Essential Guidelines for Sowing Summer Crops after Harvesting Rabi Crops

After harvesting Rabi crops such as wheat, chickpea, lentil, and grass pea, if adequate water is available, farmers should complete the sowing of summer maize, okra, and cowpea by March 31. According to agricultural scientists, sandy loam or loam soil with a pH level between 6 and 7 is most suitable for these crops.

Field Preparation and Seed Treatment: For proper field preparation, first, plow the field deeply using a soil-turning plow. Then, run a cultivator 2-3 times to make the soil fine and friable. To protect seeds from soil-borne diseases, treat them with a fungicide mixture of Carbendazim + Mancozeb (2 grams per kilogram of seed).

Sowing and Improved Varieties of Summer Maize:

1. Recommended Varieties: PMH-7, PMH-8, PMH-10, Kanchan, Gaurav, Vivek Maize, Hybrid-27.
2. Seed Rate: 18-20 kg per hectare for normal maize and 12-15 kg per hectare for hybrid maize.
3. Sowing Distance: Maintain a row-to-row distance of 60 cm and a plant-to-plant distance of 30 cm.
4. Fertilizer Management: Apply 120:60:40 kg per hectare (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potash). Apply the full dose of phosphorus and potash and half of the nitrogen at the time of sowing. Apply the remaining half of the nitrogen in two split doses during crop growth.

Sowing and Improved Varieties of Summer Okra:

1. Recommended Varieties: Pusa Sawani, Pusa Makhamali, Parbhani Kranti, Arka Anamika.
2. Seed Rate: 20-22 kg per hectare.
3. Sowing Distance: Maintain a row-to-row distance of 45 cm and a plant-to-plant distance of 20 cm.
4. Fertilizer Management: Apply 40:50:60 kg per hectare (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potash). Apply the full dose of phosphorus and potash and half of the nitrogen at the time of sowing. Apply the remaining half of the nitrogen in two split doses.

Sowing and Improved Varieties of Summer Cowpea:

1. Recommended Varieties: Pusa Komal, Pusa Sukomal, Kashi Gauri, Kashi Kanchan.
2. Seed Rate: 18-20 kg per hectare.
3. Sowing Distance: Maintain a row-to-row distance of 45-60 cm and a plant-to-plant distance of 10 cm.
4. Fertilizer Management: Apply 20:60:50 kg per hectare (Nitrogen: Phosphorus: Potash). Apply the full dose of phosphorus and potash and half of the nitrogen at the time of sowing. Apply the remaining half of the nitrogen in two split doses.

Harvesting Rabi Crops at the Right Time:

1. Chickpea: Harvest when the plants turn yellow, the pods are fully matured and brown, and the grains become hard.
2. Lentil: Harvest when 70-80% of the pods have dried. Do not leave the crop standing in the field for too long after maturity, as it may reduce yield quality.
3. Mustard: Harvest when leaves start shedding, pods turn yellow, and 75% of the pods have a golden color.

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