Here is a brief blog post which helps the castor farmers to understand the do’s and do not’s while cultivating castor. Article excerpts from http://www.ikisan.com
- For proper tilth and good seed bed preparation, plough the land immediately after pre-monsoon showers followed by 2-3 harrowings with blade harrow after rains.
- Farmers are required to purchase the hybrid seed from authorised registered seed agent and ensure its viability
- However, they need not renew seed stock of their improved varieties every year.
- Using certified seed once obtained from authorised agencies/sources, interested farmers can easily meet their requirement of quality seeds and maintain the varieties for atleast 3-4 years without any appreciable deterioration.
- Seed may be treated with Thiram or Bavistin 3g/kg seed to protect from seed borne diseases like Alternaria leaf blight, seedling blight and wilt.
- A plant population of 55,500/ha has been found to be optimum for rainfed castor in all regions
- For achieving required plant stands in dry lands, a seed rate of 10-15 kg/ha is adequate depending on seed size.
- The optimum date of sowing for castor in Andhra Pradesh is first fortnight of June.
- Plough with single seed drill help in placement of seed at appropriate moist zone and ensures better germination and growth.
- As far as possible place the seed in a moist zone 10-12cm below the soil surface to ensure proper moist soil seed contact for sufficiently long period and thereby obtain good germination.
Read more from here – http://www.ikisan.com/Crop%20Specific/Eng/links/ap_castorCrop%20Establishment.shtml