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Crop Production Technology-1 (Kharif Crop)

 Cowpea

Cowpea -Vigna unguiculata

Origin-

Originated in Africa and widely grown in Africa.

Geographical Distribution-

Major cowpea growing countries are- Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand.

Climate-

  • It needs warm weather and semi-arid crop where temperature ranging from 20oC-30oC.
  • It can grow under shade of tree but cannot tolerate cold or frost.

Soil-

  • Well drained loam or slightly heavy soil are best suited.
  • It can grow in acid soil but cannot in alkaline(basic) soil.

Varieties-

Grain- C-152, Pusa Phalguni, Amba(V-16).
Fodder- GFC-1, GFC-2, GFC-3, GFC-4,etc.

Sowing of Seed-

  • Time of sowing is depend on variety.
  • Kharif Crop- With starting of monsoon ranging from early June-end of July.
  • Rabi crop- November  (Southern India)
  • Summer:2nd-4th week of March(grain), February(fodder).
  • Hills: April-May.

Seed Rate-

  • Pure Crop:20-25 kg/ha(grain)
  • Fodder and Green Manuring:30-35 kg/ha.
  • In Summer, 30 kg/ha for grain and 4 kg/ha for fodder.

Spacing-

  • Row to row 30 cm bushing to 45 cm spreading.
  • Plant to Plant 10 cm Bushing to 15 cm spreading.

Method of Sowing-

  • Broadcasting, Line sowing and dibbling of seeds based on their purpose and season.
  • Sowing of seed at a depth of 3-5 cm.
  • In high rainfall area, formed 30 cm wide and 15 cm deep drainage channel at every 2 m interval to drain excess rain water.

Seed Treatment-

  • Treat the seed with Thirum 2g + carbendazim 1g.
  • It is also good for seeds to treat with Rhizobium culture 10g/kg seed.

Manuring-

  • Apply FYM/compost 5-10t/ha as basal with last ploughing.
  • Nitrogen(N)15-20 kg/ha as starter dose in poor soils.
  • 50-60 kg/ha P2O5  and 50-60 kg/ha K2O.

Intercultural Operation(Weeding)-

  • For higher yield crop should be free from weed upto 25-30 days crop stage.
  • Pendimethalin 0.75-1 kg/ha combined with one hand weeding at 35 days  after sowing.

Irrigation-

5-6 irrigation depending on soil type.

Harvesting-

  • Green pods for vegetable use harvested at 45-90 days.
  • For grain, crop can be harvested in about 90-125 days after sowing when pods are fully matured.
  • For Fodder, the cutting of the crop depends upon the need and the stage of growth of the crop.

Yield-

Good crop of cowpea yield about 12-15q/ha and 50-60q/ha of straw.
250-350q/ha of green fodder.

Cluster Bean

Cluster Bean-Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

Origin-

  • Cluster bean origin was unknown.
  • It is assumed that cluster bean developed from the African species.

Soil-

Cluster bean can grow in all type f soil but sandy loam soils are better for its growth.

Climate-

It requires warm growing season.

Varieties-

Bundle Guar-1, Bundle Guar-2, Bundle Guar-3, HG-182, etc.

Sowing-

  • Kharif season follow rain.
  • Summer crop sowing is done in February to march.

Method of sowing-

Seeds are either broadcasted or dipped behind a country plough at a distance of 25-30 cm.

Spacing-

Average, 45-60*25-30 cm is required for planting of cluster bean.
In rainy season seeds are planted on ridges while in summer, furrow method is followed.

Application of fertilizers-

DAP-50 kg and 10 kg Zinc Sulphate/acre.

Weeding-

Application of atrazine 1lt/acre is suitable for weed free cluster field.

Irrigation-

2-3 irrigations for heavy soil and 4-5 irrigation for light soils are necessary for proper growth of the crop.

Harvesting-

For vegetable purpose, harvesting starts after 40 days of sowing and pods are plucked at tender stage.

Yield-

  • Vegetable yield:6-8t/ha 
  • Seed yield: 0.6-1.2t/ha are expected within the crop duration of 120 days.

Napier Grass

Napier Grass-Pennisetum purpureum

Origin-

It is said that napier grass is native to Africa where it is grown as forage plant.

Geographical Distribution-

This grass is widely grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Economic Importance-

  • Elephant grass(Napier Grass) generally used as fodder crop.
  • It provides huge amount of protein to the cattles.
  • Elephant grass also used for increasing soil fertility and also used for controlling soil erosion.

Varieties-

CO 3, PBN 233, CO 4,etc.

Soil-

  • Light loamy and sandy soils are the most appropriate soils for napier grass.
  • The pH value for napier grown is between 5.0-8.0

Climate-

  • Napier grass are good at temperature between 26OC-42OC.
  • Cropping of napier is done in any season if irrigation facility is good.
  • Monsoon season is good for napier.
  • Preparation of land-
  • The field was harrowed and ploughed very well before cultivation of the grass.

Sowing- 

In India it was sown in the last week of February to the last week of August.

Plantation-

Their are two common method for plantation are-
  1. Conventional Method.
  2. Tumbukiza Method.
Conventional Method-
  • You have to dig the field at least 20 cm in width and depth.
  • Plant to Plant distance is 90cms.
  • Row to Row distance is 60cms.

Tumbukiza Method-

It is done in two ways-
  1. Round Pit.
  2. Rectangular Pit.
  • In Tumbukiza method 60 cm is depth and 60-90 cm is width.
  • The pit size depend on land.
  • The spacing between pit is 90 cm.

Harvesting-

Napier grass is generally harvested the height of 120 cm and harvesting take place at 180-240 days after planting.

Storage-

Napier grass is conserved or stored in silage.

Yield-

Average yield of silage is 380-400t/ha.

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