High yielding red gram for all seasons
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
The improved red gram variety can be grown during all seasons.
A HIGH yielding red gram (Cajanus cajan) variety, with high protein content, is developed by the scientists at the Department of Pulses, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. The farmers recently released it for commercial cultivation.
Christened "CO (RG) 7", the improved red gram is a medium-duration (120 to 130 days) variety, and being a photo-insensitive type, it can be grown in all seasons, according to the scientists.
It yields reddish brown seeds with high protein (23.5 per cent). It had very low incidence of sterility mosaic disease and pod fly when compared to the check variety CO 5. A derivative of selection from PB 9825 (a cross derivative of ICP 8863 and Al 101; and PA 128 and TT 6), this new variety can be raised in both irrigated and rain fed conditions. It is found to do well in June-July, September-October and February-March seasons.
Higher yield
In multi-location trials conducted in Kharif 2000, it recorded an average yield of 833 kg per hectare, which is 26 per cent higher than that of CO 5 variety.
In the Adoptive Research Trials conducted during 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, this variety registered a yield of 914 kg per hectare, which is 9.7 per cent more than that of the check variety CO 5, according to the scientists.
In the All India Coordinated trials, the variety recorded an average yield of 1699 kg per hectare. The over all performance of this variety has been found good, and its average yield has been recorded as 1021 kg hectare.
In the irrigated fields it yielded on an average 1168 kg per hectare, and its output in the rain fed tracts is 915 kg per hectare. A seed rate of 25 kg is recommended to cover a hectare.
A spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15 cm within the rows is advocated. The seeds should be treated with bio-control agents such as Trichoderma viride to prevent the incidence of diseases. Application of bio-fertilizers such as Rhizobium will prove to be highly beneficial.
Nutrient dosage
The nutrient dose should be decided based on the soil test results. About 25 kg nitrogen and 50 kg phosphorus should be applied as basal dressing.
Liberal quantities of farmyard manure should be incorporated in to the soil along with the final ploughing. The field should be irrigated immediately after sowing, and the next irrigation may be given on the third or the fourth day after sowing. Subsequent irrigations should be done based on the soil moisture regimen.
The pests may be controlled by using nuclear polyhedrosis virus and neem formulations. The crop should be harvested when 80 per cent of the pods mature.
The harvested plants should be stocked in shade for a few days before threshing.
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