Package of Practices of Jowar

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 14:48

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Introduction

Jowar is the most important forage crop of Northern India and can be grown over a wide range of soils. It is nutritious and palatable and can be fed as green, dry or as conserved fodder in the form of silage or hay.

Sorghum is most important fodder of tropical climate. On average it contains 9-10%CP,65-65%,NDF 37-42% ADF,32% Cellulose and 21-23%.Hemicellulose on dry matter basis when harvested at 50% flowering stage since it is largely grown for grain & solver is used for feeding the animals. Its stover contains 6-6.4%, cp and 32-36%, crude fibre.

Climatic Requirements

Single or double cut varieties are sown during June-July, while multicut types are sown during March-April with irrigation and provide four cuts till October-November in Northern Indian. In Southern India, where minimum temperatures do not fall below 15°c, it is grown during Rabi season also. To overcome the possible danger of HCN poisoning, the crop should be properly irrigated during summer and harvested only after 40-45 days of growth.

Soil Conditions

Well-drained sandy loam to loam soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 are ideally suited for its growth. The field should be thoroughly prepared and leveled for weeds free sowing. The crop stand and growth is obtained better on well-prepared soils.

Varieties

The following varieties of fodder sorghum are recommended for cultivation in different areas of the country.

Varieties	Areas of cultivation	Green fodder (t/ha)
Single cut
PC-6,9,23 HC- 171, 260 (Early to medium duration)	Whole country	35-50
U.P. Chari- 1 & 2	U.P., Maharashtra, A.P. & Tamil Nadu	35-45
HC-136, Raj. Chari- 1&2	Whole country (long duration)	37-50
Double cut
CO-27	Tamil Nadu	45-65
AS-16	Gujarat
Multicut Types
SSG-988, 898, 855	Whole country	75-105

Field preparation

One ploughing followed by two (crosswise) harrowing are sufficient to get a good seed bed. The crop can not tolerate longer water stagnation hence, good drainage facility is important.

Seed & Sowing

Sowing should be done by drill at distance of 25 cm row to row using a seed rate of 30-40 kg/ha. For small seeded sudan types, a seed rate of 30 kg/ha is sufficient. Broadcasting of seeds should be avoided. The seed should not be put more than 2-2.5 cm depth during sowing.

For summer sowing of multicut types mid March to mid April is the best period, while for monsoon season crop sowing should be done preferably between 25^th June and 10^th July. In southern India it is grown during Rabi season also for which sowing is done in October-November.

Nutrient management

The field should be manured with 10 t FYM to meet requirement of secondary and micro nutrients. Basal application of 60:40:40kg N: P2O5-K2O should be given at sowing time followed by top dressing with 30kg N/ha one month after sowing. In low rainfall and rainfed areas 60 Kg N/ha is applied at sowing time. It has been observed that if possible 20-30 N/ha may be applied coincided with rainfall at 30-35day stage If crop suffers dry spell spraying of 2% urea solution should be done after release of stress. In S deficient soils (below 10 ppm available S) the application of 40-60 Kg S/ha is advantageous not only improving biomass but quality also particularly in summer crop.

Water management

July sown rainy season crop may also need l-2 irrigations depending upon distribution of rains. For summer sown crop 5-6 irrigations are required due to high evaporative demand of atmosphere. In Southern region Rabi season crops needs about 4 irrigations.

Weed management

One hoeing through weeder cum mulcher at 3-4 weeks' crop stage is very effective to control the weeds. Pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 0.50 kg a.i. ha in 600 litres of water is also very effective. This should be applied only in pure crop of sorghum. For sorghum sown inter cropped with legumes, pre emergence spraying of alcohol @ 1.0mg a.i. should be done.

Insect pest management

Sorghum is attacked by number of insects &disease pathoggens. Some of the important diseases are Anthracnose, sooty stripe and zonate leaf spot, among insects shootfly stem borer &sorghum midge is important. The shoot fly &stem borer can be controlled with spray of carbofuran/Malathion@ 125 ml/ha, whereas sorghum midge can be controlled with spray of endosulphan@ 0.075.To control the diseases seed treatment with Thiram@ 3g/kg seed takes care of almost all diseases. Spray of carbendazim@ 5g/l water control Anthracnose diseases in early stages. Summer sown crop is very susceptible to shoot fly. For this carbofuran 3G@ 3-4 kg/ha may be applied in trench at sowing time. Phosphamidon @ 0.02% after one week of crop emergence is very effective. To avoid attack of stem borers, crop should be sown during July as it is not attacked by the borers during rainy season. Spraying the crop 2-3 times with endosulfan @ 0.05% at 10-15 days interval is also effective.

Harvesting & Threshing

The crop should be harvested at 60-75 days of sowing (50%, flowering stage) in case of single cut varieties and first cut at 40-45 days and subsequent cut at 30 days of intervals incase of multicut varieties.

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Package of Practices of Jowar

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