upto a height of 55 feet. Rotary and
oscillatory 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 : 15 trees per hour
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 20 per tree
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5. 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 insects especially during outbreak.
b. Specification
i. Type : Knapsack
ii. Power requirement : A power sprayer
iv. Weight : 15 kg
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.500/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs.190/ha.
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6. 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
d. Cost of operation Rs. 12/ hr.
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7. 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/-
d. Cost of operation Rs.12/hr.
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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 or 1.00m.
b. Specification
i. Type : Engine operated
3 hp kerosene / 5 hp diesel engine, 1 operator
ii. Power requirement : and 2 women labourers to collect and bundle the
cut crop
iii. Overall dimensions : 2200 x 850 x 1170 mm / 2600x1200x1300 mm
iv. Weight : 30 kg / 75 kg
v. Capacity : 1 ha/ day ; 1.5 ha /day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.34,000/-; Rs 48,000 without engine
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 400/ha; Rs 300/ha
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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. 48,000/- (without prime mover)
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3. POWER TILLER OPERATED GROUNDNUT HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting groundnut crop using power tiller
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 10-12 HP Power tiller
iv. Weight : 87 kg
v. Capacity : 0.8 ha per day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs 7000/-
d. Saving in Cost and time : 30 % and 90 %
139
4. POWER TILLER OPERATED TURMERIC HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting turmeric rhizomes with power tiller
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Power tiller
iv. Weight : 44 kg
c. Cost of the unit : Rs 15,000/-
d. Saving in cost and time : 65 and 90 %
140
5. TRACTOR OPERATED TURMERIC HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting turmeric rhizomes using tractor.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Tractor
iv. Weight : 125 kg
d. Saving in cost and time : 26 % and 90 %
141
6. TRACTOR OPERATED TAPIOCA HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting tapioca tubers using tractors
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Tractor
iv. Weight : 110 Kg
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.7,500 /-
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7. TRACTOR OPERATED COTTON STALK PULLER
a. Function
For uprooting cotton stalks from the field using tractor.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35hp tractor
iv. Weight : 281 Kg
v. Capacity : 0.8 to 1.2 ha per day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.35,000 /-
d. Cost of Operation : Rs 2000/ha-
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8. GROUNDNUT HARVESTER
a. Function
For harvesting and winrowing groundnut crop at soil moisture levels of 8-15
percent.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 35-45 hp tractor
iv. Weight : 300 kg
d. Cost of operation : Rs.900/ha
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9. IMPACT TYPE GROUNDNUT STRIPPER
a. Function
For removing the groundnut pods from the harvested groundnut crops.
b. Specification
i. Type : Holding type impact stripper
ii. Power requirement : 1.8 kW
iii. Overall dimensions : 170 0 x 930 x 1150 mm
iv. Weight : 140 Kg
c. Cost of the unit : Rs 19,000 with engine
d. Cost of operation : Rs 735 /ha.
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10. GROUNDNUT THRESHER
a. Function
For threshing and separating groundnut pods. Suitable for freshly harvested and
high moisture groundnut crop.
b. Specification
i. Type : Motor or tractor PTO operated
ii. Power requirement : 5 hp
iv. Weight : 350 kg
v. Capacity : 200 kg pods/hr
d. Cost of operation : Rs.40 per quintal
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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
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 22/hr.
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2. 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.2000/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs.10 / hr
148
3. 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 20 to 30 cm diameter upto a depth of 45 cm.
b. Specification
i. Type : Worm gear box driven, operated manually
iii. Overall dimension : 1100 x 670 x 1830 mm
iv. Weight : 60 kg
v. Capacity : 20 holes per hour
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 90/hr
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4. 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
iv. Weight : 175 kg
v. Capacity : 3500 litres per minute
c. Cost of the Unit : Rs. 7500/-
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 90/hr.
150
5. OIL PALM HARVESTING TOOL
a. Function
For harvesting Oil palm fruit bunches from Oil palm tree
b. Specification
iii. Overall dimensions : 340 x 275 mm
iv. Weight : 2 kg
v. Capacity : 144 FFB/day
d. Saving in Cost and time : 33 and 50 %
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6. POWER TILLER OPERATED LAWN MOWER
a. Function
For trimming the lawns using power tiller.
b. Specification
i. Type : Mounted type
ii. Power requirement : 8-10 hp power tiller
iv. Weight : 120 Kg
c. Cost of the unit Rs. 10,000/-
d. Saving in Cost and time 49.9 and 64.1 %
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AGRICULTURAL PROCESSING EQUIPMENTS &
TECHNOLOGIES
I. THRESHING / SHELLING/DECORTICATING/DEHUSKING / PULPING EQUIPMENT
1. ARECANUT DEHUSKER
a. Function : To dehusk the dried arecanut fruits
b. Specification :
(i) Overall dimension(L x B x H) : 1660 x 600 x 1615 mm
(ii) Capacity : 30 kg/h
(iii) Power required : 1 hp electric motor
d. Cost of operation : Rs.15/h
ARECANUT DEHUSKER
153
2. GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (POWER OPERATED)
a. Function : To shell groundnut pods and separate kernels
b. Specification :

d. Cost of operation : Rs.20 /h
GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (POWER OPERATED)
154
3. GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (Hand operated)
a. Function :To shell groundnut pods and separate kernels
b. Specification
(i) Overall dimension : 600 x 350 x 700 mm

(iii) Power required : Manual4.
d. Cost of operation : Rs.5 /h
GROUNDNUT DECORTICATOR (Hand operated)
155
4 HUSKER SHELLER FOR MAIZE
a. Function : Dehusking and shelling of maize cobs
b. Specification :
(ii) Capacity : 100 quintals of cob/day
(iii) Power required : 7.5 hp electric motor / diesel engine
HUSKER SHELLER FOR MAIZE
156
5. COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE
a. Function : To delint the fuzzy cotton seed for seed purpose
b. Specification :
COTTON SEED DELINTING MACHINE
157
6. SORGHUM PEARLER
a. Function : To remove the hull/seed coat from sorghum and

other millets like little millets and finger millets.
b. Specification :
SORGHUM PEARLER
7. PEPPER THRESHER (HAND OPERATED)
158
a. Function : To separate the pepper berries from the
pepper vines
b. Specification :
(iii) Power required : Manually operated

d. Cost of operation : Rs.175/tonne of pepper
PEPPER THRESHER (HAND OPERATED)
159
8. PEPPER THRESHER (POWER OPERATED)
a. Function : To separate the pepper berries from the

pepper vines
b. Specification :

d. Cost of operation : Rs.125/tonne of pepper
PEPPER THRESHER (POWER OPERATED)
160
9.COFFEE PULPER CUM WASHER
a. Function : To pulp and wash the coffee parchments
b. Specification :

c. Cost of the unit : Rs. 50,000
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 25/h
COFFEE PULPER CUM WASHER
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II. CLEANING AND GRADING EQUIPMENTS
1. GRAIN WINNOWER
a. Function : To winnow and clean all grains after threshing
b. Specification :
(ii) Capacity : 500 - 750 kg/h
(iii). Power required : 1 hp electric motor
GRAIN WINNOWER
162
2. ROTARY SIEVE MULTI CROP CLEANER CUM GRADER
a. Function : To clean and grade grains, spices, etc.
b. Specification
(ii) Capacity : 100 - 250 kg/h
(iii) Power required : Hand operated
ROTARY SIEVE MULTI CROP CLEANER CUM GRADER
163
III. DRYING EQUIPMENTS
1. AGRICULTURAL WASTE FIRED MECHANICAL DRYER
a. Function : To burn agricultural wastes and to produce hot air.
b. Specification :
(ii) Capacity : 1 tone/day
c. Cost of the unit : Rs.1,00,000/-
AGRICULTURAL WASTE FIRED MECHANICAL DRYER
164
2. FLUIDISED BED DRYER FOR MUSHROOM
a. Function : To dry the oyster and milky mushroom
b. Specification :
(ii) Capacity : 6 kg/batch

(iii) Power required : 3 hp electric motor; 2000 W for heaters
d. Cost of operation : Rs.50/kg of dry mushroom
FLUIDISED BED DRYER FOR MUSHROOM
165
IV. MILLING AND EXTRACTION EQUIPMENTS
1. MINI DHAL MILL
a. Function : To split the grain legumes into dhal.
b. Specification :
i. Overall dimension(L x B x H) : 385 x 365 x 865 mm
ii. Capacity : 20 kg/h
iii. Power required : 1 hp electric motor
MINI DHAL MILL
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2. DHAL MILL CUM WET GRINDER
a. Function : Wet grinding, splitting of pulses into dhal

and dry grinding.
b. Specification :
i. Overall dimension (L x B x H) : 760 x 425 x 880 mm
ii. Capacity : 2 kg of dry grinding /h; 2 -3 kg of wet material/ h
DHAL MILL CUM WET GRINDER
Wet grinder cum dhal mill
167
3. TOMATO SEED EXTRACTOR
a. Function : To extract seed from tomato fruits
b. Specification :
ii. Capacity : 180 kg of fruit (1.8 kg of seed) per hour.
iii. Power required : 1 hp for electric motor and 0.5 hp for pump
c. Cost of the unit : Rs. 15,000
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 10 per hour
TOMATO SEED EXTRACTOR
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4. BRINJAL SEED EXTRACTOR
a. Function : To extract seed from well ripe brinjal
b. Specification :
ii. Capacity : 120 kg of fruits per hour
c. Cost of the unit : Rs. Rs.15,000/-.
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 10 /h
BRINJAL SEED EXTRACTOR
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5. CHILLI SEED EXTRACTOR
a. Function : To extract seeds from dried chilli.
b. Specification :
ii. Capacity : 4 quintals/ day
iii. Power required : 0.5 hp electric motor
CHILLI SEED EXTRACTOR
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6. IMPROVED FOUR ROLLER SUGARCANE CRUSHER
a. Function : To extract the juice by crushing sugarcane.
b. Specification :
ii. Capacity : 250 kg/h

IMPROVED FOUR ROLLER SUGARCANE CRUSHER
171
V. EQUIPMENTS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR VALUE ADDITION
1. HOUSEHOLD PADDY PARBOILING UNIT
a. Function : To parboil paddy uniformly.
b. Specification :
i. Overall dimension(D x H) : 650 x 900 mm
ii. Capacity : 125 kg/batch
iii. Power required : 5 kg of firewood/batch
HOUSEHOLD PADDY PARBOILING UNIT
172
2. IMPROVED TURMERIC BOILER
a. Function : To boil the turmeric rhizomes under hygienic

condition
b. Specification :
ii. Capacity : 16 quintals / day
iii. Power required : 10 kg. of fire wood / batch
IMPROVED TURMERIC BOILER
173
3. FISH FEED PELLETIZER
a. Function : To produce water stable pellets.
b. Specification :
i. Overall dimension (L x B x H) : 385 x 380 x 465 mm
ii. Capacity : 10 kg of fish feed/h
FISH FEED PELLETIZER
174
4. TNAU INSECT TRAP
a. Function : To utilize cir pith for the production of

particle board
b. Specification :
(i) Overall dimension(L x B x H) : 27 mm diameter and 150 mm long
(ii) Capacity : Suitable for a bin holding upto 25-50 kg.
(iii) Power required : -

d. Cost of operation :-
TNAU INSECT TRAP
175
BIO-ENERGY
1. SOLAR COOKER
a. Function
Solar cookers are ideal for household cooking in rural areas. Solar cooker is the
simplest gadget for use in domestic sector. Considerable amount of commercial cooking
fuel can be saved by substituting the solar cooker.
b. Specification
i. Type : Renewable energy equipment
ii. Power requirement : Solar Energy
iii. Overall dimensions : 75 x 75 x 20 cm
iv. Capacity : 3 kg / day
d. Cost of operation Rs. 0.25/ h
176
2. SINGLE POT TNAU CHULHA
a. Function
The chulha is used for general household cooking and water heating. The single
pot chulha has double wall with a gap of approximately 2.5 cm.
b. Specification
ii. Fuel : Biomass
18 and 24 cm inner and outer dia.
iii. Overall dimensions :
Respectively
iv. Efficiency : 24 %
d. Cost of operation Rs. 0.50/ day
177
3. DOUBLE POT TNAU CHULHA
a. Function
The chulha is used for general household cooking and water heating. It is suitable
for 5-7 member family. The special features are fuel conservation, reduced smoke
emission, and reduction in drudgery of women, prevention of health hazards, saving in
cooking time and maintaining clean environment.
b. Specification
ii. Fuel : Biomass
iv. Capacity : 26 %
d. Cost of operation : Rs. 0.70/ day
4. BIOMASS GAS STOVE
a. Function
The biomass gas stove can be used for thermal applications in farm households, tea
shops, jaggery manufacturing units, cattle feed preparation, small scale paddy
parboiling, arecanut boiling and other agro-industrial applications.
b. Specification
i. Type : Renewable energy gadget
ii. Fuel : Biomass
iii. Overall dimensions : 290 mm dia and 630mm height
iv. Efficiency : 22-24 %
v Heat Output : 4.4kW
vi Flame temperature : 700 – 800oC
d. Cost of operation Rs. 1.65/h
5. NOON MEAL CHULHA
a. Function
This chulha was developed for preparing noon meal in schools. It can be used to
prepare break fast and meals.
b. Specification
ii. Fuel : Biomass
iii. Overall dimensions : 25 x 30 cm fire box mouth
Height : first pot hole : 40 cm
second pot hole : 48 cm
iv. Efficiency : 23%
c. Cost of the unit Rs.400/-
d. Cost of operation 5 kg/hr
6. TNAU SAKTHI MODEL BIOGAS PLANT
a. Function
The biogas plant is spherical in shape. It is made of brick, cement, sand and gravel.
The only skill required is for arch (dome) construction, which can be done by masonry
work.
b. Specification
ii. Fuel : Cow dung
iii. Shape : Spherical
v. Capacity : 2 m3 of biogas / day
7.BIOGAS CUM SOLAR POWERED LIGHT TRAP
a. Function
The biogas cum solar powered light trap is used to monitor the pest infestation in
cropped fields.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : Solar and/or biogas
v. Power : 60W
d. Cost of operation Rs. 0.95/day
8. RICE HUSK GASIFIER
a. Function
To produce thermal energy from rice husk.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : A 0.2 kW electrical motor run blower.
iii. Thermal efficiency : 55-60%
iv. Thermal capacity : 10000-15000 kCal / h
c. Fuel Consumption 6-8 kg/h

d. Cost of the unit Rs. 25,000/-
9. WOOD FIRED GASIFIER
a. Function
Fire wood when normally burnt by conventional method is very inconvenient and
inefficient. In thermal gasifier, biomass like wood waste is burnt in controlled conditions
and fuel gas is produced.
b. Specification
ii. Power requirement : 1 hp
iii. Thermal efficiency : 55-60%
iv. Thermal capacity : 50000 kCal / h
v. Capacity : 3.5 kW/h
c. Fuel Consumption 20-25 kg/h
d. Cost of unit Rs. 2,50,000/-
10. THE
PILOT
PLANT FOR BIODIESEL
a. Function
The biodiesel pilot developed consists of a reactor with heater, a stirrer, a container
where methanol and chemicals are mixed, settling tanks and finally a washing tank.
Depending upon the need, the size of the unit can be scaled up to get higher production
capacity.
b. Specification
ii. Raw material : Vegetable Oil
iii. Capacity : 250 lit / day of bio diesel
c. Cost of the unit Rs. 1,50,000/-
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
Water requirement (lit/day), increase in yield, water saving (percent), lateral spacing and cost
are given in Table (1).
Table 1. Water Saving, Yield Benefits, Lateral spacing and Cost in drip system
Water Requirement
Percentage Lateral
lpd/plant
Crops Increase Water Spacing Cost Rs. / ha
Drip Conventional in yield saving (m)
Coconut 75 –100 200 - 300 30 45 7.5 30,000

Grapes 25 - 45 90 -100 23 48 3.0 50,000
Mango 30 - 50 90 -150 23 40 10.0 28,000
Guava 22 - 30 70 -100 40 50 5.0 34,000
Sapota 20 - 30 70 -100 40 50 10.0 28,000
Pomegranate 20 - 40 60 - 130 98 45 5.0 34,000
Banana 8 –12 30 - 40 52 45 2.0 56,000
Lemon 10 - 20 25 - 65 40 60 3.0 50,000
Papaya 5–8 18 - 26 75 68 2.0 56,000
Brinjal 1–2 4-8 14 53 1.20 75,000
Bhendi 1–2 4-6 16 40 1.20 75,000
Tomato 1–2 4-6 50 39 1.20 75,000
Chillies 1–2 3-6 44 62 1.20 75,000
Gourds 1–2 3-6 15 54 1.20 75,000
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.
BROAD BEDS AND FURROWS
c. COST
Approximate cost for laying beds & furrows is Rs.1800 / 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.
CONTOUR BUND
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.
4. BENCH TERRACING
a. FUNCTION
It helps to bring sloping land into different level strips to enable cultivation.
4. PUERTORICO TYPE TERRACE

TYPES OF BENCH TERRACES
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.5000 / 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%
TYPES OF BENCH TERRACES

V- catchments
Trees
5m
5.
5m
Crescent bunds
5m
4m 3m
3m
5m
Trees
MICROCATCHMENTS FOR SLOPING LANDS

a. FUNCTION
It is useful for insitu moisture conservation and erosion control for tree crops.
Storage Annual run-off contribution to Estimated surface
Technique capacity soil moisture Additional water Run-off control
per unit (m3) stored per ha (m3) (%)
Triangular catchments
13 5200 80
(V-Bunds)
Crescent bunds 10.2 4080 73
c. COST
Technique Cost/ha (Rs.)
Triangular catchments (V-Bunds) 6000-7000
Crescent bunds 2500-3000
d. SALIENT FEATURES
Slope ranges from 2 –8%
Soil type – Light to moderate texture
Insitu moisture conservation with staggered planting
Suitable for dry land Horticulture & Agroforestry
Bund height – 30 to 45 cm

Agronomy of Field Crops

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CROP

DEPT.OF AGRICULTURE, GOVT.OF TAMIL NADU TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Crop Page No.

19 SOIL RELATED CONSTRAINTS &

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

PARTICULARS CO 43 Ponmani White Ponni

Parentage IR 1561-228/1 IR 8/W 1263 IR 50 / CO 43

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

Duration (Days) 135 135 -140 115

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

PARTICULARS TKM 11 ADTRH 1 CORH 2

PARTICULARS ADT (R) 44 ADT (R) 45 ADT (R) 46

II. PARTICULARS OF RICE VARIETIES (CONTD . . . )

PARTICULARS TKM (R)12 TRY (R)2 PMK (R)3

Golden yellow with

PARTICULARS ADT (R) 47 ADT (R) 48

Husk colour straw straw

III RICE SEASONS OF TAMIL NADU

1. Transplanted puddled lowland rice

1. TRANSPLANTED PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

Split application of N and K

Precautions for irrigation

1.7. TRANSPLANTED HYBRID RICE

Seed rate 20 kg per hectare

1.8. INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT (ICM) - RICE (SRI)

2. WET SEEDED PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

2.7. Manures and fertilizer application

2.8. Weed management

3.6. After cultivation

4. DRY SEEDED RAINFED UN-PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE WITH

4.8. Weed management

5. DRY SEEDED IRRIGATED UN-PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE

DRY SEEDED UPLAND RICE

Site Specific Nutrient Management through Omission Plot Techniques

Guidelines for establishing and managing omission plots

Fig. 1. Field layout of omission plot trial

a. For heavy textured soil

SP – Super phosphate full basal,

Determination of grain yield

Recommended K2O rates according to target yield and K limited plot

Soil : Alfisol (Noyyal series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

Erode, Coimbatore, Salem & Trichy STL Jurisdiction

Soil : Inceptisol (Irugur series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

Kovilpatti STL Jurisdiction

Soil : Inceptisol (Manakkarai Seaso : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

Basic data for Fertiliser Prescription Equations

Aduthurai STL Jurisdiction

Soil : Vertisol (Kalathur series) Season : Rabi Yield : 6.0 t ha-1

Basic data for Fertiliser Prescription Equations

Aduthurai STL Juristiction

Pests Management strategies

ii) Main field

Pests Management strategies

Leaffolder  Release both Trichogramma chilonis (for leaffolder) and T.

Rice leaffolder- Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee

Disease management in nursery

Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.