Detail:

A simple technique used by farmers in the cultivation of cotton crops prevents deficiency in the germination of the cotton seeds. Generally, a deficiency is seen in the germination of cotton seeds when fertilised in saline and heavy black soil. After the farmer sows the seeds, if it rains, the top layer forms a hard crust, which hinders germination. Farmers believe that the seeds do germinate in the soil, but they fail to push through the hard encrusted soil. Since castor seeds germinate more or less simultaneously with cotton, farmers sow one castorseed per hill while dibbling cotton seeds, in order to remedy the situation. The castor seedlings break through the hard soil crust, making way for the the cotton seedlings to sprout. A few days after germination, the castor seedlings are weeded out manually.According to Madhubhai Kanani, a farmer who uses this method, a castor seedling has sufficient energy to push its sprouts up through the soil crust, so that, even if planted deep in the soil, it sprouts successfully. At the very early stages of growth, the castor seedlings do not affect the growth of the cotton plants, so cotton germination only benefits from the castor seedling being planted in proximity.The technique is widely practiced in most of the cotton growing regions of Saurashtra and north Gujarat. One castor seed is dibbled per hill along with cotton seeds during cultivation of cotton crops. The castor seedlings break through the hard soil crust, making way for the the cotton seedlings to sprout. A few days after germination, the castor seedlings are weeded out manually. A few days after germination the castor seedlings should be weeded out manually. Caution A deficiency is seen in the germination of cotton seeds when fertilised in saline and heavy black soil. After the farmer sows the seeds, if it rains, the top layer forms a hard crust, which hinders germination. Farmers sow one castor seed per hill while dibbling cotton seeds, in order to remedy the situation. The castor seedlings break through the hard soil crust, making way for the the cotton seedlings to sprout. According to Madhubhai Kanani, a farmer who uses this method, a castor seedling has sufficient energy to push its sprouts up through the soil crust, so that, even if planted deep in the soil, it sprouts successfully. At the very early stages of growth, the castor seedlings do not affect the growth of the cotton plants, so cotton germination only benefits from the castor seedling being planted in proximity.

Knowledge Provider / Innovator: Madhubhai Jadhavbhai Kanani
Agro-Ecological Zone: Central Highlands (Malwa), Gujarat Plain (5.1)
Address: Bhavnagar
District: Bhavnagar
State: Gujarat
PIN Code 364001

Crop: Cotton
Crop Family: Malvaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Gossypium herbaceum)
Crop Vernacular Name: Kapas
Formulation: According to Madhubhai Kanani, a farmer who uses this method, a castor seedling has sufficient energy to push its sprouts up through the soil crust, so that, even if planted deep in the soil, it sprouts successfully.
Ingredients: Castor seeds

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PAS 1:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0216575