The Gazetteers Department

Groundnut (bhuimug), is grown throughout the district. it is the most important oil-seed crop in the State. It is taken both as a dry and as an irrigated crop. It occupied an area of 1,42,400 acres. it is sown in medium-black and deep soil, in June-July. The seed rate per acre is 50-55 lbs. and the distance between the rows is about 12 inches. The crop is given five cart-loads of farm yard manure per acre. It is a good rotational crop for jowar. Usually, it takes about six months to ripen. But there are early varieties which take about 90-100 days. If it is taken as an irrigated crop, two crops may be raised in a year. Irrigated groundnut is rotated with rice.

Both early and late varieties are taken in the district. The early variety K-3, mainly used for extraction of oil, is sown in light soil and harvested in October. It yields 400-450 lbs. per acre. The local spreading variety and the early foreign variety (Japan) are harvested in November-December and yield 1,000-1,400 lbs. per acre. The leaves and branches of the plant form excellent fodder. The hay is very nutritious and is known to increase the milk yield of cattle. Tikka and rust arc the diseases affecting the crop, The latest improved variety K-4-11 has been introduced, since 1958-59. The dibbling method with sowing 12" to 18" apart both-ways increases the yield by 25-50 per cent. The expenditure averages Rs. 90-150, and the income Rs. 150-300, thereby leaving a net margin of Rs. 60-150 per acre. The crop constitutes one of the main oil-seeds exported from the country.

Safflower.

Safflower (kardai or kusumba) is the next important oil-seed grown in the district. It is sown in rabi season in black medium soil as a mixed crop with rabi jowar and dry wheat in every eighth row or on the border of the crops. Two varieties of safflower are grown in the State. One yields oil while the other yields a dye. In,1956-57, it occupied an area of 20,791 acres. The crop is sown in October-November. It becomes ripe in about four months and is harvested in March-April. The seed rate per acre is 12-15 lbs., in a mixed crop, and 35-40 lbs., in an individual crop. The yield of the crop per acre averages 200-250 lbs. and 500-550 lbs., respectively. The young tender leaves of safflower plants are eaten as a vegetable and oil is much esteemed in cooking. When sown as a border crop, it protects the main crop, because its spiny leaves do not allow stray cattle to enter the field.

Sesamum.

Sesamum (til) occupied an area of 787 acres in 1956-57. It is grown as a mixed crop, in medium-black soil with bajra and ground-nut. The seed rate is about two lbs. and the crop yields 100-125 lbs. per acre, It is sown in July and matures within three or four months. It is harvested in November.

Linseed.

Linseed (javas or alshi) is a minor oil-seed crop of die district. It is taken largely in Khatav taluka. It is grown as a rabi crop, with rabi jowar and wheat. The seed rate is 8-10 lbs. and the yield averages 300-400 lbs. per acre.

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