Soil & land preparation :-
Soils
Generally these crops thrive best in medium or heavy loam soils, except taramira which is raised on lighter soils. Very light soils usually cause a severe moisture stress resulting in a poor crop growth. Rape is tolerant to salinity and can be grown as first crop in reclaimed lands. Soils with an electrical conductivity (EC) of >4 dS/m and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) > 15% are not suitable. Soils with pH <5.0 and >9.0 are not suitable for these crops. Soils having pH 6.0-7.5 is ideal for their proper growth and development.
Land preparation
These crops require a fine, firm, moist seed-bed so that adequate moisture is assured for germinating seeds and young seedlings. To achieve this, field should be given one pre-sowing irrigation (palewa). The field should be given a deep ploughing soon after the kharif crop in the middle of September. Thereafter, it may be ploughed 3-4 times with country plough followed by planking after each ploughing. Weeds and stubbles should be removed from the field.
Generally these crops thrive best in medium or heavy loam soils, except taramira which is raised on lighter soils. Very light soils usually cause a severe moisture stress resulting in a poor crop growth. Rape is tolerant to salinity and can be grown as first crop in reclaimed lands. Soils with an electrical conductivity (EC) of >4 dS/m and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) > 15% are not suitable. Soils with pH <5.0 and >9.0 are not suitable for these crops. Soils having pH 6.0-7.5 is ideal for their proper growth and development.
Land preparation
These crops require a fine, firm, moist seed-bed so that adequate moisture is assured for germinating seeds and young seedlings. To achieve this, field should be given one pre-sowing irrigation (palewa). The field should be given a deep ploughing soon after the kharif crop in the middle of September. Thereafter, it may be ploughed 3-4 times with country plough followed by planking after each ploughing. Weeds and stubbles should be removed from the field.