Kranthi (PCS –4) Early variety. Suitable for Kharif, Rabi, Summer
seasons; 90-150 days duration, yield potential 12-15 q ha-1;
tolerant to drought. Suitable for late sown conditions.
Jwala (48-1) Suitable for Kharif with 150-180 days duration; yield
potential 10-15 q ha-1; tolerant to wilt disease. Red stem,
double bloom, non-spiny capsules. Tolerant to botrytis disease.
Jyothi (DCS-9) Grown in Kharif and summer with 90-150 days duration;
10-14q ha-1 yield potential. Tolerant to wilt disease.
GCH-4 A hybrid for Kharif season with 150-210 days duration; yield
potential 15-20q ha-1 tolerant to wilt and root rot disease.
Red stem, triple bloom, semi spiny capsules. Tolerant to drought.
PCH 1 High yielding hybrid variety suitable for rainfed conditions,
15 days earlier than GCH-4.
Varieties like Haritha, Kiran and hybrids like PCH 177 can also be
grown under rainfed conditions.
Seeds and sowing
Seed should be treated with carbendazim @ 1g kg-1
of seed in one litre of water. Soak for 12-14 hours and shade dry before
sowing.
A seed rate of 8-10kg ha-1 for high yielding
varieties like Kranti, Jwala and Jyothi where as 5-6kg ha-1
for hybrids. A spacing of 90x45cm for varieties and 90x60cm for hybrids.
For late sown conditions in summer, 60x30cm spacing is recommended.
Fertiliser needs
FYM @ 5-10t ha-1 has to be incorporated during
preparatory tillage. For striaght varieties apply nitrogen @ 40-60kg
ha-1 half at basal and remaining half at 35-45 DAS.
For hybrids under rainfed conditions, apply 80kg N ha-1.
Entire dose of Phosphorus and potash are to be applied as basal @ 40
and 30kg ha-1 respectively.
Under irrigated conditions apply 100kg N ha-1,
half as basal and the remaining helf in two equal splits at 35-40 DAS
and 65-70 DAS in addition to 40kg P2O5 and 30kg
K2O as basal.
Water Management
During Rabi and summer season, sow the seed in dry soil
and later on irrigate which results in uniform germination.
Irrigate at 15-30 days interval depending upon soil type
and crop growth for seed production plots about five irrigations are
required during summer season.
Intercultivation
Keep the crop weed free up to 60days during initial stages
of crop growth or else heavy loss due to weeds will occur.
Hand weeding once at 20DAS and operating blade harrow
at 40 DAS is recommended. Spray pre-emergence herbcides like fluchloralin
@ 1.25kg a.i ha-1 or alachlor @ 1.5kg ha-1 to
keep the field weed free.
Drought Management
Thiinning should be completed by 15-20 DAS. Keep only one seedling
/ hill.
Take up early weeding.
Frequent working of blade harrow to conserve soil moisture.
If irrigation water is available give one irrigation.
Plant protection
Red hairy caterpillar
Deep summer ploughing.
Monitor pest build up through light traps.
Destroy egg masses / young larvae found on grasses and bunds particularly
near lights.
Arrange bon-fires between 7-10p.m one day after the receipt of monsoon
rain. Repeat 2-3 times after each rain.
Trap crop of cucumber may be grown on field bunds.
Vegetative traps with Jatropha, Ipomea, Calotropis.
Form deep furrow and apply insecticidal dust. Control first and second
instar larvae using monocrotophos @ 1.5ml l-1, quinalphos
@ 3.0ml l-1 and endosulfan @ 2.0ml l-1 of water.
In extreme cases, use fenvalerate @ 2ml l-1.
Semi looper
Monitor pest incidence on tender leaves. Eggs are laid on second leaf
from top of each branch.
Early sown plants can withstand damage.
If there are 4-5 larvae per plant, hand picking is best.
In early stages spray neem oil @ 3ml l-1 or NSKE (5%) twice
with an interval of 10-15days.
Continuous collection and destruction of larvae.
Keep 10-15 bird perches per ha to attract birds.
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 endosulfan @ 2ml l-1
or monocrotophos @ 1.5ml l-1 or carbaryl 3.0g l-1
on 2nd or 3rd instar larvae.
Jassids
Monitor the pest incidence.
Use neem oil @ 3ml l-1 or NSKE (5%) as a repellent.
Tobacco caterpillar
Deep summer ploughing.
Monitor pest build up with pheromone traps (10 ha-1).
Collection and destruction of larvae with egg masses / first instar
larvae.
Spray NPV @ 500 L.E ha-1 during evening hours.
Spray @ 3ml l-1 neem oil or NSKE (5%) or chlorpyriphos
@ 2.5ml l-1 or monocrotophos @ 1.6ml l-1 in early
stages of the pest.
Capsule borer
Acts as shoot as well as capsule borer.
Collect and destroy damaged and fallen capsules.
Spray insecticide at flowering stage followed by systemic insecticide
spray after 20 days.
Fusarium wilt
Provide good drainage.
Use tolerant varieties like 48-1, GCH-4, Jyothi.
Treat the seed with thiram or carbendazim @ 3g kg-1.
Macropho ina wilt
Avoid crop rotation with jowar.
Use tolerant varieties like 48-1, GCH-4, Jyothi.
Seed treatment is essential.
Botrytis grey rot
Occus if there is continuous rain for a week or more with high humidity
during capsule formation.
As soon as cyclone warning is given in Radio / TV., spray carbendazim
@ 1.0g l-1 before the onset of rains.
After cessation of rains, remove infected spikes and destroy them
to avoid further infection and damage.
Apply 15-20kg N and 10kg K2O ha-1 to standing crop to improve
subsequent spikes.
Immediately after cessation of rains, spray carbendazim or any copper
fungicides to arest disease progress.
Varieties like 48-1 are tolerant to this disease during normal rains.
Intercropping
Normally no intercrop is grown in castor as it interferes with intercultivation.
Growing redgram or cowpea in 1:1 ratio reduces pest incidence.
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.
Impact points
Use quality seed of imroved varieties or hybrids.
Early sowing and seed treatment must be followed.
Protect seedlings from red hairy caterpillar through integrated pest
management.
Apply recommended fertilizers. Give nitrogen in 2 or 3 splits.
Protect crop from semilooper and Spodoptera through IPM.
