Sowing

• Seed rate: 75kg/ha dry seed for any recommended variety.


• Seed hardening with 1% KCl for 16 hours and shade dried to bring to storable moisture. This will enable the crop to withstand early moisture stress.


• On the day of sowing, treat the hardened seeds first with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/kg of seed and then with Azophos 2000g or Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 600g each per ha seed, whichever is available.


• Drill sow with 20 cm inter row spacing using seed drill the seeds can also be sown behind the country plough.


• Depth of sowing should be 3 - 5 cm and the top soil can be made compact with leveling board.


• Pre-monsoon sowing is advocated for uniform germination.