Sowing

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


• Seed hardening with 1% KCl for 16 hours (seed and KCl solution 1:1) 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 1 kg/ha or Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 1 kg/ha each per ha seed.



                                                                                                                                Seed Drill Sowing


• 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.


• Sowing of seed by multi crop planter (Happy Seeder) under dry condition @ 40 kg/ha .


• Thinning and gap filling should be done at 14 - 21 days after sowing, taking advantage of the immedate rain.