Weed Control
About the Practice
Removing the chidho(Cyperusrotendus) weed with the help of cotton nutshells. Cyperusrotendus is a noxious weed. It grows in patches in black soils and sandy loam soils. It is locally called as chhaya in Saurashtra and chidho in middle Gujarat. It grows in patches in the field. Its roots go deep into the soil. Roots bear a gall like structure called nut sedge. It is very difficult to remove this weed by interculturing. It regenerates when it is cut at the stem above the ground. Jayantibhai Prabhubhai Gani from the Rajkot district of Gujarat uses empty shells of cotton balls to control the weed. Cotton is one of the major crops in Saurashtra. After removing lint cotton from balls, nutshells became waste. Gani broadcasts these nutshells in the field where patches of chidho are found. This is layered upto three inch thickness in the patches, one month before the rainy season begins. The field is then cultivated by plough to incorporate it well into the soil. Gani believes that when it rains, the water infilterates through the shells. This burns or kills the root or sedge of the weed. Through this practice, the field remains weed free for about two to three years.Besides weed control, it also acts as organic manure upon decompostion and helps in increasing crop yield. Gani had learnt about this practice from his father. Remove lint cotton from balls to get the waste nutshells. Broadcast these nutshells in the field where patches of chidho(Cyperusrotendus) weed are found. Layer this upto three inch thickness in the patches, one month before the rainy season begins. Cultivate the field by plough to incorporate it well into the soil.
About the Innovator
Agro-Ecological Zone: Western Plain, Kachchh And Part Of Kathiawar Peninsula, Hot Arid Eco-Region (2.4)
Address:
District: Rajkot
State: Gujarat
PIN Code 360001
Practice Details
Crop: Cotton
Crop Family: Malvaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Gossypium herbecium)
Crop Vernacular Name: Kapas
Ingredients: Remove lint cotton from balls to get the waste nutshells. Broadcast these nutshells in the field where patches of chidho(Cyperusrotendus) weed are found. Layer this upto three inch thickness in the patches, one month before the rainy season begins. Cultivate the field by plough to incorporate it well into the soil.