Agricultural technology for growing jowar seeds
Jowar is an annual herbaceous plant that belongs to the grass family. Sorghum is a valuable crop that is used as food in the form of cereals, as well as for animal feed.
Jowar can be grown in a variety of climates, but grows best in warm climates.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a sorghum variety, the following factors must be considered:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger grains are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller grains.
- Maturing period. Jowar can be early ripening, mid ripening and late ripening. Early-ripening sorghum varieties are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a sorghum variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Jowar is an unpretentious crop, but it prefers fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Sorghum seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Jowar is a moisture-loving crop, so it needs to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Jowar is ready for harvest when the grains are fully ripe and have acquired their characteristic color. Early-ripening jowar varieties are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, and late-ripening in September.
Sorghum grains are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store grains in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing jowar
- To obtain an earlier harvest, jowar be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of jowar, it can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect jowar from pests and diseases, it can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing sorghum, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.
Jowar can be grown in a variety of climates, but grows best in warm climates.
1. Variety selection
When choosing a sorghum variety, the following factors must be considered:
- Purpose of cultivation. For food consumption, varieties with larger grains are selected, and for animal feed - with smaller grains.
- Maturing period. Jowar can be early ripening, mid ripening and late ripening. Early-ripening sorghum varieties are ready for harvesting 60-70 days after sowing, mid-ripening - after 70-80 days, late-ripening - after 80-90 days.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. When choosing a sorghum variety, preference should be given to varieties that are resistant to the most common diseases and pests.
2. Soil preparation
Jowar is an unpretentious crop, but it prefers fertile, loose and neutral soils. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, humus) are applied at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 m². In spring, the soil is leveled and furrows 2-3 cm deep are made.
3. Sowing seeds
Sorghum seeds are sown in spring, when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm reaches +10-12 °C.
2-3 seeds are sown in each furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. After germination, one of the strongest plants is left.
4. Plant care
Jowar is a moisture-loving crop, so it needs to be watered regularly. Water the plants 2-3 times a week, using 10-15 liters of water per 1 m².
During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
The following fertilizers are used for fertilizing:
- Nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea) - promote the growth of leaves and stems.
- Phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, double superphosphate) - promote the development of the root system and flowering.
- Potassium fertilizers (potassium chloride, potassium magnesium) - promote fruit development.
Weeding is carried out to control weeds. To protect plants from pests and diseases, plants are sprayed with special preparations.
5. Harvest
Jowar is ready for harvest when the grains are fully ripe and have acquired their characteristic color. Early-ripening jowar varieties are harvested in July, mid-ripening in August, and late-ripening in September.
Sorghum grains are cut with scissors or a sickle. Store grains in a cool, dry place.
Some tips for growing jowar
- To obtain an earlier harvest, jowar be grown as seedlings. Seeds are sown in pots or boxes in late April - early May. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May - early June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- To increase the yield of jowar, it can be grown on a compost heap. The compost heap warms up faster than the soil, so seeds can be sown as early as early May.
- To protect jowar from pests and diseases, it can be planted next to marigolds, calendula or nasturtium. These plants repel insect pests.
If you follow the agricultural techniques for growing sorghum, you can get a good harvest of this valuable crop.