Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda, Prakasam and Ranga Reddy :
Recommended Varieties/Hybrids
Varieties Kranti, Jyothi, Haritha and Kiran and Hybrids,
GCH-4, DCH-32 and DCH 177 are suitable for rainfed conditions, while
Haritha, Jyothi & Jwala are suitable for wilt affected areas.
Sowing Season
First fortnight of October to 15th November
Seed rate and Sowing
The seed rate is 6-8 kg/ha for varieties & 5-6 kg/ha
for hybrids. Depending on soil, spacing of 90 x 45 or 90 x 60 or 75
x 75 cm is recommended.
Seed treatment by soaking the seed in fungicidal solution
(1g carbendazim / litre of water) for 12 -14 hours and shade
dry before sowing. Dry seed treatment with 3g carbendazim for 1 kg seed.
Nutritional Management
Improper fertilizer and soil moisture management leads
to more male flowers and lower yields. Basal application of 5-10 Cart
loads of FYM 40-40-30 Kg N:P2O5 K2O/ha.
Top dress 20 kg N at 35-40 DAS and 20 kg N at 65-70
DAS depending on soil moisture availability.
Plant Protection
Red Hairy Caterpillar
Deep summer ploughing.
Destroy egg masses/young larvae found on grasses and
bunds.
Arrange bon-fires between 7-10 p.m. one day after the
receipt of soaking monsoon rain. Repeat 2, 3 times after each rain.
Trap crop of cucumber maybe grown on field bunds. Vegetative
traps with Jatropha, Ipomea, calotropis.
Control first and second instar larvae using monocrotophos
(1.5 ml), quinolphos (3.0 ml) and endosulphon (2.0 ml/l of water).
Semi Loooper
In early stages spray neem oil (3 m1/1) or NSKE (5%)
twice with an interval of 10-15 days.
Collection and destruction of Jarvae.
Look for egg parasite. Black coloured eggs indicate the
presence of egg parasite -Trichogramma.
Look for larval parasite if one larval parasite per plant
is seen postpone insecticidal spray.
As a last resort spray insecticides like endosulphon
(2ml) / monocrotophos (1.5ml) / carbaryl (3g) on 2nd or 3rd instar Larvae.
Capsule Borer
Acts as shoot as well as capsule borer.
Collect and destroy damaged and fallen capsules.
Spray insecticide at flowering stage and 20 days later.
Any systemic insecticide can be used.
Jassids
Minor pest incidence, generally ceases after rains.
Use neem oil (3ml) or NSKE {5%) as a repellent
Fusarium Wilt
Provide good drainage.
Use resistant varieties like Haritha, 48-1, Jyothi, GCH-4
Treat the seed with Thiram or Carbendazim @ 3g/kg.
Botrytis Grey Rot
Soon after cyclone warning is given in Radio/T.V., spray
carbendazim (1.0 g/l) before the onset of rains-
After cessation of rains, remove infected spikes and
destroy them to avoid further infection and damage. Spray carbendazim
or any copper fungicides to arrest disease progress.
Apply 15-20 kg N and 10 kg K2O ha-1
to standing crop to improve subsequent spikes.
Non-spiny varieties Kiran and 48-1 are recommended.
Intercropping
Intercropping with red gram, cowpea, groundnut, jowar,
clusterbean, maize will increase profits.
Contingent Plan
Castor itself is a good contingent crop as it tolerates
late sowing up to August.
Beyond August, it can be grown in tankfed/well irrigated
areas with reduced spacing.
