29 Aug Cultivation technology of Castor (Ricinus communis L.)
अरंड की खेती कैसे करें Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is generally grown for seeds. Castor seed oil is being used widely for various purposes. It is used as a lubricant in high-speed engines and aeroplanes, in the manufacture of soaps, transparent paper, printing-inks, varnishes, linoleum and plasticizers. It is also used for medicinal and lighting purposes. The cake is used as a manure and plant stalks as fuel or as thatching material or for preparing paper-pulp. In the silk-producing areas, leaves are fed to the silkworms. How to grow Castor Land prepration for castor cultivation: The land is repeatedly ploughed in summer, as and when the rains are received, and with the onset of monsoon rains the clods are crushed by working a country plough or harrow to bring the soil into proper tilth. Sowing of castor: Before sowing, castor seed should be treated with Thiram 3 g/kg of seed to prevent the attack of root-rot and Alternaria blight. The spacing adopted generally ranges from 90-120 cm between rows and 45-60 cm between plants in the row. The seed is sown either in the plough furrow or with a seed-drill or by hand-dibbling. The seed-rate used for sowing behind the plough is 12 kg per hectare. For hand-dibbling, 8 to 10 kg of seed will be sufficient per hectare. One or two weedings and hoeings with bullock-drawn implements...