RABI CAMPAIGN  :  WHEAT

   Target Areas :  Punjab ,Haryana,Western U.P., Rajasthan, Bihar ,  West Bengal , Uttranchal

• Avoid  burning of rice straw  after combine harvest and use rotavator to incorporate crop residue into soil.

• Sowing in time.  25^th October to 10^th November for rainfed conditions, 10-25^th November for irrigated timely sown and 25^th November to 25^th December for irrigated late sown.

• To address  the issue of quick  vacation of  field by previous  crop rice,  zero tillage  or direct  seeding be followed especially in late sown situation.   The zero till machine  has an inverted  T-shaped  chisel as tine, which slits  the  wet  soil surface about  2-3 cm deep, making  a  1 to  1.5  cm  wide  channel for placing both seed and the fertilizer.  

• Adopt  Furrow  irrigated raised  bed planting system to save irrigation water.   Seed  three  rows  of  wheat on top  of the ridge alongwith  fertilizer.   Irrigate  on  need-based  demand through  furrow.

• Balanced use of NPK to get  maximum  benefits  of  applied nutrients.

• Farmers are advised to apply micronutrient in deficient areas.  Zn deficiency  is  known  to be wide  in the main wheat  belt.  Apply  ZnSO₄  (Zink sulphate) at the rate of 25  kg  per ha  before sowing if not applied to previous  crop. 

• Use of only certified/quality seed of varieties  recommended  for the area.

• Surface seeding in North  Eastern India  in wet / saturated soil conditions in low-land  areas.  Dry or soaked seeds can be broadcasted few  days before or immediately after the harvest of rice. 

• Apply irrigation at critical stages particularly at crown root imitation stage (21 days after sowing) instant fail.  Follow Integrated Pest Management ;  Grow  resistant  varieties,  seed treatment with Fungicides and   Trichoderma.

• Avoid planting highly  susceptible varieties for Karnal Bunt like  HD – 2009,  UP-319,  WL-711  and HD  - 1982 in  the Tarai  areas.

• Use  disease free  seeds.  Seed borne  inoculum  can be killed  by treating  seed with  fungicide  at the rate of  2.5  g per  kg  seeds. 

• Integrated management of Phalaris minor and Rumax be done with existing recommended   technologies.  

RABI  CAMPAIGN   :  RABI  MAIZE

Target   Areas  :  East  UP,   Bihar,  Orissa ,   TN,  Karnataka,  AP,  Gujarat,  M.P., East  and South  Rajasthan,  lower  elevations   of  Sikkim,    WB ,  Punjab   and  Haryana 

• Rabi  maize cultivation can be taken  in lower  foothills   which usually  do not  receive  frost. 

• Choice of  cultivars is  critical.  Follow only recommended varieties and hybrids for different States.   For  example  ;  Ganga  11, 103,  105,  Trishulata  and X  -  1382 (3054) are widely used  across  many  States.   A number of hybrids and composites for each region,   State  are  available. Only certified/quality seed should be  used.

• Timely sowing  is very important.  In   North  Indian States  sowing  can be done  between Oct  20 to Nov.  10.    In Central  India , early sowing 10-15 Oct.   possible.    Sowing  should  be done on the southern  side of  East – West  ridge. 

• In multiple cropping system,  transplanting  of  maize  may be practical in north-west  and eastern  plain  to avoid  delay.   This  can be  done  in Diara   and Tal  areas  where  flood  water  recedes  late.

• Balanced  use  of  fertilizers  along with  optimum  plant  population  of  90,000  plants  per  hectare  is recommended.  

•  Irrigation to be given normally  6 times  to crop   but  critical  stages  are  flowering  and grain filling 

•   Follow  IPM   practices  using  pest   and disease monitoring  to use the strategies  at most  appropriate  time of  pest  or  disease  emergence.  

RABI  CAMPAIGN  :  BORO   RICE  

Potential Areas :  Bihar ,  West Bengal ,  Assam ,  Eastern UP,  Orissa  

• Promotion of the adoption of the ‘On-Farm Water Management through Shallow  Tube  Well,  lift  irrigation,  dug  well  and use of pump sets  provided in the Scheme on ‘On Farm  Water  Management for Eastern  States.
  

•  Use Certified  Seeds of Varieties  tested for  boro  rice  cultivation such as, Saroj,  Dhanlaxmi,  Prabhat,  Gautam,  Joymati  and CNHR  3  and recommended  for specific  areas.  For  example,   Joymati for Assam , Gautam  for Bihar , Gotra-1 for West  Bengal and  Prabhat for  UP.
  

•  To harness potential  of  boro rice  in deep  water  areas,  a number of cropping  system  have  emerged such  as,  Boro-Deep  Water  Rice (DWR) ;  Boro +  Deep  Water  Rice  as Utera  ;   Boro +  DWR  +  Fish.  The traditional  system of  Fallow – DWR  has  to be replaced  by Mustard  - Boro – Fallow ;   Winter Vegetable  -  Fallow -  Late  Rice.
  

•  In areas  where  water  recedes  early,  use  Madagaskar  system or system  of rice, intensification for  water  saving in rabi.  
  

•  Follow  critical recommendations for Nursery  management,  INM  and  IPM  given for  each  State.

RABI  CAMPAIGN  :  RABI  SORGHUM

 Target  Area :   Maharashtra ,  Karnataka

• Adopt  CSH15R,  19R  hybrids  of  rabi  sorghum  alongwith  varieties  SPV  504,  SPV  14R, Phule  Yashoda,   Maldandi  35-1,  Ringani 
  

• Sowing time  should  be  25 September  to  15  Oct.  No  late sowing .  Use  7.5  to  10 kg  seed  (certified  well  treated)  for  one hectare  to maintain optimum  plant  population.
  

• If  irrigation  available,  critical  stages  of  irrigation are 35-40 days  (seedling  expansion);  60-65 days  (Reproductive);  70-75  days  (Flower  emergence ;  and  85-95  days  (grain development)
  

• Intercultural   operations to  avoid  soil  water loss   in dryland  rabi sorghum cultivation 

RABI CAMPAIGN:   RABI PULSES  :  CHICKPEA  / GRAM

TARGET AREA  :  Madhya  Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra , Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

• Use  certified / quality seed of high yielding varieties  recommended for specific  regions  and areas. Do not  use    susceptible  varieties  in wilt-sick  fields .
  

• Treat the seed  with fungicide followed by  Rhizobium .  
  

• Placement of seed at  proper depth for  optimum  plant  population.
  

• Sowing should be done early  in Rabi. 
  

• Whenever possible  Chickpea can be intercropped with Mustard, particularly  in Rajasthan  and Uttar Pradesh.
  

• Intercropping  Chickpea  with  Safflower,  Coriander  in Mahatrashtra, Karnataka  &  Andhra  Pradesh is recommended.
  

• Irrigate the  crop at the  time of  flowering  and grain formation if irrigation is available.
  

• Keep  special watch   for  Haliothes  at  pod formation stage and  use recommended  Integrated Pest Management Practices  such  physical collection, use of  HNPV,  Pheromone Traps, Catch Crops, etc.

RABI CAMPAIGN  :   RABI PULSES  :   URDBEAN,   MUNGBEAN AND LENTIL

Target  Area  :  Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka,  Madhya Pradesh,  Orissa,  West  Bengal,  Jharkhand,                              Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh,  Bihar ,  Punjab

• Use  urdbean  and mungbean in spring  season in  late  kharif  fields  of northern  India  

• Use  recommended season specific  varieties 

• Ensure  on farm  seed  priming :  Seed  Priming  for  4-6  hours  with Sodium Molybdate  at the  rate of 0.05  gram /  litre of  water (per kg seed) and  Rhizobium  inoculum  @ 5 gram / litre  of  water  (per  kg  seed).

• Promote  urdbean  / mungbean  in rice  fallows  in  Andhra Pradesh,   Karnataka,    Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Orissa , West Bengal,  Jharkhand  and  Chhattisgarh.

• Cultivate  Lentil  in place of rainfed  wheat especially  in the States  of  UP, Rajasthan ,  Punjab  &  Bihar 

• Grow  Lentil  in rice  fallows 

• Do not  use wilt   susceptible  varieties in wilt   sick  fields 

• Use area specific   recommended  varieties 
  

 RABI CAMPAIGN:   RABI OILSEEDS:  RAPE SEED & MUSTARD

TARGET  AREA   :  Uttar  Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Haryana,  Punjab ,  Madhya Pradesh

• The field  preparation should  be such  that no soil clods  remain at sowing. 

• Use   certified /   quality  seeds  of  varieties  recommended  for the area.

• Emphasize for  timely sowing of   sole  crop of Rapeseed  & Mustard. 

• Encourage  clean cultivation  and  regular  weeding. 

• Provide  need-based  irrigation.

• Apply sulphur  in addition to  recommended fertilizers,  in case of known deficiency.

• Place  phosphatic  fertilizers  at  root  zone and avoid  broadcasting.   Use  phosphate  solublizing bacteria culture.

• The crop can be  suitably  intercropped with  Wheat, Chickpea.  The ratio of intercrop  recommended  for the region can be followed.    

• Encourage diversification of  wheat  area  grown  under  limited irrigation  to rapeseed  and mustard  in  Rajasthan,  Haryana, Punjab  and Uttar Pradesh.  

• Use  IPM  technology  throughout  the season  &  harvest  the crop  at physiological maturity.

 RABI CAMPAIGN:  RABI OILSEEDS:   GROUNDNUT

TARGET AREA :   Andhra Pradesh,  Karnataka,  Tamil Nadu,  Orissa,  West  Bengal ,  Gujarat ,   Maharashtra , Rajasthan. 

• Promote  groundnut  in  rice  fallow of Andhra  Pradesh,  West Bengal    and  Orissa. 

• Use short duration  varieties   recommended for  Rabi  cultivation. 

• Use  disease  /  insect   resistant  varieties. 

• Follow recommended  management practices for the  region.  

• Follow  IPM  measures  for diseases  and pest control.  

•  Use mulch  to conserve  the  moisture. 

RABI CAMPAIGN:   RABI OILSEEDS   :    SUNFLOWER  

TARGET  AREA  :    Maharashtra,  Karnataka,  Andhra Pradesh,  Tamil Nadu,  Orissa,  West  Bengal,  Madhya  Pradesh.

• Use  hybrids  and high  yielding   varieties  for the area.

• Follow  ridge  & furrow method   of  sowing  at recommended spacing.

• Maintain  recommended  plant  population.

• Use recommended dose of  fertilizers  alongwith  sulphur  application 

• Save  crop  from  birds  damage 

• Ensure  irrigation  at   critical  stages  

RABI CAMPAIGN:  RABI OILSEEDS   :   SAFFLOWER

 TARGET  AREA  :  Andhra  Pradesh, Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh, Chattisgarh

• Avoid late sowing of safflower. 

• Use location specific   varieties  including  spineless  varieties. 

• Adopt  IPM  technology  for  aphid,  wilt  and blight. 

• Use  Sulphur   application   in addition to  recommended dose  of NPK  fertilizers. 

• Promote  alternate  use  of  petals.

• Area  expansion  be given  thrust  in  Madhya  Pradesh   &  Chhattisgarh

• Border rows sowing of  safflower  helps  to save  the other crop  from animals  damage

 RABI CAMPAIGN:  SUGARCANE

Target Area :   U.P., Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu, A.P., Karnataka, Punjab , Uttranchal, Gujarat ,         Haryana

•  There are three  sugarcane crops  in the fields in Rabi

a)         Plant  Crop 

b)         Ratoon Crop

c)         Autumn  Sown Crop 

• Encourage  early  maturing  high sugar  varieties  in North  zone.

• Use  healthy  and treated  seed with recommended   seed  rate.

• Use  recommended  dose of  fertilizers and nutrients.

• Promote companion crops  in autumn  sown sugarcane.

• Irrigate  standing plant   and  ratoon crop  till  harvesting regularly. 

• Harvest early for higher ratoon yield in following season. 

• Focus  on   wooly  aphid  management   in Maharashtra ,  Karnataka,  A.P.   &  Tamil  Nadu   through IPM  technology.

• Follow gap-filling to maintain plant population in ratoon crop. 

RABI  CAMPAIGN  :  GENERAL  ATTENTION

• Rainfed  Rabi Cropping  in Rice  Fallows  is suggested  in Chattisgarh,  Jharkhand,   Orissa,  West  Bengal  and Eastern  U.P.

• Soil profile  remain  well  charged with rice  harvest and residual moisture  can  sustain   ‘short  duration’  crop such  as  chickpea  (gram)  viz.   ICCV-2  and  KAK -2

• Rapid  minimum tillage  after rice  harvest 

• Seed  priming  for  4 -  6  hrs. with  sodium   molybdate  @ 0.05  g  per litre  of water  (per  kg seed)  and  Rhizobium  inocolum    @  5 g per litre  of water   (per kg  seed)

• Application of  manure  and SSP  to  impoverished  soil 

• Add  tiny  amounts  of  molybdenum  (Mo)  which improves Rhizobium nodulation in   chickpea, mungbean,   urdbean .  About   1200 g  Mo  per hectare  soil is mixed  is  useful 

• Acidic  soils  exists  in Assam   (15.0 lakh ha),   Orissa  (40 lakh  ha),  Jharkhand  (4.0   lakh  ha)  HP  (0.75  lakha ha), Kerala  (10.0  lakh  ha) and  Maharashtra   (0.20  lakh  ha) .   Agriculturally  important  districts  having  acid  soils   (pH <  5.5)  are  given  in   Table   1 

Table  1:  Agriculturally  important districts  having   acid  soils   (pH  < 5.5) 

Liming  at the  rate of  2-4   qtl   per  ha in furrows   along with  recommended  fertilizers   enhances  the  yield  by  50 – 133% 

• Liming  materials  are  Basic slag   from  Tata  Steel  Industries ;  Lime  Sludge  from  Paper  Mills;   Calcite,  Dolomite,   Phosphogypsum ;   Press Mud,  Marketable  Lime are available   locally.  Materials  should  preferably   have   25%  Cao   and  ground to less than  80   mesh  should  be used.  

RABI CAMPAIGN: OILSEEDS TIPS

• Use of  Gypsum is  overall   useful  for  growth and development of oilseed  crops. 

• Seed  treatment  with  fungicides  should  be  done  without  fail to improve  plant   stand.   In  case of  oilseed legumes  like  groundnut, seed treatment  with biofertilizer  (Rhizobium)  can be done  after fungicidal treatment.

• Preferably   use  ammonium  sulphate  and  SSP  for  Oilseed  Crops  which  along  with  N  and P   supplies  Sulphur  and  Calcium  and  improves   the grain and oil quality.

• In Sunflower   before  emergence   of   ray  florets  spray   20 g borax mixed in 10 litre of   water on the florets  before  hand pollination.

• Avoid  Aphid  infestation in  Safflower  by  sowing  it by  mid  September  to Early  October. 

• To  avoid wilt, Seed treatment with 4 g  Trichoderma  per  kg  seed  is usefull. 

• Summer  groundnut   yield  improves  if  water stress  given for  20-25  days  depending  on soil.

 Mango 
 

• 
   Pruning of diseased and malformed panicles and branches 

• 
   Enhancing irrigation efficiency using drip system 

• 
  Application of Farm Yard Manure @ 20 kg + 150g Di ammonium phosphate + 120g Muriate of potash before on set winter, i.e. November 

• 
  Application of micronutrients: 200g copper sulphate + 150g zinc sulphate dissolved in 200 liter of water to get better fruiting and fruit quality (approx for 10 plants) 

• 
  Spray of Bavistin (0.2%) during November to avoid incidence of fungal diseases 

• 
  Application of Borax (150 to 200g/ bearing plant) to avoid black tip in deficient areas 

• 
  Spray of Karathane (0.05%) or wettable sulphur powder to control powdery mildew at bud burst during the month of February - March and repeat after fruit set 

• 
  At least two sprays of Malathion or Metasystox (0.2%) in June soon after flower initiation. Avoid spraying of chemicals during peak flowering 
   
   
  

Citrus

Mosambi and Kinnow

•     Application of manures and Fertilizers

1. Young plants  – 10 kg FYM + 100g diammonium phosphate + 60g Muriate of Potash 

2. Bearing plants - 20 kg FYM + 150g DAP +100g MOP

3. Spray of micronutrients:  200g Cu₂SO₄ + 150 g Zn SO₄ dissolved in 200 liter of water

•  Irrigate the plant at weekly interval to prevent the fruit drop and stress to the plants

• Spray the plants with Dithane M-45 (1.5g/litre water) or Ridomil (3.0 to 4.0 g/litre water) to check stem end rot in order to prevent fruit drop

• In case of lemon, apply Streptocycline (5.0 g /60 litre water)  

• along with Blitox (3.0 g/ litre) to control Canker 

Aonla

• Application of 200 g Cu₂SO₄ + 100 g ZnSO₄ dissolved in 200 litre of water, to control Exanthema and Internal Browning (Browning).

• Spray the fungicides like Dithane-45 or copper oxychloride (2g/l of water) to control Anthracnose and Fruit pitting.

•  Ensure regular irrigation (7-10 day interval) to minimize fruit drop

 Potato

• Selection of improved varieties

(North: Kufri Bahar , Kufri Sutlej, Sel. 1, Kufri Chipsona- 1, Kufri Chipsona-2 (Processing types) South: Kufri Neelmani )

• Apply 125 cart load of FYM per hectare at the time of field preparation along with 180 kg N + 180 kg P₂O₅ + 200kg K₂O per hectare

• Application of neem cake (200 quintal /ha) to control termite and potato tuber moth

• Tuber treatment - Dip the cut or whole tubers in 1% Ariton solution (0.2%) for 2 minutes followed by air drying in shade

•  Double dipping in fungicide solution (Dithane M-45 @ 3-4g/litre of water)

• Spray of fungicide Dithane M-45 Dithane Z-78 after 30 –55 day of sowing and repeat when there is cloudy weather

• Spray of Metasystox ( 0.2%) to control aphids

Onion

(under North Indian conditions)

• Preparation of raised nursery bed to avoid water logging

• Drench the bed with fungicide (Bavistin 0.2%) and Chlorpyriphos (3-4 ml/litre)

• Selection of high yielding varieties: Agri Found Dark Red, Agri Found Light Red, Pusa Madhavi, Pusa White

• Treatment of seed (5 kg seed /acre) with Bavistin (0.2%)

Gladiolus

• Collection of corms from cold storage

• Selection of improved varieties: White Prosperity, Yellow Stone, Surekha, Suchitra   Wind Song, etc. 
  

•  Drying in the shade for 7-10 days

• De-scaling of bulbs and dipping in 2.5% Bavistin

• Sowing of bulbs on the ridge bed

• Application of vermicompost and Cotton cake for increasing florets per spike and enhancing shelf-life at the time of sowing of corms