AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

OIL SEEDS

Jalgaon district is one of the chief oil-seeds producing districts of the State. Among non-food crops, oil-seeds stand next to fibre. Ground-nut is the most important, though sesamum is also taken on large areas. Linseed, castor, etc. are grown on a small scaie. Though gross cropped area during the past so many years has remained more or less unchanged, the acreage under oil seeds has tended to increase tremendously, and more so in recent years. This may be attributed to the realisation, on the part of the farmers, of the value of oil-seeds as a cash crop. The figures given below are illustrative of this tendency:—

TABLE No. 24.

AREA UNDER OIL-SEEDS vis-a-vis GROSS CROPPED AREA IN JALGAON DISTRICT (1918-19 TO 1956-57)

(In acres)

The following table gives talukawise distribution of oil-seeds in the district in 1956-57: —

TABLE No. 25

AREA (TALUKAWISE) UNDER OIL-SEEDS IN JALGAON DISTRICT 1956-57

Bhuimug

Bhuimung (groundnut) occupies the largest acreage among the oil-seeds. In 1955-56, groundnut in Jalgaon district occupied about six per cent of the area under groundnut in the then Bombay State and 22 per cent of that in Aurangabad Division. Highest acreage was recorded in Chalisgaon taluka, though, on the whole the southern talukas accounted for a major share in groundnut cultivation in the district in that year. The area under this crop has increased considerably since the publication of the old Gazetteer. It was 16,747 acres in 1918-19 and 89,782 acres in 1922-23. The relevant details regarding this crop in recent years are given below: —

TABLE No. 26

AREA UNDER AND OUTTURN OF GROUNDNUT IN JALGAON DISTRICT (1949-50 TO 1956-57)

*N. A. — Not available.

The increase in acreage under groundnut is largely due to the increasing importance of the crop as a cash crop. Groundnut has become more and more popular because groundnut oil is required not only for domestic consumption but also for the manufacture of soap and other pharmaceutical preparations. It is the chief constituent of hvdrogenated ghee. There is a large demand for groundnut kernels in foreign countries. In fact, almost all pan of groundnut bring some return or the other to the cultivator and is, therefore, found to be more paying than any other crop grown in the district. Being of a leguminous variety it serves as a good rotation crop and, without any manurial treatment, the cultivator can harvest the crops of jowar or cotton.

Growth Requirements.

The soil suitable for growing groundnut should have good drain-age and friable loose texture, the latter being the prime reuuisite, as the pegging down of groundnut takes place very easily in such soils. Groundnut thrives well on soils with slight acid reaction, provided enough lime and other elements are present for its growth. Addition of kunkar to clay improves the physical texture. The lime present in kunkar has also beneficial effect. In so far as climatic conditions are concerned, groundnut is adaptable to a wide range of climate, provided soil conditions are satisfactory. Bright sunshine is essential for flowering while moist and friable soil is good for the penetration of the peg and subsequent development of pods. Groundnut requires steady but rather high temperature and moderate and uniformly distributed supply of moisture, especially during the petiod of pod formation, followed by dry conditions during harvesting and curing. The alternate spell of dry and wet weather at the close of monsoon is very conducive to pod formation. Excessive rains, however, arc not desirable for the development of pods since they induce vegetative growth of the plant at the cost of pod formation. Excellent crops of groundnut are often produced where well-distributed rainfall ranging from 20 inches to 23 inches is received during the season. It appears that these favourable conditions obtained in this district, as can be seen from the increase in the acreage under the crop during the last four years.

Method of Cultivation.

The preparatory tillage for groundnut consists of ploughing soils of medium to light textures, and harrowing the black ones and . bringing them to loose and finely pulverised condition. Generally, manuring is not done to this crop. Sowing of groundnut kernels is done with the commencement of monsoon (by the end of June or in the first week of July) by drilling the kernels through bamboo or sheet-tin tubes locally called moghas, which arc attached to the coulters of the drill, the seed rate being 60 lbs. to 80 lbs. of kernels per acre. Early sowing is always preferred. Two to three interculturings are done before peg formation. The last intercultiuing is done, rather deep, with a small blade hoe to loosen the soil which helps easy penetration of pegs and subsequent development of pods. The crop is ready for harvest by the middle of October. Harvesting of groundnut is done by uprooting plants from the ground and the pods are separated by hand or by beating the plants on wooden rod. The Spanish Peanut being an early type variety, is becoming more and more popular as the local one (Gaorani) takes six and a half months to mature. Spanish Peanut is under cultivation in this district on a large scale. In some parts, improved Spanish variety developed at the Agricultural Research Station, Dharwar, is also grown, though there is little variation on its cultivation practices.

Pests.

Mava, groundnut aphid, is an impotant pest of this crop. The aphid is a small, black, soft-bodied insect which is found on the back of groundnut leaves. It sucks the sap from the plant thus reducing vitality of the crop. Though its occurrence is of a sporadic nature, now-a-days it is assuming serious proportions in the district. It can be controlled, however, by treating the crop with nicotine sulphate spray, in the proportion of an ounce of 40 per cent nicotine sulphate and four ounces of soap in five gallons of water. About 50 to 60 gallons of spray arc required per acre. Second spraying may be given after a week, if aphids are noticed. The cost of insecticides and soap required for spraying comes to Rs. 10 per acre. Dusting the crop with 10 per cent Benzene Hexachloride (B. H. C.) powder at the rate of 15 lbs. per acre is also advantageous. The total cost of insecticides per dusting comes to Rs. 5 or Rs. 6 per acre.

Despite the hardy nature of the crop, it is vulnerable to attack of other insect pests, besides aphids, like pod bugs, surface grass hoppers and termites. It is estimated that about 15 per cent of the crop is damaged annually by these pests.

Diseases.

Tikka disease of groundnut: This disease usually appears when the crop is one or two months old. Lower leaves arc attacked first. The dark spots spread over the lamina of the leaves are also surrounded by a bright ring. On the green leaves, at the margin, irregular spots develop in large numbers. A few spots also occur on petioles and stem. Affected leaves shed and shedding becomes a striking feature of the disease. Pod formation is greatly retarded. Shady atmosphere and excessive moisture help the growth of disease. The intensity of this disease can be reduced by spraying the crop three times with Bordeaux mixture (in the proportion 5:5:50) during the life of the crop. First spraying is given about five to six weeks after planting. The second and the third sprayings follow at an interval of three to four weeks. Care should be taken to spray both sides of the foliage. Each spraying requires about 50 gallons of spray per acre. The total cost for three sprayings amounts to Rs. 20 or Rs. 22 per acre. The disease can also be controlled by dusting the crop nearly three times with 200-300 mesh fine sulphur. About 15—20 lbs. of sulphur dust is sufficient. Dusting should be done late in the evening or early in the morning and towards the windward side. The cost of three dustings per acre comes to Rs. 22.

Improvement of Groundnut.

Groundnut is not an indigenous crop. It is of Brazilian origin and was imported into India in the 16th century. The variety of groundnut cultivated in the 19th century in the Deccan districts was a spreading one, locally known as Gaorani. It takes about six and a half months to mature and requires two or three waterings after the close of the monsoon, as the rainfall received during the season amounts to 25" to 30". Being an irrigated variety it is heavily affected by the leaf-spot disease. The nuts of this variety are found very deep, i.e., six inches in the soil and hence have necessarily to be dug out. Its oil content is low.

Foreign varieties of groundnut were introduced in the State in the beginning of the 20th century. In Jalgaon district Spanish Peanut, Big Japan, Virginia and Small Japan were tried on the Government Farm, Dhulia (Dhulia district) under dry conditions in 1908 and 1909. The Spanish Peanut was found to be the best and became very popular with the cultivators in the district so much so that the acreage under this variety expanded rapidly and has almost replaced the original Gaorani variety due to the following reasons: (i) It matures early and, therefore, does not require irrigation; (ii) It is possible to take second crop in winter after the harvest of the early bunch variety; (iii) Tt can be harvested easily and with less cost; (iv) It possesses high oil content and is in great demand even in foreign countries; (v) The damage done by leaf-spot disease is comparatively less than that in the case of Gaorani variety; (vi) Being leguminous, groundnut crop has been found to be a good rotation crop for both cotton and jowar; (vii) Groundnut creepers serve as a good palatable fodder and the oil-cake as a good concentrate for cattle.

Crop improvement work is carried on at the Agricultural Research Station, Jalgaon, since 1945. From the varietal trials undertaken in the beginning, improved Spanish variety developed at the Agricultural Research Station, Dharwar, has been found to be superior to Spanish Peanut in pod yield and is, therefore, under cultivation in some parts. Further improvement work in groundnut crop which is being done at the Agricultural Research Station, Jalgaon, has given out the strain Faizpur 1-5. It is found to be superior in pod yield by 12 or 13 per cent and by 30 to 35 per cent to Spanish improved and Spanish Peanut varieties, respectively. Multiplication of this variety is, therefore, undertaken at the Agricultural Research Station, Jalgaon, for further distribution. Little success, however, seems to have been achieved in evolving strains resistant to groundnut disease and pests.

 Til.

Til (sesame) occupied five per cent of the area under oil-seeds in 1956-57; more than 50 per cent of this area was, however, concentrated in the western talukas of Amalner, Chopda and Erandol where it is usually taken as a single entire crop, while at other places it is either mixed or bordered with cotton or groundnut. Til is taken as a rain-fed crop and is sown in June-July. It can be grown on a variety of soils. The field is prepared by repeated ploughings followed by working the blade harrow so as to create a perfect state of tilth and, at tbe same time, a tolerably firm seed-bed. As the seeds are small, they are mixed with ash, sand or manure before sowing so that even distribution can be secured. The seed is drilled at the rate of about a pound per acre. The crop is thinned out and bullock-hoed twice and is also hand-weeded. When the leaves become yellow, the crop is said to be ripe. It matures in three and a half to four and a half months. When ripe, tbe plants are cut two or three inches above the ground, collected in bundles and allowed to dry. The seed capsules split open and the seeds are extracted by beating the plants against the ground. The average yield of til when grown alone approximates 300 lbs. to 400 lbs. per acre.

Oil is extracted from the seed. It has a light yellow colour, a mild agreeable taste and scarcely discernible smell. It is used for burning the lamp and gives a clear light as compared to any other vegetable oil. However, it burns rapidly. It is also used in cookery. It keeps for years without becoming rancid. The cake left after the extraction of oil is a good concentrate for cattle. Til oil is eaten raw or used in the manufacture of sweetmeats or for adulterating ghee. It is also used in anointing the body cither in crude or scented state.

Other oil-seeds.

Among other edible oil-seeds grown in the district are mustard (mohri) and safllower (karadi), taken on a negligible scale. Karadi is taken as a rabi crop in black cotton soils. Usually, it is sown as a border crop in October-November. The soil preparations in its case are the same as required by the crops with which it is taken. The crop is ready for harvest in March-April. The whole plants are pulled out and are stacked for a few days for drying, after which the seeds are threshed by heating with sticks. Mustard is taken as a rabi crop often mixed with wheat. The leaves and green pods are eaten as vegetable.

Among iron-edible oil-seeds, linseed (javas) is taken as a rabi crop. Sowing is done in September-October and the crop is ready by February. The plants utilise the moisture stored in the soil, when grown on deep black soil. On lighter soils moderate irrigation is required. Linseed is grown either as a sole crop of the year or is preceded by rain crops of the black soil such as mug, early groundnut, etc., which are harvested by the end of August and the field is left free for preparation. By repeated harrowings with a blade harrow and by one or two ploughings, a clean, friable, thoroughly pulverised seed-bed is got ready by the end of September. Seeds are sown with seed drills, deposited deep and covered lightly by a harrow. They are sometimes mixed with ash and powdered cattle-dung manure to make the sowing even and thin. The crop ripens and is ready for harvest by February. As the seeds have a tendency to shed easily, the plants are uprooted when the capsules are just ripe and begin to open. Harvesting is clone both by pulling out the plants and by cutting them at the base. The plants are stacked on threshing floor for drying when most of the capsules open. They are then spread out and beaten with sticks to thresh out the seeds completely.

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