kerala pop 2011 revised

PACKAGE OF PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS : CROPS – 2011 14th edition Chief Editor P. V. BALACHANDRAN Editors S. ESTELITTA, S. HELEN, JYOTHI BHASKAR, JIM THOMAS, BINOO P. BONNY, A.SUMA AND MADHU SUBRAMANIAN DIRECTORATE OF EXTENSION KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY THRISSUR – 680 651, KERALA, INDIA

EnglishPackage of Practices Recommendations : CropsFirst published 1973Second edition 1974Third edition 1975Fourth edition 1976Fifth edition 1978Sixth edition 1981Seventh edition 1983Eighth edition 1986Ninth edition 1989Tenth edition 1993Eleventh edition 1996Twelfth edition 2002Twelfth edition (Reprint) 2003Thirteenth edition 2007Thirteenth edition (Reprint) 2008Fourteenth edition 2011Copies: 8000Price: 100/-Technical guidance Dr. M. K.Sheela Former Director of ExtensionPublished by : Dr. P.V. Balachandran Director of Extension Kerala Agricultural University Mannuthy, Thrissur – 680 651, India© Kerala Agricultural University 2011All Rights ReservedCover : K.R. Kumaran & S. EstelittaPhotographs : V. V. SatheesanTypeset : P. M. Santha, KAU Press, MannuthyPrinted at : KAU Press, Mannuthy – 680651Citation : Kerala Agricultural University 2011. Package of Practices Recommendations : Crops 14th edition. Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur - 360 p. Internet edition : www.kau.edu/pop KAUP 159/10/8000/5/12

Foreword Our State is blessed with vast arable land, an equable climate, and reasonably sufficient water resources, but it is our farmers who are ultimately responsible not only for agricultural production and productivity but also for ensuring the quality of life in rural Kerala. I trust that this edition of the Package of Practices Recommendations: Crops 2011 will serve as bastion not only for the farming community but also to all the extension functionaries of the State Department of Agriculture, the Commodity Boards, Central Institutes of Agricultural Research, input firms and various other government and non-government organizations involved in the extension advisory services to the farming community. Posterity will measure its value not necessarily by its popularity but surely by its authenticity. I congratulate the team effort that has gone into the making of this valuable repository ofknowledge base and recommendations and dedicate it to the farming community of the State of Kerala K.R.Viswambharan, IAS Vice-Chancellor

Preface Measured by many standards, our achievements since independencehave been great. But the increasing number of farmer suicides and farmers’ movements is a distantthunder, warning us of a gathering storm of expectations that the farming community has of us. With the entry of several private entrepreneurs in the fields of agriculture input supply and consultancy the farming community is experiencing an unleashing of energy, intelligence and ability to experiment with hither to un-researched practices.In the midst of the many voices that seek to persuade the farmer the sane voice of the Kerala Agricultural University will be heard loud and clear through this 14th edition of the Package of Practices Recommendations : Crops 2011 - a publication that has stood the test of time and now occupies a coveted position for its credible, reliable, researched and tested recommendations. Dr. P.V. Balachandran Director of Extension

CONTENTSCereals and Millets Page Vegetables Page .. 1 Amaranth .. 171Rice .. 37 Okra .. 171Maize .. 38Sorghum .. 39 Cucurbitaceous vegetables .. 173Ragi Bitter gourdPulses .. 40 Snake gourd .. 174Black gram .. 40 Cucumber and oriental pickling melon .. 175Cowpea .. 44 Water melon .. 175French bean .. 44 Bottle gourd .. 176Green gram .. 45 Pumpkin .. 177Green pea .. 46 Ash gourd .. 177Horse gramRed gram .. 46 Solanaceous vegetablesSoybean .. 47 Brinjal .. 179Tubers Chilli .. 180AmorphophallusColocasia .. 49 Tomato .. 181Greater yamLesser yam .. 50 Cool season vegetablesWhite yam .. 51Sweet potato .. 52 Cabbage .. 183Tapioca .. 52Coleus .. 53 Cauliflower .. 183 .. 55 Carrot .. 184Commercial crops .. 60 Beet root .. 184 Radish .. 184Cashew Potato .. 185CottonRubber Garlic .. 186Sugarcane .. 62 Minor vegetables .. 186Oil seeds .. 74 Non chemical control of pests of vegetables .. 189 .. 75 Tips for vegetable seed productionCoconut .. 80 Fruits .. 189GroundnutOilpalm .. 83 Banana .. 193Sesame .. 100 Guava .. 199 .. 101 Indian gooseberry .. 200Spices and Condiments .. 103 Jack .. 200 Mandarin orange .. 201Cardamom .. 106 Mango .. 203Cinnamon .. 114 Papaya .. 204Clove .. 117 Pineapple .. 206Vanilla .. 119 Sapota .. 210Ginger .. 121 West Indian Cherry .. 211Mango-ginger .. 123 Apple .. 212Nutmeg .. 124Pepper .. 126 Ornamental plants .. 214Turmeric .. 135 .. 215Camboge .. 137 Anthurium .. 217Tamarind .. 140 Orchids .. 219 Jasmine .. 220Beverages and Stimulants .. 141 Gladiolus .. 221 .. 145 Tuberose .. 221Arecanut .. 147 Crossandra .. 222Betel vine .. 157 MarigoldCocoa .. 164 China aster .. 224Coffee .. 169 .. 224Tea Medicinal and Aromatic plantsTobacco Eucalyptus Kacholam

Page PageLemongrass .. 226 Wild jack .. 269Palmarosa .. 227 Rosewood .. 269Vetiver .. 228 Sandal .. 271Chethikoduveli .. 229 Kampakam .. 273Neela amari .. 230 Irul .. 274Chengazhinirkizhangu .. 230 Mahagony .. 275Kasthurimanjal .. 232 Thembavu .. 276Chittaratha .. 233 Venga .. 277Black musli .. 234 Chadachi .. 278Holostemma .. 235 Punna .. 279Asoka .. 236 Agroforestry systems .. 279Strychnine tree .. 237Thippali .. 238 Others 280Neem .. 240 284Pathimugham .. 240 Agro ecological zones of Kerala .. 287Chittadalotakam .. 241 291Koovalam .. 241 Composting : Vermicompost and coirpith compost .. 294Thulasi .. 242 300Karinochi .. 242 Biofertilizers .. 303Kattarvazha .. 242 307Arrow root .. 243 Guidelines for maximizing fertilizer-use efficiency .. 308Danthappala .. 243Brahmi .. 244 Beekeeping .. 308Fodder crops .. 245 Sericulture .. 309 .. 246 310Guinea grass .. 246 Rodents and their control .. 312Gamba grass .. 248 315Setaria grass .. 249 Biocontrol of Salvinia .. 316Hybrid napier .. 250 317Para grass .. 251 Biocontrol of papaya mealy bug using .. 320Congosignal grass .. 252Subabul .. 252 parasitoid 323Hedge lucerne .. 253 325Agathi .. 253 Ecofriendly management of water hyacinth ..Shevri .. 254 325Fodder cowpea .. 256 in water bodies 326Stylo .. 257Fodder maize Biocontrol agents against plant pathogens .. 326Fodder sorghum .. 257 327 .. 257 Soil solarisation ..Green manure crops .. 257 328 .. 257 Mushroom cultivation .. 329Sun hemp 330Daincha .. 258 Tissue culture propagation of crops .. 331Wild indigo .. 258 338Indigo .. 258 Keeping quality of fruits and vegetables .. 347Green leaf manure crops .. 259 Low cost technology for irrigation .. .. 260 350Gliricidia .. 262 Farm machinery suitable for Kerala ..Subabul .. 263 355Cassia .. 265 Appendices .. 267 360Agroforestry 1. Agroclimatic classification of Kerala ..Ailanthus 2. Average nutrient content of common ..CasuarinaEucalyptus manures and fertilizersMangiumTeak 3. Neutralising value of liming materials ..Thorny bamboo 4. Conversion of nutrients (kg/ha) to .. common fertilizers (kg/ha) 5. Guide for mixing fertilizers .. 6. Calculation of insecticide and fungicide .. formulations 7. Home made insecticidal preparations .. 8. Preparation of common fungicides .. 9. Fumigants and their use .. 10. Pesticide guide .. 11. Details of pesticides available in .. the market 12. List of pesticides/ pesticide formulations .. banned in India 13. Substitutes for pesticides banned by .. Govt. of Kerala 14. Ad hoc Recommendations for management .. of Secondary and Micro nutrients 15. Institutions under the KAU ..

CEREALS AND MILLETS RICE (Oryza sativa) Rice can be cultivated under a variety affects grain filling. Rice comes up well inof climatic and soil conditions. Rice different soil types. For normal growth, a pHcultivation is conditioned by temperature range of 5.0-8.0 is suitable.parameters at the different phases of growth.The critical mean temperature for flowering In general, rice can be grown asand fertilization ranges from 16 to 200C, transplanted or direct sown crop during threewhereas, during ripening, the range is from seasons as shown below depending on the18 to 32oC. Temperature beyond 350C agroclimatic situations. Table 1. Different rice growing seasons of KeralaAgroclimatic situations Seasons Period From ToGeneral Virippu (I crop/autumn) April-May Sept-Oct Mundakan (II crop/winter) Sept-Oct Dec-Jan Puncha (III crop/summer) Dec-Jan Mar-AprOnattukara Virippu (I crop/autumn) April August Aug-Sept Dec-Jan Mundakan (II crop/winter) Feb-Mar April Third crop (where HYVs come up)Kuttanad Additional Crop May-June Aug-Sept Puncha Oct-Nov Feb-MarKole (Single cropped area) Mundakan (Kadumkrishi) Aug-Sept Dec-JanPokkali Virippu (I crop/autumn) May-June Sept-Oct Oorumundakan Aug-Sept Dec-JanKaippad Mundakan (II crop/winter) Sept-Oct Dec-Jan Puncha (III crop/summer) Dec-Jan Mar-AprHigh ranges Nancha May-June Oct-Nov Puncha Dec-Jan Apr-May During second crop, for higher yield it flowers only during the second fortnightin photosensitive high yielding varieties of December, facilitating proper inte-in Palakkad district, where assured gration with the weather, better utilizationirrigation is available, the crop commence- of applied fertilizers and high fillingment may be adjusted in such a way that percentage.

2 RICE Table 2. Rice varieties suited for different situationsRegion/Type of land Seasons VarietiesUpland (Modan land) First crop PTB 28, PTB 29, PTB 30, Suvarnamodan, Annapoorna,Purely rainfed Matta Triveni, Swarnaprabha, Rohini, Aiswarya, Vaishak, HarshaPalliyals (Myals) First cropSingle crop terraced Short duration : Rohini, Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Kairali, Kanchana, Harsha, Karthika, Ahalya, PrathyasaDouble crop wetlands : Medium duration : Aswathy, Sabari, Bharathy, Jaya,a. Semi-dry cultivation First crop Aiswarya, Aathira. Long duration : Mahsurib. Transplanted Second crop Short duration : Matta Triveni, Annapoorna, Jyothi, First crop Aruna, Makom, Swarnaprabha, Ahalya, Varsha, Rohini, Karthika, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Kanchana, Second crop Harsha, Kairali, Kunjukunju Varna, Kunjukunju Priya, Prathyasa Third crop Medium duration : Aswathy, Sabari, Bharathy, Jaya, Arathy, Remya, Kanakom, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami,Kuttanad area Puncha Uma, Aathira, Aiswarya, Pavizham, Bhadra Long duration : Mahsuri Any of the varieties suggested for the first crop season (Except Rohini) Short duration : Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Swarnaprabha, Kairali, Kanchana, Karthika, Aruna, Makom, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Varsha, Rohini, Ahalya, Kunjukunju Varna, Kunjukunju Priya, Prathyasa Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Aswathy, Aathira, Aiswarya, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma Long duration : Mangala Mahsuri, Pranava, Mahsuri Short duration :Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Kairali, Kanchana, Karthika, Makom, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, KunjukunjuVarna, Kunjukunju Priya, Prathyasa Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Aswathy, Aathira, Aiswarya, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma, Karishma Long duration : Mangala Mahsuri, Karuna, Rasmi, Nila, Makaram, Kumbham, Dhanu, Anashwara, Mahsuri Short duration : Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Aruna Swarnaprabha, Kairali, Kanchana, Karthika, Makom, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Ahalya, Harsha, Varsha, Prathyasa Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Aathira, Aiswarya, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma Short duration : Karthika, Makom, Jyothi, Matta Triveni, Annapoorna, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Prathyasa Medium duration : Kanakom, Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma, Gouri, Bhadra, Asha, Pavizham

RICE 3Kole area Additional Short duration : Karthika, Makom, Aruna, Jyothi, crop Matta Triveni, Annapoorna, Revathi, Remanika, Mundakan Krishnanjana, Prathyasa Medium duration : Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Jaya,Pokkali area First crop Sabari, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, UmaKaippad tract First crop Extra short duration : HraswaDeep ill-drained First crop Short duration : Karthika, Makom, Aruna, Jyothi, Onam,regions of southern Bhagya, Matta Triveni, Annapoorna, Revathi, Remanika,districts Second crop Krishnanjana, Ahalya, Varsha, Swarnaprabha, Kanchana, Kairali, Manupriya, PrathyasaWaterlogged and First crop Medium duration : Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Jaya,flooded areas Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma, Bhadra,Aswathy, Sabari, Second crop Bharathy and AiswaryaOorumundakan First cropOnattukara and coastal Second crop Vyttila-1, Vyttila-2, Vyttila-3, Vyttila-4,Vyttila-5,Vyttila-6,sandy areas Vyttila-7, Vyttila-8a. Where HYVs do not Ezhome-1, Ezhome-2 come up Remya,Arathi, Umab. Where HYVs First crop Kottarakkara-1, Lakshmi, Nila, Makaram, Kumbham, come up well Second crop Mangala Mahsuri Third crop IR-5, Pankaj, Jagannath, H4, Mahsuri, Neeraja, Mangala MahsuriPoonthalpadam First crop Late duration : SagaraHigh altitude area : Second crop PTB 23a. Single crop areasb. Double crop areas PTB 20 Short duration : Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Chingam Bhagya, Rohini, Onam, Aruna, Makom, Karthika, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Prathyasa. Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Aswathy, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Arathi, Renjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma Short duration : Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Jyothi, Makom, Karthika, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy,Aswathy, Bhadra, Asha, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Dhanya, Anaswara, Dhanu (season bound), Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma Short duration : Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Rohini, Makom, Revathi, Remanika, Krishnanjana, Prathyasa. Medium duration : Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Aswathy, Pavizham, Remya, Kanakom, Ranjini, Pavithra, Panchami, Uma, Karishma Neeraja, Swetha, Ponmani WND-1, WND-2, Aswathy, Jaya, Sabari, Mahsuri, Bhadra, IR 8, Aathira,Uma, Deepthi Aswathy, Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Bhadra, Deepthi, Aathira, IR-8, Uma Aswathy, Jaya, Sabari, Bharathy, Bhadra, Deepthi, Aathira, IR-8, Uma

4 RICEc. Eastern lateritic Second crop Lakshmi, Makaram, Kumbham, Thulamregions of Kollam andAlappuzha districts First crop Samyuktha, Swarnapraha, Vaishak, Karthika, AiswarayaKoottumundakan Second crop Makaram, Kumbham First crop ASD 16, ASD 17, Mahsuri, Varsha, ADT 43, RanjiniChittoor black soil Second crop Ponni, Vellaponni, Ponmani, ASD 16, ASD 17, Pranava, Karuna, Swetha, BhadraTable 3. Important characteristics of varieties recommended for cultivationSl. Variety Duration Bran colour; CharacteristicsNo. (days) 75-80 grain type Ideal as a contingent variety for areasExtra-short duration Red, medium where there is crop loss. Susceptible to bold leaf folder. Raised only as direct sown crop1 Hraswa (Cul 24-20) For uplands (modan). Tolerant to droughtShort duration -do- Tall1 Kattamodan 110-115 Red, long bold -do- Tall (PTB 28) Suitable for direct seeding. Susceptible to2 Karutha Modan 105-110 Red, long bold blast, sheath blight and BPH. Suited for (PTB 29) I and III crop seasons Performs well during Virippu season.3 Chuvanna Modan 105-110 Red, long bold Not recommended for mundakan season. (PTB 30) Suitable for direct seeding Tolerant to BPH. Susceptible4 Annapoorna 95-100 Red, short to blast and sheath blight (PTB 35) bold Moderately tolerant to BPH and blast; susceptible to sheath blight; suitable for5 Rohini 85-105 White, long direct seeding, transplanting and special (PTB 36) bold systems of Kole and Kuttanad Suited for upland (modan)and for all the6 Triveni 100-105 White, long three seasons in the wet-lands. Susceptible (PTB 38) 110-115 bold to sheath blight and bacterial blight. Moderately resistant to stem borer. A good7 Jyothi Red, long first crop component in Kootumundakan (PTB 39) bold Tolerant to BPH, susceptible to blast and sheath blight. Suitable for8 Swarnaprabha 105-110 White, long I and III crop(PTB 43) bold Moderately resistant to blast, blight, gall midge and leaf folder. Can be cultivated in9 Matta Triveni 100-105 Red, medium all the three seasons (PTB 45) bold10 Kairali 110-115 Red, long (PTB 49) bold

RICE 511 Kanchana 105-110 Red, long Suitable for Kole and Kuttanad regions. (PTB 50) bold Resistant to blight, blast, stem borer and gall midge. Suitable for all seasons12 Karthika 105-110 Red, long (MO 7) bold Suitable for growing in all the three seasons. Moderate resistance to sheath13 Aruna 100-110 Red, medium blight, sheath rot and BPH. A good first (MO 8) bold crop component in Kootumundakan14 Makom 100-110 Red, short Tolerant to BPH and stem borer, (MO 9) bold moderately resistant to gall midge, sheath rot. Dormancy up to one month.15 Remanika 100-105 Red, short Specifically suited to wet season (MO 15) 105-110 bold Moderately resistant to pests like BPH,16 Revathi Red, medium stem borer, gall midge, leaf folder and (MO 17) bold diseases like sheath blight and sheath rot. Dormancy up to one month. Specifically17 Krishnanjana 105-110 Red, medium suited for wet season. Can be cultivated in (MO 19) bold all the three seasons18 Bhagya 100 Red Dwarf, medium tillering, resistant to BPH and moderately resistant to gall midge (Kayamkulam 2) Dwarf, medium tillering, resistant to BPH19 Onam 95 Red and moderately resistant to gall midge. Dormancy upto 3 weeks. Suited to all the (Kayamkulam 3) three seasons especially to additional crop of Kuttanad20 ASD 17 100-105 White, short bold Medium tillering, resistant to BPH and dormancy upto 3 weeks, suited to all seasons especially to kari lands of Kuttanad, tolerant to iron toxicity Suitable for first crop season in Onattukara and eastern lateritic region. Drought resistant in the early growth phases. Moderately tolerant to blight, stem borer, leaf roller and case worm Drought tolerant in the early growth phases. Moderately resistant to blight, sheath blight and blast. Suited for dry sowing in the first crop season of Onattukara region Good grain quality and high yielding

6 RICE21 Ahalya 90-100 Red Good cooking quality, tolerant to leaf folder and moisture stress in the early22 Harsha 105-110 Red, long growth phase (PTB 55) bold Suitable for direct seeding in rainfed23 Varsha 110-115 Red, long lowlands. Moderate resistance to blast (PTB 56) bold and moisture stress24 Kunjukunju 110-115 Red, short Suitable for direct seeding and Varna (VK-1) bold transplanting in irrigated lowlands. Moderate resistance to blue beetle25 Kunjukunju 105-110 Red, short Priya (VK-2) bold Photo-insensitive, moderately tolerant to major pests like gall fly, leaf folder, whorl26 Chingam 95-100 Red, short maggot and stem borer. Adapted for bold double cropped areas of Palakkad, Thrissur27 Manupriya and Ernakulam districts as direct seeded or 105-110 Red, long transplanted crop. Leaf sheath and28 Prathyasa bold apicules are purple pigmented (MO-21) 100-110 Red, long Photo-insensitive, moderately tolerant29 Samyuktha bold to major pests like gall fly, leaf folder, (PTB 59) whorl maggot and stem borer. Adapted for 112-117 Red, short double cropped areas of Palakkad, Thrissur30 ASD 16 bold and Ernakulam districts as direct seeded or transplanted crop. This is a non-pigmented 110-115 White, short variety bold Photo-insensitive semi-tall variety suitable for first crop season in Onattukara. Moderately resistant to sheath blight and brown leaf spot Suitable for Kole lands. Tolerant to sheath blight, brown spot, blast, stem borer and gall midge. Suitable for all seasons Non-lodging, Photoinsensitive, semi-tall variety, suitable for Kuttanad. Moderately resistant to gall midge. BPH, sheath blight and sheath rot Suitable for Koottumundakan system of cultivation with Makaram in Central zone Good grain quality, high yield

RICE 7Medium duration 120-125 White, long Very high yield potential, highly susceptible1 Jaya bold to BPH, and other pests 120-125 Suitable for dry sowing in the first crop2 Aswathy White, long season (PTB 37) 130-135 bold Susceptible to sheath blight 120-125 Tolerant to BPH, moderately resistant to3 Sabari (PTB 40) Red, long bold blast, suitable for dry sowing4 Bharathy Red, long bold Suitable for dry sown conditions, medium tall, moderately resistant to pests and diseases (PTB 41) 110-115 White Resistant to BPH, green leaf hopper, leaf5 Suvarnamodan folder, blast and bacterial leaf streak, non- 120-125 White lodging, semi-tall, suitable for all the three (PTB 42) seasons6 Jayathi Semi-tall, non-lodging, moderate resistance to blast and blight diseases and BPH. Suited (PTB 46) for I and II crop seasons and also for hilly tracts Suitable for modan. Resistant to blast and7 Aathira 120-130 Red, short blight diseases. Resistant to BPH. Suited (PTB 51) bold for first and second crop seasons Photosensitive, semi-tall variety, suitable8 Aiswarya 120-125 Red, long only for Mundakan season showing (PTB 52) bold reduced lodging nature. Moderate resistant to blast, sheath blight, leaf folder, stem9 Anashwara 125-130 Red, medium borer and gall fly (PTB- 58) bold Suitable for puncha season in Kuttanad region. Low susceptibility to pests and10 Bhadra 120-125 Red, short diseases. Tolerant to BPH. Weakly (MO 4) photosensitive (125-135for bold Suitable for both seasons of Kuttanad.11 Asha addl. crop) Moderately resistant to pests and diseases. (MO 5) Tolerant to BPH 115-120 Red, medium Easy to thresh. Fairly resistant to BPH.12 Pavizham bold Moderately resistant to stack burn and sheath (MO 6) rot and fairly resistant to sheath blight 115-120 Red, short Moderately resistant to BPH, gall midge,13 Remya bold sheath blight and sheath rot, semi-tall (MO 10) variety. Suitable for all the three seasons. 110-120 Red, long Seed dormancy upto one month14 Kanakom bold Resistant to BPH and moderately resistant (MO 11) to stem borer. Resistant to diseases like rice 120-125 Red, medium tungro virus and blast. Moderately resistant bold to bacterial blight. Semi-tall variety suitable for all the three seasons15 Ranjini 115-120 Red, medium Dwarf, resistant to blast and BPH (MO 12) 115-120 bold Dwarf, medium tillering, resistant to16 Pavithra Red, medium BPH and GM Biotype-5 (MO 13) bold

8 RICE17 Panchami 115-120 Red, medium Dwarf, medium tillering, resistant to BPH (MO 14) bold and GM Biotype-5 115-12018 Uma Punja Red, medium Non lodging, resistant to BPH and GM (MO 16) 120-135 bold bold Biotype-5. Dormancy upto 3 weeks. Virippu Suited to three seasons especially to19 Karishma 115-120 Red, medium additional crop season of Kuttanad (MO 18) bold Dwarf, medium tillering, resistant to BPH20 Gouri (MO 20) 115-120 Red, medium and medium resistant to GM. Suited to bold three seasons especially to kari lands of Kuttanad; tolerant to iron toxicity Medium tall, non-lodging, moderately resistant to sheath blight. Suitable for Punja and additional crop seasons of Kuttanad, Mundakan season of Kole lands, first and second crop seasons in double cropped wet lands21 Vyttila – 1 115 Red Suitable for Pokkali areas (Chootupokali- Tall)22 Vyttila – 2 125-130 Red, bold Suitable for Virippu season in the saline (Cheruvirippu areas of Ernakulam and Alappuzha Tall) Red districts23 Vyttila – 3 110-115 Red Suitable for Virippu season in the coastal saline areas of Ernakulam and Alappuzha24 Vyttila – 4 120-125 Red districts25 Vyttila – 5 115-120 Red, medium Suitable for Virippu season in the coastal bold saline areas (Pokkali ecosystem) and other26 Vyttila – 6 105-110 flood prone areas and deep water situations White long27 Vyttila-7 110-115 slender Tall, moderately lodging, tolerant to major28 Vyttila-8 115-120 diseases and pests except BLB, leaf scald, Red, medium stem borer, leaf folder and rice bug bold Semi tall, non-lodging, tolerant to salinity, acidity and submergence. Suitable for Virippu season in the coastal saline areas (Pokkali ecosystem) Semi tall, non-lodging, high yielding. saline tolerant, suitable for coastal saline ecosystem of Kerala Medium tall, non-lodging, high yielding saline tolerant, suitable for coastal saline ecosystem of Kerala

RICE 929 Ezhome-2 125-130 Red, medium Suitable for virippu season in the saline bold coastal Kaipad areas of North Kerala. Non lodging with medium height, non30 Aarathi 120-135 Red shattering awn-less grains with good (ACV-1) cooking qualities. No pest and disease incidence at Kaipad field condition31 Vaishak 117-125 Red, short Seed dormancy upto one month. (PTB 60) bold Recommended for southern region for Virippu season for delayed sowing and forLong duration 175-180 Red situations where over-aged seedling may1 Lakshmi have to be planted. Moderately resistant to sheath blight, sheath rot and BPH (Kayamkulam 1) Suitable for direct seeding during Kharif season in the uplands. Tolerant to moisture2 Dhanya 160-165 Red stress, resistant to blue beetle, moderate Red resistance to stem borer and whorl maggot (Kayamkulam 4) Suitable for second crop season.3 Rashmi 150-160 Moderately resistant to leaf roller, blast, blight and sheath blight, fairly resistant to (PTB 44) stem borer Photosensitive, moderately resistant to stem4 Neeraja 140-150 White borer, gall midge, sheath blight and blast. (PTB 47) Suitable for growing in the second crop as the mundakan for Koottumundakan system.5 Nila 160-180 Red, short Resistant to leaf folder and tolerant to gall (PTB 48) bold midge Moderately resistant to leaf folder, resistant6 Mangala 140-145 Red, medium to blast and moderately susceptible to Mahsuri slender sheath blight, non-lodging, photosensitive, (PTB 53) dormant, suited to flood prone and water 140-145 Red, long logged areas and poonthal padams7 Karuna bold Photosensitive, capable of producing good (PTB 54) grain and straw yields under low fertilizer application. Suitable for Karinkora8 Kottarakara-1 140-145 Red cultivation. Highly resistant to thrips,BPH (Cheradi) and moderately resistant to gall midge, stem borer and sheath blight. Can be cultivated in areas where water supply is assured till the middle of January Multiple resistant, tolerant to iron toxicity and waterlogging. Good response to low fertilizer regimes Multiple resistant, tolerant to iron toxicity, good response to low fertilizer regimes, susceptible to brown spot. Specific to II crop season For waterlogged deep soils

10 RICE9 Makaram 160-165 Red, short Photosensitive; suitable for eastern lateritic (KTR 2) bold region; II crop component in Kootumundakan system10 Kumbham 165-175 Red, short (KTR 3) bold Photosensitive, tolerant to lodging; suitable for eastern lateritic region; II crop11 Pankaj 135-140 White component in Kootumundakan system (Semi tall) 125-145 Red, bold For ill-drained deep soils, susceptible to12 H4 (Tall) 125-145 leaf blight13 Mahsuri (Tall) White, fine 180-190 rice For ill-drained deep soils14 Sagara 150-16015 Deepthi Red Excessive shedding of grains at maturity, susceptible to blast16 Ponni Red Photosensitive17 White Ponni 140-145 White, medium 135-140 slender Semi-tall, photo-insensitive, moderately18 Ponmani 160-165 resistant to blast, leaf folder and stem borer, 130-135 White, medium moderately resistant to drought19 Pranava 135-140 slender 150-160 Fine grain quality rice20 Swetha White, short (PTB-57) bold Fine grain quality rice21 Dhanu White, medium Resistant to BPH; high yield potential slender23 Thulam Multiple resistant. Suitable for the black White, short cotton soils of Chittoor24 Ezhome-1 bold Suitable for black cotton soils of Chittoor Red, short taluk as a transplanted II crop bold Photosensitive variety suitable for the second 150 Red, short crop in Onattukara. Tolerant to sheath bold blight, brown leaf spot and stem borer 135-145 Red, bold Semi-tall, photosensitive, non-lodging, medium non-shattering, tolerant to stem borer, leaf roller and flooding, suitable for eastern lateritic region during second crop season Suitable for virippu season in the saline coastal Kaipad areas of North Kerala. Non lodging with large number of sturdy culm of medium height and with purple coloured base. Non shattering awn-less grains with purple coloured apiculus. Good cooking qualities. There is no pest and disease incidence at Kaipad field condition

RICE 11Tips on quality seed production in rice While drying and storing, avoidand maintenance of viability of stored contamination from yards or through basketsseeds or bags. Ensure that the seeds for further Seeds may be stored in damp-proofmultiplication are either from a research situations for avoiding absorption of moisturestation or government farm or recognized from atmosphere thereby losing viabilityseed producers. early. The land used for seed production should Polythene bags of 700 gauge or doublebe free from volunteer plants of other gunny bags may be preferred for storing.varieties grown previously. Polythene bags of 400 gauge density may To ensure genetic purity, a minimum be preferred for storing paddy seeds driedisolation distance of 3 m from other varieties to 10 per cent moisture content or less.may be given in the field. Harvesting for seedpurpose can also be done leaving a border Never stack seed bags in open floors.row of 3 m within the field. Store on pallets or wooden benches. The benches should be 30 cm away from wall Rogue diseased plants, weeds and off-types and floor for proper aeration.in time. Never pile more than eight bags in a stack. Line planting facilitates roguing and giving This should be limited to three bags if thealleyways of 30 cm after every 3 m helps in seeds require further drying.manuring, plant protection operations andsupervision. Avoid storing plant protection chemicals, herbicides, fertilizers etc. in seed store. Drain water at least one week beforeharvesting to ensure that the plants attain Fill up the cracks and crevices ofuniform maturity at harvesting. Harvest the storeroom by cementing to make it rat proof.crop when 80 per cent of the grains in apanicle are mature (at physiological Spray 2 per cent malathion solution in thematurity). godown before storing seeds to check insect pests. During summer months, ensure that theplants get sufficient water at dough stage till Place pieces of cloth dipped in neem oilmaturity. between stacked bags or neem oil cake covered in cloth bags inside seed bags to Thresh the sheaves on the same day of ward-off pests.harvest, as seeds of heaped sheaves maynot perform well. Test seed germination at monthly intervals if the seeds are to be stored for more than Dry seeds properly and ensure that eight months.the moisture content is not more than13 per cent. The viability of short duration varieties can be extended for a further period of 2-3 months Avoid excess drying in summer months at 80 per cent level if the seeds are soakedespecially for short duration varieties as itreduces the period of viability.

12 RICEfor four hours in water and re-dried in shade, Wet seed treatmentback to original weight at 13 per cent moisturecontent. Seeds of short duration varieties like Soak seed for 12 to 16 hours in a solutionJyothi and Triveni of virippu crop reach this of P. fluorescenes @ 10 g/litre of waterlevel of germination 9-10 months after per kg of seed or Carbendazim 2 g / kg ofharvest and that of mundakan 8-9 months seed per litre of water and drain to induceafter harvest when stored under ambient germination.conditions. Treatment with Carbendazim will protect To keep sprouted pokkali seeds viable for the seedlings from blast disease up to 30 totwo weeks, the seeds are to be kept in 60 days after sowing.baskets made of plaited coconut leaves linedwith koova, banana, karingotta or teak leaves. The above seed treatment can also be used for protection from seedling blast inSeed rate endemic areas.Transplanting 60-85 kg ha-1 Soak paddy seeds in CuSO4 (0.25 perBroadcasting 80-100 kg ha-1 cent) and ZnSO4 (1 per cent) solution forDibbling 80-90 kg ha-1 24 hours. Drain and keep for sprouting. For soaking 1 kg of seed, 1 litre of micronutrient The above seed rates are specified for solution would be needed.farmers’ field on the basis of minimumgermination of 80 per cent. In pokkali Nurserycultivation, for Vyttila varieties, 100 kg ha-1may be sown on the beds or mounds formed For transplanting, healthy seedlings havein the field. to be raised in seedbed. Healthy seedlings can cope up better with the field conditions Seed rate may be enhanced from that affect the growth of young rice plants.80-100 kg ha-1 to 125 kg ha-1 for Kuttanad, Adopt wet or dry method for raisingprovided excess plants are removed in order seedlings. The choice depends primarily onto maintain optimum plant population. the availability of water.Seed treatment Wet methodDry seed treatment The wet method can be adopted in areas Dress seeds with P. fluorescenes where water is available as in the second@ 10 g/kg of seeds before sowing or with crop season. Seedlings raised by the wet bedthe following fungicides on the previous day method can be harvested one week earlier.of sowing (12 to 16 hours ahead) at dosage The seedbed should be prepared in advance,given below: so that the pre-germinated seeds can be sown in time. As far as possible, fertile lands with1. Carbendazim 2g per kg of seed irrigation and drainage facilities should be selected for raising the nurseries. Such lands should be suitably located to receive full sunlight. The following are the steps in raising wet nursery.

RICE 13 Plough and harrow the fields two or three of planting is uncertain. During first croptimes until the soil is thoroughly puddled and season, wherever transplanting is donelevelled. Prepare raised beds 5 to 10cm depending upon receipt of rainfall, it is saferheight 1 to 1.5m width and of convenient to adopt this method since growth of thelength with drainage channels between the seedlings can be controlled.beds. The total seedbed area should be1000 m2 for each hectare of the field to be Plough the nursery area to a fine tilth.transplanted. Prepare raised beds of 1 to 1.5 m width, 15 cm in height and of convenient length.Apply Apply compost or cattle manure @ 1.0 compost or cattle manure at the rate of 1 kg/kg/m2 of the nursery bed and mix well with m2 of the nursery bed and mix well with thethe soil at the time of preparation of the field. soil at the time of preparation of the field. Treat the seeds by wet method. Drain and Sow the seeds treated as described underincubate in warm moist place for sprouting. dry seed treatment method evenly over theNever allow the seeds to dry up. Moisten bed and cover with fine sand or soil.them occasionally. Sow germinated seeds onthe third day. Delay will result in poor seedling Water the nursery as and when requiredstand. depending upon the receipt of rains. Irrigation may be commenced on the Note: Rice seedlings from solarised nursery5th day after sowing and continued up to the beds showed high initial growth, early7th day, to a depth of about 5 cm. After this maturity and resistance to leaf blastperiod, irrigate the seedbed continuously to disease (ad hoc recommendation).a depth of about 5 cm in order to controlweeds. Age of seedlings Drain occasionally to encourage Seedlings are ready to be pulled out whenproduction of vigorous seedlings with short they attain the stage of 4-5 leaves, about 18roots. Flooding the soil with too much water days after sowing in the case of shortfor long periods produces tall and weak duration varieties and 20-25 days after sowingseedlings, which do not readily recover during in the case of medium duration varieties.transplanting. Under ill drained conditions, long duration varieties may be planted 30 days after If symptoms of nitrogen deficiency are sowing. Seedlings more than 30 days oldobserved, broadcast urea @ 1 kg for 100 m2 when transplanted in the field recover sloweras top dressing about 10 days prior to pulling than younger seedlings, especially, if theyout of seedlings, depending upon the duration suffer stem and root injury. However, duringof variety. the virippu season, age of seedlings can go up to 35 days in case of mediumDry method duration varieties and 25 days for short This method is practised in areas wheresufficient water is not available and the time

14 RICEduration varieties. If the seedlings are over Koleaged, plant at a closer spacing with 3 or 4seedlings per hill and apply extra dose of For the first crop in Kole, after thenitrogen @ 5 kg/ha as basal dressing. cessation of the heavy monsoon, dewatering is effected by petti and para or centrifugal Irrigate seed beds a day before pulling pump and rarely by chakkram. Land isout the seedlings to soften the soil and to ploughed thoroughly and transplanting isfacilitate washing of roots. Wash off mud done.and soil from the roots carefully and tie theseedlings into bundles of convenient size for For the second crop, land is preparedtransplanting. thoroughly and direct sowing of sprouted seeds or transplanting is done. Pruning of the top portion and root is notrecommended as it inflicts wounds through Onattukarawhich disease causing organisms maysubsequently enter. With the onset of pre-monsoon showers, land is ploughed thoroughly. Dibbling ofPreparation of land unsprouted seeds behind the country plough is the common practice.General Pokkali Plough the field thoroughly to incorporatethe weeds and straw into the soil. Ensure a By April, the bunds are being strengthenedsmooth, level field for transplanting the and sluices repaired for regulating waterseedlings. It would be better to transplant level. Fields are then drained during low tide10-15 days after incorporating organic and the sluices are closed. When the soil inmanure. Before transplanting or sowing, the field becomes dry, mounds of 1 m baseapply manures and fertilizers at the rates and 0.5 m height are formed. This facilitatesspecified for the region and varieties as the washing down of the dissolved salts fromindicated in Table 4. Apply fertilizers on the the surface of the mounds with the onset ofdrained soil at the time of final ploughing and monsoon, which are ultimately removed fromlevelling and thoroughly mix into the soil. the field by tidal action. The mounds act as elevated in situ nursery and protect theKuttanad seedlings from flash floods. Drain out standing water from the main A special method is adopted for sproutingfield. Plough the field thoroughly to the seeds. The seeds are tightly packed inincorporate the weeds in the field. Ensure a baskets made of plaited coconut leaves, thesmooth and levelled field. Maintain a thin film inside of which is lined by banana or teakof water to facilitate sowing so that the leaves. These baskets are then immersed ingerminated seeds do not get covered with fresh water ponds for 12 to 15 hours. Theyclayey soil, which affects seedling are then taken out and stored in shade. Theestablishment. radicle just sprouts and remains quiescent under this condition for more than 30 days. When the soil and weather conditions become favourable for sowing, the baskets

RICE 15containing the seeds are re-soaked for 3 to 6 as an in situ nursery. When the seedlings reachhours before sowing. The mounds in the field a height of 40-45 cm (in 30-35 days), the moundsare then raked and top levelled. The sprouted are cut into pieces with a few seedlings,seeds are sown on the top of mounds, which act which are uniformly spread in the field. Table 4. Fertilizer recommendation for rice, kg/haKind of land / region Variety N P2O5 K2OUplands (modan) Upland local varieties 40 20 30 -do- High yielding short duration varieties 60 30 30Wetlands (All regions) -do- 70 35 35 -do- High yielding medium duration varieties 90 45 45 -do- Local varieties 40 20 20 -do- H4 70 45 45 -do- Mahsuri 50 25 25Kole lands *Short duration varieties 90 35 45 *Medium duration high yielding varieties 110 45 45Kattukampal and *Medium duration high yielding varieties 110 45 55Ponnani kole landsWetland (Kuttanad)** Medium duration high yielding varieties 90 45 15Onattukkara Dhanya 60 30 30Koottumundakan Photo in sensitive varieties for first crop 40 20 20 Photosensitive varieties for second crop 20 10 10* Location specific recommendations. Strict surveillance of pests and diseases is a must under such situations.** Wherever the soil K status is medium to high based on soil test data and also where incorporation of straw is a practice and tidal contribution of the nutrient is significant.Koottumundakan practised after the harvest of first crop season variety. But both organic and inorganic In this system of rice cultivation, a manures are applied and incorporated.mixture of seeds of a non-photosensitive Though the yield will be less than that of the(virippu) variety and a photosensitive two independent crops, this type of(mundakan) variety of rice in the proportion cultivation is taken up in view of the special70:30 (w/w) is sown during virippu season. circumstances prevailing in such areas.This system is practiced in areas wheresowing / planting of mundakan crop is Transplantingnot possible due to excess water in thefield. Hence, mixture of the two varieties is Transplant seedlings of appropriate agesown in the first crop season (April-May). for the variety @ 2-3 seedlings per hill inThe first crop variety will be ready rows, at spacing as shown in Table 5.for harvest in August-September and the Leave wider row of 30 cm after every 3 msecond crop variety can be harvested in to facilitate spraying and other culturalDecember-January. No cultivation is operations. Transplant seedlings at a depth of 3-4 cm.

16 RICEWet seeding by seed drums and weed about six weeks and at active vegetativecontrol by cono weeder stage decays and gets self-incorporated in the soil adding substantial quantity of green• Drum seeding and cono weeding can be manure. Such a system of concurrent safely adopted without sacrifice in growing of cowpea also reduces weed productivity. pressure in semi-dry rice.• It is suitable for areas where efficient Concurrent growing of cowpea/daincha water management is possible (especially A. Dry seeded rice during rabi) and during kharif in areas where torrential rains are absent (Chittur When there is an undue delay in the onset tract). of monsoon, concurrently grown cowpea in rice fields can be incorporated by spraying• For short duration varieties 15cm spaced 2,4 –D @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 30-40 days after and for medium duration varieties 20cm sowing without affecting the yield with a spaced seed drum is recommended. substantial reduction on weed incidence.Manuring B. Wet seeded riceOrganic manuring In wet seeded rice, daincha can be raised as an intercrop by sowing 20 kg seed of Apply organic manure in the form of daincha ha-1 along with rice (seed rate 60 kgfarmyard manure or compost or green leaf ha-1) to serve as a source of green manure.@ 5 t ha-1 and incorporate into the soil while Daincha can be incorporated by sprayingploughing. Vermicompost or coirpith 2, 4–D @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 30 days after sowingcompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 can be substituted for thereby adding substantial quantity of green5 t ha-1 FYM in Onattukara region. The manure. System of concurrent growing ofentire quantity of phosphatic fertilizers may daincha can also reduce the weed pressurebe applied along with the organic manures. in wet seeded rice. Use of biofertilizers is recommended (See Fertilizer applicationchapter on biofertilizers). The rates of N, P2O5 and K2OGreen crop manuring recommended as fertilizers are given in Table 4 and stages of application in Table 6. Cowpea may be raised as an intercrop indry seeded low land (semi-dry) rice by sowing12.5 kg/ha seed along with rice to serve asa source of green manure. When the ricefield gets submerged with the onset ofsouthwest monsoon, cowpea at the age of Table 5. Spacing for rice transplantationSeason Duration Spacing No. of hills/m2First crop Medium 20 cm x 15 cm 33 Short 15 cm x 10 cm 67Second crop Medium 20 cm x 10 cm 50 Short 15 cm x 10 cm 67Third crop Medium 20 cm x 10 cm 50 Short 15 cm x 10 cm 67

RICE 17 Table 6. Stages of fertilizer application in riceKind of Stages of Application Remarksland/ Variety N PKregion BA AT API BA AT API BA AT API **For direct seeded crop, one week ** ** after sowingUplands PTB 28, 1/3 1/3 1/3 Full 1/2* 1/2 * Full dose as basal is also 29,30 1/2* recommended HYshort 1/3 1/3 1/3 Full 1/2 * Full dose as basal is also duration recommendedWet land, General 1/3* 1/3 1/3 Full 1/2* 1/2 *For wet seeded, the first dose todirect 1/2 1/2** be given 1 week after sowing. Forseeded dry seeded, first application to be given after establishment of the Mahsuri 1/3 1/3* 1/3** Full seedlings *45 DAS, **85 DAS HY short 2/3 1/3* Full 1/2 1/2 *5-7 days before PI 1/2 1/2* Full 1/2 1/2* *5-7 days before PIWet land, duration 1/2 1/2** *40 DAP, ** 60 DAPtrans- HY,planted medium duration Mahsuri 1/2 1/4*1/4 ** FullOnattu- General 1/2 1/4 1/4 Full 1/2 1/2 In very coarse soils, N & K maykara be given in five equal splitsWayanad Long dura- 1/2 1/2 Full* 1/2 1/2 *Along with first application ofand hilly tion trans- 1/2* 1/2 Full** N&Kregion planted 1/2* 1/2 *45 days after seeding, Direct **With first application of N & K seededPokkali General Full* Full* 1/2 *Apply entire quantity at the time Full* of dismantling of moundsKootu- First crop 1/2 1/2 Fullmundakan Second Full* Full* 1/2 crop *Entire quantity as single dose immediately after the harvest of first cropBA=Basal application; AT = At tillering; PI = At panicle initiation; HY = High yielding; DAP = Days after planting;DAS = Days after seeding For modan cultivation (upland crop) and In Kuttanad region, wherever wetdirect seeded crop in wet lands, apply nitrogen broadcasting (direct seeding) is adopted,in three equal split doses, first as basal give the first basal application of the nitrogendressing, second at tillering stage (three at the time of letting in water after dryingweeks after seeding) and the third at panicle the field. Water-soluble phosphorus can beinitiation stage (about thirty days before recommended for application in two splitflowering). Apply the full dose of phosphorus doses in Kuttanad region, as basal and atat the time of land preparation as basal maximum tillering stage.dressing. Apply potash either in a single doseas basal or in two split doses half as basal The general principle to be followed is that in light soils as well as in soils with highand half at the panicle initiation stage.

18 RICEleaching, nitrogen may be applied in three or yield. The organics may be incorporatedfour split doses according to the duration of 3 weeks before transplanting.the variety. Application of 25 per cent of the nutrient For typical Onattukara region, where requirement as organics and 75 per cent assoil is sandy loam and with iron toxicity fertilizers during kharif season and reducingproblem, apply 5 tonnes of organic matter or the fertilizer dose of rabi by 25 per centvermicompost 2.5 t and 67.5 kg K2O ha-1. gives comparable yield with full POP recommendation during both seasons. During the first crop season, when basalapplication of nitrogen is not possible due to Specific dose of fertilizer forincessant rains, basal dose can be shifted to Koottumundakan system15 days after transplanting. A fertilizer dose of N:P2O5:K2O 20:10:10 In coarse sandy loam soils with high kg ha-1 for the first crop and 30:15:15 kgpercolation as in Onattukara region, nitrogen ha-1 for the second crop is recommended forand potash fertilizers may be applied in five high yield in Koottumundakan system. Nequal splits at planting, 15th, 38th, 53rd and and K2O may be applied in two equal parts70th day for medium duration varieties which for the first crop, one as basal and other atcoincide with the stages of early tillering, neck panicle initiation stage. P2O5 may be appliednode differentiation, early reduction division fully as basal. The fertilizer for second cropand heading stages respectively in the case may be applied as a single dose immediatelyof medium duration varieties. after the harvest of the first crop (ad hoc recommendation) For Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuramdistricts, phosphorus application is essential Fertilizers (N:P2O5:K2O) @ 40:20:20 kgfor increasing rice yields. Rock phosphate ha-1 for virippu and 20:10:10 kg ha-1 for themay be substituted for superphosphate. photosensitive mundakan crop are recommended as economic dose for the Basal dose of nitrogen may be postponed northern region under Koottumundakanto initial tillering phase of rice crop, especially practice.during the rainy season. Split application ofpotash @ 50 per cent basal, 25 per cent at Methods of fertilizer applicationtillering and 25per cent at panicle initiationstage is recommended for this region. For pre-planting application, apply the fertilizers at the final ploughing. In areas In sequential cropping of rice, application where availability of water is assured,of 50 per cent of the nutrient requirement temporarily draining the field one day prior(on nitrogen equivalent basis) as organics to application and re-flooding after twelve(FYM, rice straw, green manure) and 50 per hours is recommended for top dressing ofcent as fertilizers during kharif season and fertilizer.the entire dose of nutrients as fertilizers inrabi season enhances the grain and straw For increasing the efficiency of urea for top dressing, mix urea with six times its weight of slightly moist soil and apply to the

RICE 19field 24-28 hours after mixing. Oil seed cakes When the soil has less than 10 ppm ofsuch as punna and neem cakes can also be calcium chloride extractable sulphur ormixed with urea (1 part of oil cake + 5 parts 15 ppm of phosphate extractable sulphur,of urea by weight) for increasing fertilizer substitute urea with ammonium phosphateuse efficiency. This method is particularly sulphate to correct sulphur deficiency. Foruseful for basal application of nitrogen. Under medium duration rice grown in brownspecial conditions of drought and water- hydromorphic soils ammonium phosphatelogging, apply nitrogen as foliar spray. Urea sulphate may be used to supply 25 kg sulphurmay be applied as a low volume spray at 15 per hectare to protect the crop from sulphurper cent concentration using power sprayer deficiency (ad hoc recommendations).or at 5 per cent concentration using a highvolume sprayer, the quantity applied in one Application of magnesium as basalapplication being limited to 15 kg ha-1. dose in the form of magnesium sulphate (16 per cent MgO) or magnesite (40 per cent When zinc deficiency is noticed, apply zinc MgO ) or dolomite (10 per cent MgO)sulphate @ 20 kg ha-1. Early stages of zinc @ 20 kg MgO/ha is effective in giving adeficiency are evidenced by interveinal significant increase in grain and straw yieldchlorosis, bleaching of midribs and light yellow of rice in magnesium deficient soils. In non-colouration of the leaf. Older leaves develop deficient soils, a marginal increase in grainbrown rusty spots and are extremely brittle. and straw yield is also obtained. On per unitZinc sulphate and potash should not be applied MgO basis, magnesite is more concentratedon the same day. and cheaper than magnesium sulphate. The effect of zinc application can persist In iron toxic laterite soils of Kerala,upto five years depending on the soil and application of 120 kg potash ha-1 + lime 150cropping pattern. Hence soil application is not kg ha-1 + silica 100 kg ha-1 (as sodium silicaterequired for every season. Soil zinc status 250 kg ha-1 or fine silica 100 kg ha-1 or riceshould be monitored before application to husk ash 500 kg ha-1) is recommended foravoid accumulating toxic concentration of higher yields.zinc. Liming Split application of water-soluble In general, addition of lime is absolutelyphosphatic fertilizers in two equal splits as necessary when the pH is lower than 5.5basal and at maximum tillering stage is and it is advisable when pH varies betweeneffective in giving higher grain and straw 5.5 and 6.5.yield than the full dose as basal dressing undercertain situations. Apply lime @ 600 kg ha-1 in two split doses, the first dose of 350 kg ha-1 as basal Application of chemical fertilizers can be dressing at the time of first ploughing anddispensed for Vyttila-1 and Vyttila-2 in the second dose of 250 kg ha-1 as top dressingpokkali rice fields. about one month after sowing/transplanting.

20 RICE For pokkali areas, apply lime @ 1000 kg the surface), 5 cm irrigation two days afterha-1, 50 per cent at the time of preparation disappearance of ponded water is sufficientof mounds and the rest at the time of instead of 5 cm continuous submergencedismantling the mounds. throughout the crop period. A time lag of one week should be given Irrigation schedule for rice under limitedbetween application of lime and fertilizers. water resourcesFor top dressing, lime may be applied oneweek prior to the application of fertilizers. For summer rice under limited resources of water, phasic stress irrigation can beWater management practised to the advantage of saving substantial quantity of irrigation water without Maintain water level at about 1.5 cm any significant reduction in yield. Aboutduring transplanting. Thereafter increase it 20-30 per cent more area can be irrigatedgradually to about 5 cm until maximum with the same water resources by adoptingtillering stage. Drain water 13 days before any of the following phasic stress irrigationharvest. schedules (Table 7). Depending up on the schedule, water saving ranges fromNote: In areas where water for irrigation is 24-36 per cent of the requirement for 5 cm assured and where acidity is high, continuous submergence throughout the crop draining and reflooding every 15 days growth. Grain yield reduction in the above is recommended. In flood prone practice is only 0.1 per cent to 1.6 per cent. areas, aged seedlings of Mahsuri or other varieties recommended for Weeds and their management waterlogged conditions may be planted. The date of planting may be Common weeds in rice fields of Kerala adjusted so as to avoid synchronization are: of the critical stages of maximum tillering or heading with the usual flood Grasses: Oryza rufipogon (varinellu), period in the tract. Echinochloa crusgalli (kavada), E. colona (kavada), E. stagnina (kavada), During the mundakan crop season, Saccolepis interrupta (polla), Isachnewater level of 5 cm need not be maintained miliacea (chovverippullu, naringa).continuously after the cessation of northeastmonsoon. Five centimetre irrigation once in Sedges: Cyperus iria (manjakora,6 days will be quite adequate for project areas chengoal), C. difformis (thalekkattan),where water is assured. Fimbristylis miliacea (mungai). For summer rice (in situation where theground water level is low, i.e., within 1m from

RICE 21 Table 7. Irrigation schedule for rice under limited water resourcesSchedule Rooting to max. Stages Heading to maturity tillering Max. tillering to headingCategory I Continuous Saturation point* Saturation point*Category II submergence Continuous Continuous Saturation point* submergence submergence Continuous Hair crackingCategory III Continuous submergence of surface* submergenceCategory IV Hair cracking Continuous Hair cracking of surface* submergence of surface** Irrigation at 5 cm to be given at the stages marked.Broad leaved weeds: Monochoria B. Wet seeded rice (direct seeding withvaginalis (neelolppalam), Ludwigia sprouted seeds under puddled conditions)perennis (neer-grampu), Limnocharis flava(nagappola), Ammania baccifera (nellicheera). Spray any of the following herbicides:Ferns: Salvinia molesta (African payal), (a) Butachlor @ 1.25 kg ai ha-1 6-9 daysMarsilea quadrifolia (naalilakodian), after sowing;Azolla pinnata (azola). (b) Pretilachlor + safener @ 0.45 kg aiAlgae: Chara spp. (chandi), Spirogyra spp. ha-1 3-5 days after sowing. Give a follow(payal). up application of 2,4-D @ 0.8 kg ai ha-1 at 20 days after sowing.Control (c) Pretilachlor @ 0.45 kg ai ha-1 at Keep the rice fields free from weeds up 3-4 DAS and one light hand weeding atto 45 days either by hand weeding or by use 28 DAS for wet sown rice in kole land.of herbicides. The recommendation for useof herbicides in different systems of rice To control Echinochloa sp. sprayculture are given below: cyhalofop butyl @ 0.08 kg ai ha-1 at 15-18 days after sowing.A. Dry seeded rice [upland and lowland (semi-dry) rice] In certain areas like Kuttanad, wild rice has become a menace in recent years. If Spray any of the following pre-emergent effective water control is possible, theherbicides: butachlor @ 1.25 kg ai ha-1, following agronomic practices canoxyfluorfen @ 0.15 kg ai ha-1, pendimethalin successfully control the infestation of wild@ 1.50 kg ai ha-1, pretilachlor @ 0.75 kg ai rice.ha-1 on the same day of seeding or within sixdays of seeding. (a) Coat dry seeds with 20 per cent calcium peroxide using 4 per cent PVAsolution

22 RICEas an adhesive and then broadcast in the field the three groups of weeds viz. grasses,with 10-15 cm column of standing water. sedges and broad leaved weeds.(b) Maintain the water level for 10-12 days Wherever fields are levelled and water to prevent germination of wild rice. (c) management could be effectively done Drain the field and apply N and K 2, 4-D can be mixed with 10kg urea/ha and fertilizer as per recommendation for broadcast on 20 DAS/DAT. This would save rapid growth of the rice seedlings. (d) the spraying charges. Where yeranda (common teal) is a problem, bird scaring should be arranged Apply 2,4-D Na salt as pre-emergence till the water is drained. broad-spectrum herbicide @ 0.8 kg ai ha-1 at 5 days after transplanting. Spray on moistC. Transplanted rice soil surface with a fan nozzle to give blanket coverage. Use 300-400 litres of spray fluid. Apply any of the following herbicides at0-6 days after transplanting. Almix 20WP(Chlorimuron ethyl 10% +Metsulfuron methyl 10%@ 4g ai ha-1+ Pendimethalin @ 1.5 kg ai ha-1, butachlor 0.2% surfactant at 20-25 DAS/DAT [email protected] kg ai ha-1. For controlling broad equally effective as 2,4-D for controllingleaved weeds and sedges 2, 4-D sodium salt sedges and broad leaved weeds in rice fields.may be applied @ 1 kg ai ha-1 on 25 DAT. This herbicide is effective for controllingPre emergence application of 2, 4-D sodium Marsilia quadrifolia also. Almix can be@ 0.8 kg ai ha-1 on 5 DAT can control all given as follow-up application to cyhalofop butyl used for the control of grass weeds with Table 8. Cropping pattern / systemGeneral Rice Rice Fallow Rice Rice Vegetable/pulses/oil seeds/KuttanadOnattukara Water fallow Water fallow green manureKole / Kaippad Rice Rice Rice Rice RicePokkali Water fallow Rice Water fallowHigh ranges Water fallow Rice Oil seed/green manure Water fallow Water fallow Rice Fish / prawn Water fallow Rice Rice Rice Rice — Fallow

RICE 23a minimum of one-day gap between the Managementapplications. 1. Collect egg masses from the nurseryManagement of Salvinia molesta plants and observe for parasitisation.(African payal) 2. Cultivate tolerant varieties like IR-20 in Trampling salvinia in situ in the wet lands endemic areas.a week before transplanting will control theweed and add to soil fertility. Herbicides 3. In areas where stem borer occurs as ashould be applied only in areas where serious pest in all seasons, apply any oneprotected drinking water supply is available of the following insecticides first(see Annexure). 15-20 days after transplantation and then at the boot leaf stage keeping minimumPrecaution while using herbicides water level: Cartap hydrochloride (spray or granules), quinalphos, carbaryl, (1) Apply herbicides at the recommended carbosulfan, flubendiamide, indoxacarb,dose and time. (2) Drain the field before malathion or spinosad.herbicide application. (3) Re-flood after48 hours to prevent further weed germination 4. Use sex pheromone for the control of ricewhen post emergent herbicides are used. For stem borer as detailed in Table 10.pre-emergent herbicides, wait for a weekbefore re-flooding the field. (4) Use herbicide Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae)nozzle (flood jet / flood fan) for herbicideapplication. (5) Move at uniform speed when Symptomsapplying herbicides. (6) Spray without gapsand overlapping. (7) Use 300-400 litres of Presence of silver shoot in the place ofwater per hectare for spraying the herbicide. central leaf is the prominent symptom. The symptom appears from the nursery to thePests and Diseases flowering stage. However, in very young seedling the silver shoots are not always Adopt control measures only if the pest / expressed. Instead, a swelling at the basaldisease population exceeds the economic portion and excess tillering are often noticed.threshold levels which are given in Table 9. ManagementPests 1. Use tolerant varieties like Pavithra, Rice stem borer Panchami and Uma (Scirpophaga incertulas) 2. Avoid late transplantation during the firstSymptoms crop season. In the vegetative phase, the central shoot 3. Careful monitoring of the crop seasonsdies off turning yellow in colour (dead heart). in the month of July during additional cropIn the ear bearing stage, the ear head appears season and October during punchacompletely chaffy and white in colour (white season.ear head). Both come out easily when pulledup and show indication of feeding injuries at 4. Use optimum seed rate of 100 kg ha-1the base. 5. Destruction of collateral host like wild rice, Cynodon dactylon, Ischaemum aristatum, Echinochloa spp. and Isachne sp.

24 RICE Table 9. Economic threshold levels (ETLs)Crop stage and pest Economic threshold levels A. Nursery1. Green leaf hopper 1-2 insects/m22. Gall midge 1 silver shoot (gall)/ m23. Stem borer 1 moth or 1 egg mass/ m24. Blast 5% disease severity B. Planting to pre-tillering1. Leaf folder 2 freshly damaged leaves/hill2. Yellow stem borer 10% dead hearts or one egg mass or one moth / m23. Gall midge 1 gall/ m2 in endemic areas or 5% affected tillers in4. Brown plant hopper non-endemic areas.5. Green leaf hopper 5 to 10 insects/hill6. White backed plant hopper 10 insects/hill (in RTV endemic areas 21 insects/hill)7. Rice Hispa 10 insects/hill 2 adults or 2 damaged leaves/hill C. Mid tillering1. Leaf folder 2 freshly damaged leaves/hill2. Stem borer 10% dead heart or 1 moth or 1 egg mass/ m23. Gall midge 10% silver shoots4. Brown plant hopper 10 insects/hill5. Green leaf hopper 10-20 insects/hill6. Hispa 2 adults or 2 damaged leaves/hill7. Blast Light (5-10% disease severity)8. Bacterial blight Light (2-5% disease severity)9. Sheath blight 10% or more affected tillers10 Tungro 1 affected hill/ m2 D. Panicle initiation to booting1 Stem borer 1 egg mass or 1 moth/ m22 Leaf folder 2 freshly damaged leaves/hill3 Green leaf hopper 20 insects/hill4 Brown plant hopper 15 to 20 insects/hill5. White backed plant hopper 15 to 20 insects/hill6. Blast 5 to 10% leaf area damaged‘7. Bacterial blight Light to moderate (2-5% disease severity)8. Sheath blight 10% or more tillers affected E. Flowering and after1. Brown plant hopper 25 to 30 insects/hill2. Climbing cutworm 4-5 larvae/ m23. Rice bug 1 or 2 bugs/hill4. Blast 5% leaf area damaged or 1-2% neck infection5. Sheath rot / brown spot / slight 2-5% tillers affected panicle discolouration6. Sheath blight 10% or more tillers affected7. Stem borer 2% white ear headSource : Manual on Integrated Pest Management in Rice, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and StorageNote: (1) The population should be estimated on the basis of careful and regular surveillance. (2) When natural enemies of brown plant hopper, green leaf hopper, stem borers and leaf folders are present,application of chemical measures can be delayed or dispensed with.

RICE 25 Table 10. Sex pheromone used for the control of rice yellow stem borer (ad hoc recommendation)Chemical name of the 2-(z)-9-hexadecanol 2-(z)-11-hexadecemol in 1:3 identified frompheromone female mothsSex attractedDescription of the trap Male mothsUses Sleeve trap with pheromone loaded rubber septaNumber of traps required/ha Pest monitoring : Three traps can be fixed in a triangular fashion at about 80 m apart Mating confusion TwentySources of availability Entomology Department, Directorate of Rice Research, Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad. Pest Control India limited, Bio-control Research Laboratories P.O. Box. 6426, Yelahanka P.O., Bengaluru-560 064 Karnataka Ecomax Agrosystems 302, Faigha Plaza Basher Bagh, Hyderabad. Dr.David Hall and Dr.Allen Cork, Natural Resources Institute, Kent ME4, 4TB, United Kingdom. The Managing Director, Som IPM System (India) Ltd., Plot No.101, 1 Floor, Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad.6. Dipping germinated seed in 0.2 per cent Rice bug (Leptocorisa acuta) chlorpyrifos solution for 3 h before sowing Symptoms give protection up to 30 days. Look for the presence of bug in the field7. In transplanted crop the root of seedlings during the early ear bearing stage. Due to may be dipped in 0.02 per cent de-sapping, grains show brownish discoloured chlorpyrifos suspension for 12 h prior to patches on the husk. planting. Management8. The nursery treatment has to be followed 1. Strict vigilance is necessary at milky by main field treatment, 10-15 days after transplantation using any one of the stage. following insecticides: quinalphos, 2. Keep the field and bunds free of weeds carbaryl. and grasses.9. In areas where the pest is of regular 3. Avoid overlapping cultivation in an Ela. occurrence, apply granules of quinalphos 4. When the bug is seen in large numbers (250g ai/ha) or chlorpyriphos 10G (0.5 kg ai/ha) within 10 days after sowing. apply one of the following insecticides: The granules should be broadcast in Malathion, carbaryl. 2-3 cm of water and the field should be impounded for at least 4 days. Note: Since the occurrence of the bug coincides with the flowering stage, application of the insecticide may be done either before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. so that fertilization of the flowers is not adversely affected.

26 RICELeaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) 2. Apply one of the following insecticides as soon as the yellowing symptomSymptoms is observed, covering the infested patches and the areas surrounding the The leaves of the plant are seen folded, patches: carbaryl, quinalphos, acephate,rolled and often webbed together with white thiamethoxam, phosalone and imida-patches on them indicating the areas fed by cloprid. While spraying, care has to becaterpillar. When such folded leaves are taken to see that the insecticides reachopened up, larvae can be seen. Shaded the base of the plants.conditions and application of excess nitrogenare conducive for leaf folder attack. 3. Drain away water from the field and keep it in that conditions until the pestManagement population dwindle.1. Open up the leaf folds with the help of a 4. In Kuttanad tract, early planting of paddy thorny twig. in September-October is advisable, wherever possible.2. Apply one of the following insecticides in the field where the symptoms of attack 5. Allow alleways after every 3m rows are manifested: quinalphos, carbaryl, phosalone, acephate, flubendiamide, 6. Avoid spraying synthetic pyrethroids. cartap hydrochloride, indoxacarb and dichlorvos. Rice case worm (Nymphula depunctalis) SymptomsNote:In the initial stages restrict spraying to infested patches only. The field may Leaves of plants are eaten by the be sprayed completely in case the caterpillars, which remain within small infestation occurs uniformly. cylindrical cases and are seen hanging on the leaves. It occurs in ill drained fields. TheBrown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) cases may be seen floating on water also.Symptoms Management 1. Drain away the water from the fields. Yellowish circular patches appear hereand there in field. The plants in these areas 2. If infestation is severe, apply carbaryldry up very soon (hopper burn) and the dust or spray.yellowing and drying extend rapidly. Examinethe plants as soon as the yellowing appears. Rice swarming caterpillarPresence of the hoppers at the base of the (Spodoptera mauritia)plants confirms the infestation. Very closeplanting leads to enhanced attack. SymptomsManagement It appears in the field sporadically and1. Use resistant varieties such as Jyothi, cyclically in large swarms and feed on crops gregariously. The nursery and early stages Bharathy, Aiswarya, Kanakom, Nila etc. of the crop are attacked leaving the plant as for cultivation. mere stumps.

RICE 27Management Leaf hoppers (Nephotettix spp.) Apply carbaryl or trichlorfon as soon as Symptomsthe caterpillars are noticed. General yellowing of the leaves is seen,Rice hispa (Dicladispa armigera) if the attack is severe. When the plants are disturbed, the jassids are seen jumping out.Symptoms Management The adults feed on the green tissues ofthe leaves and the feeding scars appear as Apply carbaryl, quinalphos, imidaclopridshort white lines on the leaf surface. The or flubendiamide if needed.grubs mine the leaves causing formation ofwhite blotches. Early stages of the crop are Rice mealy bug (Brevennia rehi)more susceptible. SymptomsManagement Weak yellowish stunted plants are seen Spray any contact insecticide. in patches. White waxy fluff is seen in leaf sheaths.Rice thrips (Stenchaetothrips biformis) ManagementSymptoms Dimethoate 0.05 per cent is effective in The crop is highly susceptible in the controlling the pest.nursery stage for the first 23-25 days aftertransplanting/sowing. The tips of leaves get Rice root nematode (Hirschmanniellarolled longitudinally into needle like oryzae)outgrowths and turn whitish. In severe cases,the lower leaves also turn yellowish. The Symptomsinfestation may be rated as mild, if there isless than three needle like leaves and as Infests paddy roots and make themsevere, if there are more than three partially hollow. Feeding adversely affectsoutgrowths with the lower leaves also absorption of water and nutrients. Plantsshowing chlorosis and scorching. show stunted growth in patches. Tiller production is affected.Management Management In severe infestations, apply carbaryl625 g ai/ha + DDVP 100 per cent EC/AF Dip the roots of seedlings in 0.2 per cent250 ml/ha or dimethoate or quinalphos or dimethoate for six hours before transplantingphenthoate (EC/AF formulation). in tracts where nematode attack is detected.Whorl maggots (Hydrellia philippina) Rice cyst nematode (Heterodera oryzicola) Infestation is common in the nurseries andin the main fields up to six weeks after The cyst nematode occurs in varioustransplantation. Yellowish patches and proportions in certain areas of the State. Thestreaks are seen along the margins of leaves, symptoms of infestation include leaf chlorosis,which may become deformed. stunting and reduction in the number of leaves, earhead length etc. In seriously affected patches, yield is substantially reduced. .

28 RICE Table 11. Insecticide guide for rice pest controlSl. Insecticide *Dosage Insect controlledNo.12 3 4 800g of 75 SP per ha Rice leaf folder, Brown plant hopper1. Acephate2. Carbaryl 20kg of 10 DP per ha Rice case worm, brown plant hopper3. Carbaryl 2kg of 50 WP per ha Rice leaf folder, rice bug, gall midge, rice swarming caterpillar and brown plant hopper4. Carbosulfan 17 kg of 6 G per ha Rice stem borer5.. Cartap hydro- 25kg of 4 G per ha Rice stem borer and leaf folder. chloride6. Cartap hydro- 1kg of 50 SP per ha Rice stem borer and leaf folder. chloride7. Chlorpyriphos 0.2% suspension Germinated seed dip for 3 hrs. against gall midge 0.02% suspension Seedling root dip for 12 hrs. against gallmidge8. DDVP+ 250 ml of DDVP Brown plant hopper and rice thrips carbaryl for 100 EC/AF and combined 1.25kg carbaryl 50 application WP per ha9. Dichlorovos or 500ml of 100 EC/AF per ha Rice leaf folder DDVP10. Dimethoate 0.2% suspension For seedling dip against rice nematode 0.05% suspension For foliar application against thrips11. Flubendiamide 125 g of 20 WDG per ha Rice stem borer, whorl maggot and leaf folder12. Flubendiamide 50 ml of 480 SC per ha Rice stem borer, whorl maggot and leaf folder

RICE 2912 3 413. Imidacloprid 150ml of 200SL perha Brown plant hopper14. Indoxacarb 200ml of 15.8 EC per ha Rice stem borer, whorl maggot, leaf folder and blue beetle.15. Malathion 1000ml of 50 EC/ AFperha Rice stem borer, whorl maggot and rice bug17. Phosalone 1000ml of 35EC/AF perha Brown plant hopper18. Quinalphos 1000ml of 25 EC /AF Rice stem borer, brown plant hopper, gall per ha midge, rice leaf folder and rice jassids19. Quinalphos 25kg of 5 G per ha Gall midge and rice stem borer20. Spinosad 100 ml of 45 SC per ha Rice stem borer, whorl maggot and leaf folder21. Thiamethoxam 100 g of 25WG per ha Brown plant hopper and safe to green mirid bug (BPH Predator)22. Trichlorfon 1000-1500ml of 50 EC/ Rice swarming caterpillar AF per ha * Dosage applies to the crop stage of booting and beyond. For early stages the quantity of insecticides can be reduced ** This is a special micronised formulation with better spreading qualitySP = Soluble Powder; DP = Dustable Powder; G = Granule; EC = Emulsifiable Concentrate;AF = Aqua Flowable; WP = Wettable Powder; S = Sprayable suspension SL = Soluble LiquidSC = Suspension Concentrate; WDG = Water Dispersible Granule.Note : 5. When low volume spray equipment is used the spray fluid can be limited to 90, 120,1. Sub-lethal concentration of insecticides 180 1/ha, but the quantity of insecticide may lead to pest resurgence should remain the same as used in high volume spray 200, 300 and 500 1/ha2. Granular application is recommended only respectively upto the booting stage 6. Waiting periods for quinalphos and3. Spot application method should be resorted malathion are 7 and 3 days respectively to wherever possible 7. In regions where BPH is a regular pest4. Use 200, 300 and 500 1/ha of spray fluid avoid the application of the following at 10, 25,45 DAT or 30,45, 60 DAS insecticides due to the chances of respectively for high volume spray resurgence:, deltamethrin, carbaryl, and equipment quinalphos.

30 RICEDiseases The symptoms also appear on glumes as black oval or oblong spots or whole surfaceFungal diseases of the grain turn black and velvety.Blast (Pyricularia grisea) Narrow brown spot (Cercospora oryzae) Major symptoms of the disease are leaf Numerous narrow linear short brownblast and neck blast. Sometimes nodal spots are formed on the leaves.infection is also seen. Stack burn (Alternaria padwickii) Symptoms on leaves appear as spindleshaped water soaked greyish green spots, Symptoms appear on leaves as large ovalwhich gradually enlarge in size and develop or circular dark brown lesions with narrowto spots with grey centre and brown margin. distinct margins. On the affected grains paleSuch spots coalesce together resulting in brown to whitish spots with dark browndrying up of the leaves and collapse of the margin bearing black dosts in the center areentire plant. The fungus infect the neck of formed.the panicle causing dark brown to blacklesions resulting in rotten neck or neck blast. Leaf scald (Rhynchosporium oryzae)This will also lead to breaking of the panicleat the neck region. The grains will be partially Lesions with typical zonations with darkfilled or unfilled If the panicle is infected coloured wavy lines usually start from thebefore grain filling stage, the entre panicle tip of the leaves and extend downwards orwill be chaffy. arise from the margin and advance inside.Sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) Sheath rot (Sarocladium oryzae) Symptoms first appear on the lower leaf The fungus infects the leaf sheathsheath near the water level as oval, oblong enclosing the panicle causing oblong oror irregular greenish grey spots, which irregular brown spots which later develop intoenlarge and become greyish white with a lesion with dark brown margin and greybrown margin. Under favouarble conditions, center. The young panicle remains inside thethe disease spread to the leaves also. Irregular sheath or rather chocked and emerge onlygreenish grey lesions with dark brown partially. The grains become chaffy A whitemargins develop on leaves. Under humid powdery growth of the fungus can be seenconditions, white mycelial growth of the on the surface of rotten sheath particularlyfungus as well as initially white and later inside the sheath.brown sclerotia of the fungus looselyattached to the affected portion are also seen. False smut (Ustilaginoidea vireus)Brown spot (Helminthosporium oryzae) The symptoms visible only after flowering when infected grains get transformed to On the leaves small definite spots of oval yellow to orange spore balls, which later turnsor oblong shape and dark brown colour are to dark green or black.formed. On susceptible varieties, spots arelarger in size and are having light brown or Udbatta (Ephelis oryzae)grey center with dark reddish brown margin. Whole panicle transformed into a cylindrical rod covered with white mycelia Later they become hard bearing many black dots.

RICE 31Foot rot (Fusarium moniliformae) Note : Drying of leaves and leaf sheath 1. Spray fresh cowdung extract for thediscolouration of lower nodes and adventitous control of bacterial blight. Dissolve 20 groot formation are the major symptoms. cowdung in one litre of water; allow toPlants turn pale yellowish green, thin and settle and sieve. Use supernatant liquid.some times show abnormal elongation or rotin patches in the field. 2. Application of bleaching powder @ 5 kg ha-1 in the irrigation water is recom-Bacterial diseases mended for checking the spread of bacterial leaf blight particularly in theBacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae kresek stage.pv.oryzae) 3. Before application of antibiotics for the Bacterial blight is chararcterised by two control of bacterial blight, identify thephases of infection Kresek and leaf blight disease by observing the bacterial ooze.Kresek is drying or wilting of the whole plantif affects the crop in early stages of growth 4. For control of sheath blight and sheathin nurseries and upto 3-4 weeks after rot the following prophylactic measurestransplanting. The infected leaves become may be adopted.grayish green and begin to roll along themidrib and dry in severe cases the affected a) Apply neem cake-coated ureahills may be completely killed. as recommended under fertilizer application. Leaf blight symptom start as watersoaked lesions on the tip of the leaves and b) Apply 50 per cent more potash thanincreases in length downwards along the normal recommended dosage in splitmargins. lnitially the lesions are pale green application.in colour and later turn into yellow to strawcoloured stripes with wavy margins. c) Control weeds as suggested underOccasionally the linear lesions may develop weed control.any where on the leaf lamina or along themidrib with or without marginal stripes 5. For control of sheath rot, spray theLesions may cover the entire leaf blade. The fungicides at the time of paniclebacterial blight disease can be confirmed by emergence.ooze test. Cut the affected plants at the baseand dip it in a glass of water and hold it against 6. In organic farming, for the managementthe light for few minutes without shaking. of sheath blight of rice, sprayingFrom the cut ends white milky bacterial ooze Azadirachtin 0.03 per cent EC orwill come out as streams. Azadirachtin 0.15 per cent w/w @ 2.5 litres ha-1 at the time of first diseaseBacterial leaf streak appearance.(Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzicola) 7. Spraying of any fungicide, preferably Narrow brownish yellow translucent dithiocarbamate before the heading stageinterveinal lines joining to form large dirty of the crop may be followed for thewhite patches. control of false smut and leaf scald diseases. Wherever control measures are adopted for sheath blight and sheath rot diseases, separate treatments are not

32 RICEneeded for the control of leaf scald and low volume spraying. It is advisable tofalse smut. Use 500 litres of water for use chemical on a rotational basis than using the same product continuously.high volume spraying and 200 litres for Table 12. Guide on control of rice diseases Foliar SpraysA. Non systemicSl. No. Chemical Dosage Disease controlled 2 kg ha-11. Zineb Blast, brown leaf spot, narrow leaf spot 2 kg ha-1 and sheath blight2. Mancozeb 500 g ha-1 Leaf spot diseases but more3. Thiophanate generally used against brown leaf spot Sheath blight and blastB. Systemic1. Ipropenphos 48 EC 500ml ha-1 Blast and sheath blight2. Carbendazim 500 g ha-1 Sheath blight and sheath rot3. Carboxin 500g ha-1 Sheath blight and sheath rot4. Hexaconazole 5EC 800-1000 ml ha-1 Sheath blight5. Propiconazole 25EC 500 ml ha-1 Sheath blight6. Carpropamid 27.8 SC 500 ml ha-1 Blast7. Isoprothiolane 40 EC 750ml ha-1 BlastC. Antibiotics1. Aureofungin sol 60 g ha-1 Blast and brown leaf spot2. Streptocycline 15 g / 300 l ha-1 Bacterial blight 1000 ml/500 l ha-1 Sheath blight3. Validamycin 3% liquidD. Biocontrol Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens for the control of fungal and bacterial diseases (Adhoc recommendation; See chapter on biocontrol agents).E. Bio Pesticides for Sheath blight control : Spray Neem formulations Azadirachtin 0.15 per cent w/[email protected] l ha-1 or Azadirachtin 0.03 per cent EC @ 2.5 l ha -1 at the time of Sheath blight disease occurrence

RICE 33Hints for reducing cost of cultivation or 25 days after sowing upto heading. If the threshold value is less than 4, N@1. Grow a green manure crop like daincha 25-30 kg/ha is recommended for in April-May in areas where the virippu application. If the inherent soil N is low, crop is usually transplanted. basal N @ 25-30 kg ha-1 is to be applied. 10.When the amount of available N is limited,2. If azolla is available, this may be applied apply it 7 days before panicle initiation. instead of green leaf or FYM at 5t ha-1. This is the best time for top dressing N. 11. Adopt agronomic practices for increasing3. Puddle and level the field thoroughly. This fertilizer use efficiency such as: (a) will help to reduce the cost of weed Incorporating ammoniacal N in the control and also the loss of water and reduced zone in the soil (b) Incubating nutrients through percolation. urea with moist soil (1:6) for 24 hours (c) Blending urea with neem cake.4. Maintain optimum plant density per unit 12.Choose fertilizer materials, which are area, i.e., 50 hills/m2 for medium duration cheaper, e.g. urea is cheaper than varieties and 67 hills/m2 for early duration ammonium sulphate; rock phosphate is varieties. cheaper than superphosphate. 13.Apply phosphatic and potash fertilizers5. Plant the seedlings shallow (3-4.5 cm), once in two seasons in areas where there as shallow planting increases the tillering is no marked response for these nutrients. of seedlings. 14.Adopt integrated pest management against insect pests and diseases.6. Control the weeds during the vegetative 15. Harvest the crop at optimum moisture phase itself. One weeding thoroughly on content in order to avoid loss due to the 30th day after sowing is ideal. Use shedding and also for improving the herbicides for weed control, wherever it recovery of rice. is cheaper than hand weeding. Mechanical Transplanting in Rice A. Mat Nursery Preparation7. Under good management practices (vide 1. Use very thin polythene sheet item 1-6) reduce the dose of fertilizer N 2. Select nursery area near to the main field to half the present recommended level. Apply the fertilizer when the plant is able 3. Cow dung powder may be incorporated to make the best use of it, at tillering and @ one third volume of the puddled soil seven days before panicle initiation. and spread over the sheet at a thickness of 10-15mm8. When the field preparation and planting are done on rainy seasons, postpone the 4. The sheet may be spread after leveling application of the basal dose of nitrogen the nursery area to the early tillering stage (10 days after planting). 5. Form small bunds along the boundaries of the polythene sheet, after spreading9. Use of Leaf Colour Chart (LCC): The it, to impound water. leaf colour chart (LCC) is an instant, easy and low cost technique for N diagnosis 6. Mat nursery may be of 900mm width and of current crop and N topdressing in rice. convenient length The uppermost fully opened leaf of the primary tiller has to be taken for 7. Just sprouted seeds (4th day of soaking) observation. Ten hills are selected at may be uniformly spread over the mat random for an area of 400 sqm and thus area @ 0.4 to 0.6kg m-2 10 leaves form the sample size. The leaf colour is compared with LCC and the readings are taken. The average of 10 readings gives the LCC value of the plot. Observation is taken at 10 days interval from 20 days after transplanting

34 RICE8. Seedbed may be mulched, preferably 5. Main field should have irrigation and using green leaves drainage facility9. Sprinkle water over the seedbed for four 6. Wetting of mat may be required while days twice daily and keep soil in saturated transplanter is in operation. condition. Never allow mat to dry up. Integrated pest management (IPM) in10. On 4th day remove the mulch and keep rice standing water to a height of 3/4th of seedling height. Keep this condition till The indiscriminate use of pesticides for the end of nursery period. pest control has led to disturbances in natural ecosystem leading to resurgence of pests,11. Closely observe the nursery for pest and secondary pests outbreak, toxic hazards and disease attack and adopt control residues besides environmental pollution. measures, if required. This has led to major emphasis on integrated pest management and gained greater12. When seedlings reach a height of momentum. Integrated pest management 150mm, mat is ready for transplanting. programmes promote favourable, ecological, economic and sociological outcome, which13. Drain the required mat area 6-12 hours is accomplished by the best mix of pest before cutting for feeding into the control tactics. The use of appropriate transplanter trays. scouting tactics, proper diagnosis of pest, the use of economic thresholds and conservation14. Cut the mat strips 225mm wide and of naturally occurring biocontrol agents are 450mm long to match the measurements fundamental components of a sound of the transplanter trays. Integrated pest management programme. The use of chemical is restricted. It is used15. Do not allow nursery to over grow. Over only if it is absolutely essential based on growing will lead to entanglement of surveillance. The important components in seedlings with fingers of transplanter and the IPM are the use of tolerant/resistant clogging of fingers due to thick and hard varieties, regulating planting density, adjusting mat of roots. the time of planting / sowing, group farming practices, cultural management of pests,B. Main field integrated nutrient management, removal of weeds, use of botanical pesticides and1. Prepare the main field adequately, preservation of natural enemies. For the without clods and stubbles interfering with preservation of natural enemies, collect the functioning of finger. egg masses of pests in perforated polythene bags and keep them in the field so that the2. Prepare main field sufficiently early to parasites that emerge can establish in the field avoid floating of puddle while transplanter effectively. is working Trichogramma chilonis and Tricho-3. Final preparation may be done on the day gramma japonicum are egg parasitoids of transplanting in case of sandy loam soil, but may be done 3-4 days prior to planting in case of clayey soils, depending upon settling time of the puddle to consolidate.4. A thin film of water only is needed in the main field at the time of transplanting. (Too much water in the field will lead to floating of seedlings and too dry condition to non-anchoring of seedlings).

RICE 35which effectively control egg mass of leaf released in main field, 6-8 releases is necessary to control the pest.roller, stem borer, skippers and cutworms.The parasitoids have to be released Precaution : If larval attack is observed in15-30 days after transplantation or 25-30 days the field, necessary organic/inorganicafter sowing or immediately after noticing insecticides have to be used and a gap ofmoth activity in the field. The release rate is 7 days has to be given before next release.1 lakh parasitoids/ha of both size (5cc ha-1). The trichocards have to be placed during earlyThe release has to be carried out at weekly morning or late evening hours and should notintervals. The trichocard have to be cut into come in direct contact with sunlight.small pieces (minimum 10 pieces) and Table 13. Common natural enemies of insect pests found in rice ecosystem A. Predators Description of biocontrol agents 1 Characters Pest attackedSpiders1. Wolf spider 232. Lynx spider3. Jumping spider Female lays 200-800 eggs in life-time of Leaf and plant hoppers,4. Long jawed 3-4 months. Both nymphs and adults leaf feeding caterpillars and are voracious feeders. It consumes adult stem borers. spider 5-15 insect pests in a day depending up on5. Dwarf spider the size6. Orb spiderDamsel and Multi-coloured with transparent narrow Stem borers, hoppers anddragon flies wings. Nymphs are aquatic and can climb up other flying insects. rice stems to search food. Adults flyMirid bugs normally below the rice canopy in search of flying insectsWater bugs Adults are green and black at the shoulder. Leaf hoppers and plantWater treaders Nymphs are greenish. They can consume hoppers 7-10 eggs or 1-5 hoppers a day Broad shouldered adults can be either winged Plant hopper and other or wingless. Each female lays 20-30 eggs in small soft-bodied insects rice stumps above the water level. Life span 1-2 months. Winged adults disburse when rice plants dry up. They are solitary feeders Stem borer larvae and hoppers that fall on water surface

36 RICE 1 2 3Water striders Rice hoppers, moth and Each strider takes 5-10 prey daily. They live larvae that fall on theGround beetle for 1-1.5 month; lay 10-30 eggs water surfaceRove beetle Hard bodied insects. Larvae are shiny black Plant hoppers and larvae and adults are reddish brown. Active preda- of leaf folders tors, which pupate in the soil. Consume 3-5 larvae /day 7mm long with short elytra and blue tip of Leaf hoppers, plant hop- abdomen. Found on rice plant, water and pers and larvae of leaf ground surface; active during night. folder and hairy caterpillar.Lady bird beetles Active during daytime.Found in the upper half Plant hoppers of rice canopy. Feed on small and slow mov-Crickets, Sword ing prey as well as on exposed eggs. Grubstailed crickets are more voracious than adults and consume 5-10 prey. Produce 150-200 offsprings inGrasshoppers,Meadow grass 6-10 weekshoppers Egg predators Eggs of stripped borer, leaf folder, armyworm and nymph of plant hoppers and leaf hoppers. Distinguished from true grasshoppers by its Eggs of rice bug and stem long antennae, which are more than twice as borer, nymphs of plant long as its body length. Active at night and hoppers and leaf hoppers abundant in older fields. Can consume 3-4 yellow stem borer egg masses per day B. Parasitoids Dark coloured tiny insects. Female wasp lays Stem borers and leaf 20-40 eggs in the host egg. Development from folders1. Egg parasitoids egg to adult stage takes 10-40 days. Trichogramma japonicum Brown to dark yellowish brown tiny wasp. Plant hoppers and leaf Telenomus chilonis Females can reproduce without mating. hoppers Tetrastychus sp. Adults live 6-7 days and parasitise on an av- erage 8 eggs/dayGonatocerus sp.Anagris sp.2. Larval parasitoids Dark coloured wasp. Lives for 4-7 days Larvae feeding on stem, leaf and other parts of Cotesia sp. rice plant Stenobracon sp. Macrocentrus sp. Xanthopimpla sp. Charops sp.

RICE AND MAIZE 37C. Birds convenient length, twisted at every 1 m length scares away the depredatory birds.a. Install artificial nesting sites viz., wooden nest boxes in the rice fields (@ 12 nests Effective and eco-friendly pest manage- ha-1) for colonization by cavity nesting ment in wet land rice ecosystem birds (magpie robin, common myna, barn owl, etc) which play a vital role in 1. Cultivate tolerant varieties managing a variety of insect and non- insect pests. The nest boxes should be 2. Monitor the field at least at weekly installed at a height more than 8 feet on intervals wooden pole, tree trunk, etc. 3. Pest and natural enemy population shouldb. Installation of bird perches @ 50 ha-1 be monitored for deciding spraying increases the activity of insectivorous schedule. birds and reduces the pest population in rice fields. The perches should have a 4. Spraying should be avoided during the minimum height of 75 cm above the crop reproductive phase. canopy for better visibility for the birds. 5. Spot application of insecticide may bec. Tying metalised reflective ribbon @ adopted in heavily infested pockets to 20 - 25 rolls ha-1 at 75 cm above the control further spread of the pest and to canopy of the vulnerable stage of the crop conserve the existing natural enemy on bamboo poles, 2.5 – 3.0 m apart at population in rice ecosystem. MAIZE (Zea mays) Maize can be grown throughout the year Seeds and sowingat altitude ranging from sea level to about Seed rate: 20 kg ha-1300 m. Maize grows best in areas with rain-fall of 600-900 mm. It requires fertile, well- Plough the land three times and preparedrained soil with a pH ranging from 5.5-8.0, ridges and furrows. Dibble one seed per holebut pH 6.0-7.0 is optimum. at a spacing of 60 cm x 23 cm for the rainy season crop. For irrigated crop, beds areSeason prepared. Here, seeds are sown in lines and earthed up later in to small ridges to form As a rainfed crop, maize is grown in furrows when the crop reaches knee height.June-July or August-September. The irrigatedcrop is raised in January-February. Manuring Apply FYM/ compost @ 25 t ha-1 at theVarieties time of preparation of land. The recom- Hybrids: Ganga Hybrid-1, Ganga Hybrid- mended fertilizer dose is 135 kg nitrogen,101, Deccan hybrid, Renjit, Hi-Starch. 65 kg phosphorus and 15 kg potash per ha.Composite varieties: Kissan Composite, Apply full dose of phosphorus and potash andAmber, Vijay, Vikram, Sona, Jawahar. 1/3 dose of nitrogen as basal. Apply 1/3 nitrogen, 30-40 days and the rest 60-70 days after sowing.

38 MAIZE AND SORGHUMAftercultivation on third day. Subsequent irrigations may be Hand hoeing and weeding on the 21st and given at 10-15 days intervals.45th day after sowing. Plant protectionIrrigation Need based application of carbaryl is Irrigate the crop on the day of sowing and recommended for control of pests SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor) Sorghum is a plant of hot and warm Fertilizers may be applied as follows:localities. The optimum temperature forgrowth is 30oC and it needs about 250-400 mm Nutrients / ha Irrigated crop Rainfed croprainfall. Excess moisture and prolongeddrought are harmful. It is fairly tolerant to N 90 kg 45 kgalkalinity and salinity. P2O5 45 kg 25 kg K2O 45 kg 25 kgSeasons Apply FYM and entire quantity of phos- phorus and potash as basal dose. ApplyRainfed crop : May-AugustIrrigated crop : January-April nitrogen in two equal splits, half as basal and the rest 30 days after sowing.Varieties Aftercultivation Co.1, Co-10, Co-12, Co-17, K-1, K-2 Thinning, weeding and hoeing mayHybrids - CSH-1 to CSH-4, Co-11, Co-1 be done on the 20th day after sowing. IrrigationSeeds and sowing Irrigate the crop on the day of sowing and thereafter at 10 days interval. Seeds are sown @ 12-15 kg ha-1. Dibbletwo seeds/hole, at a spacing of 45 x 15 cm. Plant protectionManuring Apply carbaryl at milky stages for the control of earhead bugs. For both irrigated and rainfed crops FYM /compost may be applied @ 5 t ha-1. Spray zineb @ 2kg ha-1 on 30th and 45th day after germination for the control of foliar diseases.

RAGI 39 RAGI (Eleusine coracana) Ragi is suited for cultivation in areas with seedlings for one hectare. Transplant theannual rainfall of 700-1200 mm. It does not seedlings when they are three weeks old.tolerate heavy rainfall and requires a dry spellat the time of grain ripening. It grows well in Manuringaltitudes of 1000-2000 m with averagetemperature of 27ºC. Ragi is cultivated mostly Plough the field 3-4 times and incorpo-in red lateritic soils. Relatively fertile and well rate FYM or compost 5 t ha-1. Apply nitro-drained soils are the most suitable. gen, phosphorus and potash @ 22.5 kg ha-1 each before sowing or planting. TopdressSeasons nitrogen @22.5 kg ha-1 21 days after sowing or planting. Ragi is not a season bound crop and hencecan be cultivated throughout the year, if Aftercultivationmoisture is available. It is usually grownduring the following seasons. Weeding should be done three weeks after sowing and completed before topMain season: June-September dressing.Late season: July-OctoberSummer: Dec-Jan to March-April Irrigation Irrigate the field on the day of trans-Varieties plantation. Irrigation at weekly intervals PR-202, K-2, Co-2,Co-7,Co-8,Co-9, increases growth rate and yield.Co-10 Plant protectionSeeds and sowing For controlling grasshoppers, spraySeed rate carbaryl 50 per cent WP @1.2 kg ha-1. The pink stem borer, which causes dead heartDirect sown crop : 5 kg ha-1 symptoms, is often serious in the early stagesTransplanted crop: 4-5 kg ha-1 of the crop. Insecticidal control is not needed for mild to moderate levels of infestation.Spacing :25 x 15 cm For controlling blast, spray mancozeb Prepare the nursery field to a fine tilth. 750-1000 g ha-1.Incorporate FYM/compost 5 t ha-1 andform beds and channels. Sow seeds Harvestinguniformly on the beds and cover by stirringthe soil. Apply carbaryl 10 per cent on the Harvest the crop when the ears areedges of the beds against ants. One week yellowish brown. Heap the harvested earsbefore uprooting seedlings, apply ammonium and cover the heaps with ragi straw forsulphate @ of 1 kg per 100 m2. A nursery 2-3 days before threshing.area of 480 m2 is necessary to raise

40 BLACK GRAM AND COWPEA PULSES BLACK GRAM (Vigna mungo) Black gram may be grown as pure crop Spacing: 25 cm x 15 cmin rice fallows after the harvest of the firstor second crop of paddy. . Sowing: Plough the land 2-3 times thoroughlySeason and remove weeds and stubbles. For seed treatment in black gram, two Rhizobium It can also be grown as pure or mixed cultures viz. KAU-BG-2 and BG-12 arecrop during kharif season recommended.Varieties Manuring T-9, Co-2, S-1, TAU-2, TMV-1, KM-2,Syama and Sumanjana FYM 20 t ha-1 (as basal) Lime 250 kg ha-1 (or dolomite 400 kg ha-1 ) Variety T-9 is moderately tolerant to N 20 kg ha-1drought condition; CO-2 is photoinsensitive 30 kg ha-1but susceptible to pests and diseases. S-1 is P2O5 30 kg ha-1suitable for pappad making. TAU-2 is suited K2Ofor partially shaded condition in coconutgarden during rabi season in southern region; Lime may be applied at the time of firstTMV-1 and KM-2 are suited for Onattukaratract during late kharif; Syama is suited for ploughing. Half the quantity of nitrogen, thethe summer rice fallow of Onattukara.Sumanjana is high yielding and early maturing whole of phosphorus and potash are appliedvariety, suitable for summer rice fallows ofTrivandrum district. at the time of last ploughing. The remainingSeeds and Sowing 10 kg nitrogen can be applied as foliar spraySeed rate: Pure crop - 20 kg ha-1 of 2 per cent urea solution in two equal doses Mixed crop - 6 kg ha-1 on the 15th and 30th day after sowing. Plant protection Apply carbaryl 0.15 per cent suspension, if pests are observed in serious proportions.COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) Cowpea can be grown throughout the Seasonyear under Kerala conditions. It can begrown as a floor crop in coconut gardens 1) Cowpea can be grown during any season.and as an intercrop in tapioca duringMay-Sept. It can be grown as a pure crop in 2) As a rainfed crop, sowing is done in thesingle-crop and double-crop rice fallows month of June. The most suitable time isduring rabi and summer seasons. Cowpea after the first week of June.can be grown in homestead gardensthroughout the year and in kole lands of 3) During the second crop season (rabi), i.e.,Thrissur district during summer where rice September to December, cowpea can becrop cannot be raised due to water scarcity. grown as a fringe crop along the rice field bunds. Sowing can be done on either side

COWPEA 41 of bunds on the day of transplanting the Spacing : 25 cm x 15 cm Dibbling two seeds paddy crop. per hole Bush : 30 cm X 15 cm4) During summer, cowpea can be grown Trailing :2 m X 2 m (on pandal @ three plants as a pure crop in rice fallows after the per pit) harvest of paddy. Sowing:Varieties Soaking seeds in 500 ppm thiourea1. Vegetable type: solution, followed by two sprays of thiourea (one at vegetative and another at flowering (a) Bushy: Bhagyalakshmy, Pusa stage) increased the yield of cowpea byBarsathi, Pusa Komal. . 26 per cent and net return by 50 per cent. (b) Semitrailing: Kairali, Varun,Anaswara, Seed inoculation and pelletingKanakamony (PTB-1), Arka Garima. Cowpea seeds should be inoculated with (c) Trailing type: Sharika, Malika, KMV-1, Rhizobium and pelleted with lime. RhizobiumLola, Vyjayanthi, Manjeri Local, Vyalathur cultures are available from the Assistant SoilLocal, Kurutholapayar, Vellayani Jyothika Chemist, Microbiological Laboratory, Soil Testing Centre, Pattambi 679 306, Palakkad2. Grain type: District. The strains that are available at Pattambi are the two isolates (No.11 and C-152, S-488, Pusa Phalguni, P-118, Pusa No.12) developed by the Kerala AgriculturalDo Fasli, Krishnamony (PTB-2), V-240, University.Amba (V-16), GC-827, CO-3, Pournami(summer rice fallows) and Shubhra (suited Procedure for seed inoculationfor cultivation in rice fallows during summerseason in southern districts of Kerala), Sreya The content of each packet of Rhizobiumand Hridya (Summer rice fallows of inoculant is sufficient for seeds to be sownOnattukara). in the area indicated on the packet (250 to 375 g ha-1). Use the inoculant only for the3. Dual purpose type: specific leguminous crop mentioned on the packet, before the expiry date. Do not expose Kanakamony (PTB 1) and New Era the Rhizobium culture to direct sunlight or4. As companion crop with tapioca: V-26 heat. Mix the inoculant uniformly with the5. Floor crop: Gujarat V-118, Cowpea-2 seeds by using minimum quantity of water (instead of water, either 2.5 per cent starchSeeds and Sowing solution or kanjivellam of the previous day can be used in order to ensure betterSeed rate stickiness of the inoculant with the treated seed material). Take care to avoid anyFor vegetable type 20-25 kg ha-1 damage to the seed coat. Dry the inoculated 4-5 kg ha-1 seeds under shade over a clean paper orBush: gunny bag and sow immediately. TheTrailing: Rhizobium culture or the inoculated seeds should not be mixed with chemical fertilizers.For grain and dual purpose type Procedure for lime pelletingBroadcasting: 60-65 kg ha-1 1. Add finely powdered (300 mesh) calcium (45 kg ha-1for Krishnamony) carbonate to moist fresh Rhizobium treated seeds and mix for 1-3 minutesDibbling: 50-60 kg ha-1 until each seed is uniformly pelleted. (40 kg ha-1 for Krishnamony)

42 COWPEADepending on the seed size, the following at 1.5 m x 45 cm spacing for trailing onquantity of lime asrequired. trellis.If broadcasting is adopted, the seeds can be sown broadcast over the field andSmall seeds 1.0 kg/10 kg of seed channels drawn after sowing.Medium sized seeds 0.6 kg/10 kg of seed SowingLarge sized seeds 0.5 kg/10 kg of seed Plough the land thoroughly 2-3 times and remove weeds and stubbles. Make channels2. Spread out the pelleted seeds on a clean of 30 cm breadth and 15 cm depth at 2 m paper to harden. Sow them as soon as apart to drain off excess rainwater. possible. However, lime pelleted seeds can be stored up to one week in a cool Manuring place prior to sowing. FYM 20 t ha-1Note:1. Lime coating is required only for seeds Lime 250 kg ha-1(or dolomite 400 kg ha-1) that are to be sown in acid soils. N 20 kg ha-12. Ordinary agricultural lime is not good for P2O5 30 kg ha-1 pelleting because of its larger particle size. K2O 10 kg ha-1 Good quality high grade lime should be used. Lime may be applied at the time of the first ploughing. Half the quantity of nitrogen,3. Hydrated lime should not be used for whole of phosphorus and potash may be pelleting. applied at the time of final ploughing. The remaining nitrogen may be applied 15-20 days4. The dry pellet should be firm enough to after sowing. resist moderate pressure. It should appear dry without loose lime on its surface or in [Note: For vegetable cowpea grown as the container. an intercrop in the reclaimed alluvial soils of Kuttanad, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash5. The lime-pelleted seeds can be mixed at the rate of 10, 20 and 10 kg ha-1 are with the fertilizer and sown. However, the recommended. For vegetable cowpea, period of contact between fertilizer and fertilizers can be applied in several split doses the pelleted seeds should be as short as at fortnightly intervals] possible. Aftercultivation6. Pelleted seeds should not be sown into a dry seedbed. Hoeing at the time of application of the second dose of nitrogen will give adequateSpacing aeration to the soil and help the root system to spread easily. For grain and dual-purpose For grain type and dual-purpose type, if varieties, decapitation is found to bedibbling is adopted, spacing of 25 cm between advantageous as the crop shows trailingrows and 15 cm between plants is tendency. For vegetable types, provide trellisrecommended with two seeds per hole. For or pandal for trailing.bush vegetable type, spacing of 30 cmbetween rows and 15 cm between plants is Irrigationsuitable. For semi-trailing varieties, providea spacing of 45 x 30 cm. Trailing varieties Giving two irrigations is highly beneficial;can be sown in pits (@ 3 plants/pit) at 2 x 2 i.e., at 15 days after sowing and at the timem spacing for trailing on pandal or in channels of flowering. Irrigation at the flowering stage induces better flowering and pod set.

COWPEA 43Plant protection IPM package against major pests of cowpea The fungus Fusarium pallidoroseum canbe used for controlling black pea aphid. Bran 1. Burning of trash before sowingbased fungus can be applied at the rate of3 kg per 400 m2 immediately after infestation 2. Selecting healthy seedsis observed. One application is sufficient. 3. Clean cultivationAnthracnose of cowpea(Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) 4. Soil drenching with Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent wherever fungal diseases are Causes water soaked lesions on leaves, prevalent.which later become brown and enlarge toform circular spots. The infection may 5. Treating the seeds with rhizobium culturespread to the petiole and young stem also. @ 250 to 375 g ha-1 before sowingPetiole infection results in defoliation.Anthtracnose can be managed with seed 6. Monitoring the field for incidence oftreatment with Thiram @ 3g/kg of seed pests/population of natural enemiesfollowed by Carbendazim spray @ 0.05 per especially at flowering stage (for Aphiscent at 15, 30 & 45 days after seedling craccivora, epilachna beetles and podemergence. borers) and at pod formation stage for pod bugsDry root rot of cowpea(Macrophomina phaseolina) 7. Adoption of mechanical methods of pest control such as application of ash at Infected plant suddenly wilts and dies. 10 DAS, keeping yellow sticky trap/The bark of the root and basal stem becomes yellow pan tray, collection andfibrous. The disease appears in patches and destruction of infested leaves, flowerbecome severe during dry periods. Dry root buds and pods and sweeping androt can be managed by seed treatment with destruction of the pests.Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed orCarbendazim 0.05 per cent of seed or 8. Collection and release of potentialPsuedo-monas fluorescens @ 10g/kg natural enemies viz., grubs and adultsof seed or neem cake soil application of Coccinella transversalis,Cheilo@ 20 kg ha-1. menes sexmaculatus,Harmonia octo maculata and maggots of Ischiodon Spray malathion (0.1 per cent) or scutellarequinalphos (0.05 per cent) for controlling peaaphids. 9. Need based application of F. pallido- roseum @ 7x106/ml specifically for the Spray carbaryl 0.2 per cent to protect the management of Aphis craccivora.crop from pod borers. Repeat the application,if infestation persists. Apply the insecticides 10. Need based application of neem kernelafter harvesting mature pods and pick the suspension (NKS) 5 per cent orpods only 10 days after the application of chlorpyriphos 0.05 per cent at 45 DASinsecticides. in the case of moderate incidence of A.craccivora, pod borers and a second spray using NKS 5 per cent at 60 DAS if needed against pod borers and pod bugs.

44 FRENCH BEAN AND GREEN GRAM For protecting cowpea seeds against pests neem and eupatorium leaves @ 15 t ha-1,under storage conditions, smear the seeds with two weeks before sowing.groundnut or coconut oil at 1.0 per cent. Spray 1per cent Bordeaux mixture in Spraying quinalphos 0.03 per cent at 60 DAS early stages to protect the crop from fungalin the field along with treatment in storage with diseases.dried powdered rhiozome of Vayambu (Acoruscalamus) 01kg/100kg seed. For protecting the crop from anthracnose, treat the seeds with carbendazim (0.05 per The root-knot nematode and reniform cent) and spray the crop with Bordeaux mixturenematode associated with cowpea can be 1 per cent or carbendazim 0.05 per cent.effectively managed by the application ofFRENCH BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris) Light sandy-loam to clayey-loam soils For pole beans, raised beds arewith good drainage are best suited for the advantageous. Spacing of 30 cm x 20 cm iscrop. recommended.Season Manuring In the high ranges of elevation more than1000 m, this crop can be grown throughout Apply basal dose of 20 t ha-1 of FYMthe year. The crop being susceptible to @ 30:40:60 kg ha-1. Topground frost in higher altitudes (above 1400 adnredssNin:Pg2wOi5t:hK32O0 kg N ha-1 may be given 20m), adequate protection should be givenduring January-February. days after sowing.Varieties Aftercultivation There are two types of French beansviz., pole beans and bush beans. Provide support, 1 to 1.5 m long forPole beans: Kentucky Wonder trailing the plants. First weeding can be givenBush beans: Contender, Premier, YCD-1, about 4 weeks after sowing and secondArka Komal, Tender Green weeding will be essential 50 days later. Pods become ready for harvest in 50-60 days inSeeds and sowing the case of bush beans and in 70-80 days forSeed rate the pole beans. The average yield of green pods is 8-10 t ha-1. 80 kg ha-1 for hills 50 kg ha-1 for plains Plant protectionSowingPrepare land thoroughly by Treat the seeds with copper basedploughing. Raised beds are not essential for fungicides. Apply malathion 0.1 per cent forbush beans. controlling aphids.GREEN GRAM (Vigna radiata) Green gram is grown as a pure crop in Varietiesrice fallows after the harvest of the first orsecond crop of paddy. It can also be grown Philippines, Madiera, Pusa Baisakhi,as a mixed crop with tapioca, colocasia, yam, NP-24, Co-2, Pusa-8973 (Pusa-8973 is suitedand banana or as an intercrop in coconut to the summer rice fallows of Onattukara;gardens. tolerant to pod borer; duration 66 days).