J2: High density relay jute within mature okra for weed smothering & economic jute farming, India

Dr.A.K. Ghorai. Ex. Principal Scientist, Agronomy, ICAR- Central Research Institute for Jute an Allied Fibres, Barrackpore , Kolkata, WB, India.
Framer: Sanjay Sarkar, Swarup Nagar, Nort 24 PGS, WB
Relay jute in maturing okra was tested successfully at ICAR-CRIJAF (2011-13) and at Goaldaha, Swarupnagar, North 24 PGS ( Mr. Dinesh Mondal). At ICAR-CRIJAF, twenty days, old cold resistant okra seedlings developed on jute micro packets (cv. Shakti, Nunhem company) was transplanted immediately after kharif rice harvest on 3rd week on November at 60 cm X 30 cm spacing. Two rows of jute were line sown in between okra rows (2:1) in late March. Okra matured in April end, and relay jute crop came up successfully due to its apical dominance. The jute fibre equivalent of the system was 57 q/ha. Agronomic managements were done as per requirements.
In farmers' field, sole hybrid okra seeds were broadcast sown in winter months (January) immediately after rice harvest and planked well. High density (seed rate 7 kg per ha, seed viability more than 90 percent) relay jute is being broadcasted in standing (near maturing) okra near 2nd to 3rd April and post sowing irrigation is applied with required fertiliser doses (basal 15 kg 10:26:26:: N:P:K in 10 katta, 666.5 m2 land).Two doses of nitrogen 10 kg urea each at 15 and 25 days after sowing were top dressed with irrigation. No weeding and thinning were done, and weed is controlled by smothering by high density jute canopy. At ICAR-CRIJAF, the fertiliser dose for high density jute was was standardized (N:P:K::20:80:80) as basal dose with two nitrogen top dressing (30 kg N/ha) at 7&21 DAS with irrigation . One fungicide (Tebuconazole 1.5 ml/l) is applied at 15 DAS to control fungal attack.It smothered all categories of weeds and produced fibre yiel upto 38 q/ha ( Ghorai et al, 2022). In farmers' field sole okra yield ( seed rate 37 kg/ha, high density sowing cv. PAN 2155) went up to 187 q/ha and jute yield in relay system is expected above 35 q/ha.Okra plants may or may not be cleared as its height is very short.The okra yield in ICAR-CRIJAF was only 70 q/ha due to very large spacing but its price was very high near Rs.100 per kilogarm. It is a very profitable cropping system for jute farmers.
References:
1.A.K. Ghorai, Mukesh Kumar, and C.S. Kar (2016).Intercropping in jute with greengram for weed smothering.Ind.J. weed sci.48(3): 343-344
2.Asesh Kumar Ghorai (2023). Agricultural weeder with nail assembly
for weed control, soil moisture conservation, soil aeration and increasing crop productivity.Current science, 124 (5):635-640
3.A.K. Ghorai and Suman Roy (2022).Weed smothering in jute (corchorus olitorius l.) by its high density broadcast sowing.Journal of Krishi Vigyan:10 (2) : 329-335