Jute

Land Requirements Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants. In addition, the land should be fertile, well-drained and neither very acidic not very alkaline. It should be free from obnoxious weeds and soil-borne diseases such as stem rot.  
Isolation Requirements

Jute is normally a self-pollinated crop but some corss-pollination does occur. Natural crossing has been recorded at two to three per cent in C.capsularis, and ten totwelve per cent in C.olitorius. For certified seed production, seed fields should be isolated by a minimum distance of fifty metres in the case of the foundation seed class, from fields of other varieties ofthe same species, and fields of the same vareity not conforming to varietal purity requirements for certification. From fields of other species a minimum isolation distance of five metres should be provided.

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing The best sowing time is May to mid June.
  


Preparation of Land The land should be well-prepared by deep ploughing, and five to six cross harrowings followed by levelling. Fine tilth is necessary to ensure good germination.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency.


Seed Rate Capsularis varieties                  8 to 10 kg per hectare
Olitorius varieties                      4 to 6 kg per hectare.


Method of Sowing Sowing in lines should be prefered to the broadcasting method. It facilitates interculture, roguing and inspection of seed crop. The seed should not be sown more than 3 to 5 cm deep.


Fertilisation The nitrogen requkrement of Capsularis varieties is 80to 100 kg/ha and that of Olitorius 60 to 80 kg/ha. Higher doses of nitrogen results in lodging. The applicationof nitrogen apply 20 to 30 kg phosphorus and potash/ha.Onacidic soils,.or in soils where there is incidence of root rot or stem rot application of lime and potassium sulphate at the rate of 700 to 1500 kg/ha reduce these diseases. All the phosphorus and potash and half of the nitrogen should be applied before sowing. Half of the remaining nitrogen should be applied after three to four weeks and the remaining after six weeks. Adequate moisture in the soil is necessary at the time of application of nitrogenous fertilisers.


Transplanting  


Spacing Row to row 30cm
Plant to plant 15-20


Irrigation Irrigate as and when necessary. Usually two to three irrigations are required before the onset of the monsoons at an interval of twenty days


Interculture The first hand weeding, mulching and thinning should be done whenthe crop is three to four weeks old. Subsequently, oneto two weedings by hand, or cultivator can be done as per requierement. Clipping should be done at 40-45 days of crop age for inducing growth of new axillary branches.


Insect and Disease Control a.) Treatment of seed with orgonomercurial compounds or captan
b) Application of lime, potash in soil
c) Timely weeding and thinning
d) Crop rotation
e) Uprooting and destroying infested plants


Roguing Roguing for off-types, diseased and pest infested plants should be carried out at three stages of the growth of the plant. The first roguing should be carried out when plants are 30 to 40 days old. Second roguing should be done in the bud or flowering stage and the third at capsule formation stage.


Harvesting and Extration of Seeds Harvested for seed much in the same way that it is picked for the market. The fruit should not be left on the vine until decay begins.
Juice and Seed Extration: The canery equipment as pulpers and cyclones are primarily used, and after extraction the processers have in general two products: the juice and the pumice, or more or less the dry mass of squeezed pulp. skin and seeds. The only heat used may be scalding process to loosen the skin of the fruit. Such a mechanical method of seed extraction is rapid and leaves the seed practically free of seed extraction is rapid and leaves the seed practically free of the gelatinous tissue surrounding it in the fruit. Seed obtained by juice extracting equipment may be separated from the pumice by washing it with an abundant supply of water as described further on.
Ordinary seed extraction: When mechinery similar to that for vine crops is used, the chief difference is the lack of any heavy knives. The tomato is easily cut and crushed. It is usually made to pass between corrugated rollers before falling into a revolving wire mesh cylinder. the material and juice which passes through the screens is then poured into large tubes orvats where the extraction process is completed by one of the methods described below.
Separation by fermentation: The fermentation process is an old established procedure which effectively controls bacterial canker. It is best to allow the mass of fruit pulp and juice to ferment without theaddition ofwater. Fermentation should take place long enough forthe mucilaginous material adhering to the seed to distintegrate sufficiently so as to release the seeds, which sink tothe bottom. the undecomposed pulp floats to the top leaving a layer of clear liquid in between. Since, gas and floating pulp often entrap good seed and hold it in the upper layer, the contents of vats require fairly frequent stirring. Stirring tends to release such seed and also prevents fungus growth from starting at the survace of the mass.If thisfungus is allowed to grow, some discoloration and even injury to the seed may result.
Temperature determines to a large extent the length of time the fermentation process continues. If it reamins around 24 to 27 C most of the time, fermentation is rapid, and satisfactory separation of seed and pulp is attained in about two days. For thecontrol of canker, however, fermentationmust continue for at least 96 hours. Since such a long period may result in injury to the seed, it is advised that under such circumstances the fermenting pulp be kept as close to 21 C as possible. The lower thetemperature, the slower the fermentation process.
Acid separation: In the acid method, hydrochloric acid is added to the pulp at the rate 100ml forevery 14 kilogrammes of pulp (approximately 10 litres per tonne). If a thorough mixing of the acid and pulp occurs, the seeds may be washed free within 15 to 30 minutes. By proper arrangement ofequipment it is possible to have an almost continuous process.
The acid method has several advantages:
1. The seed can be extracted and dried on the same day.
2. Less number of vats are required.
3. The problems of low and high temperatures are avoided.
4. Discoloured seed resulting from fermentation is entirely eliminated.
To control bacterial canker theextracted seed, in addition, maybe treated with 0.8 per cent solution of pure acetic acid in water for24 hours, at temperature below 21 C.
Alkali separation: In alkali method equal volume of an alkali mixture (425 gm ordinary wahsing soda added to 5 litre of boiling water) is added to pulp and mixed. When the alkali mixture is cooled, allow it all tostand overnight in an earthen pot. Next day, all the seeds will settle down at the bottom ofthe container. Now decnt-off the clear liquid at the top and wash theseeds thoroughly.
Washing: After extraction the seeds are washed with water to remove the pulp, etc. The water is added to containers with the pulp and seed. It is stirred thoroughly and is drained out along with pulp and other mucilaginous substance. This process is repeated until the seeds are clean.
Drying: After washing, theseeds should be dried as rapidly as possible. Seed may be spread on screen bottom trays, or cloth, and placed in the open where a maximum exposure to sun and dry air is attained. The seeds should be dried to eight per cent moisture before storage.

 


Seed Yield The average seed yield is about 100 to 120 kg per hectare.