GUAR (CLUSTER BEANS)

Guar is annual, new emerging profitable crops of rainfed areas. It is drought tolerant crop and also thrives in semi arid regions. In India, it is used for vegetable purpose also used as cattle feed and as green manure crop. Guar gum is extracted from guar beans (endosperm of seed) has several industrial uses. It is used to make gum powder which is used in Oil extraction industry, food processing and preservation, printing, textile and paper industry. India is leading producer of guar in a world followed by Pakistan. India is leading exporter of guar seeds and guar. In India, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, TamilNadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are major Guar growing states. Churu, Nagaur, Sikar, Jodhpur, Ganganagar, Sirohi, Dausa, Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Jhunjhunu districts are major guar growing areas of Rajasthan.

It can grow in wide variety of soil but gives best result when grown in well drained sandy loam soils. For optimum growth, it required pH in the range of 7 to 8.

For guar sowing, firm, uniform bed is required. Plough the land thoroughly for two to three times and bring to fine tilth. After then do harrowing and planking to make land levelled. And then make ridges and furrows for guar sowing. Avoid salty and waterlogged soils for sowing.

Time of sowing
In Rajasthan, optimum time for guar sowing, is First week of June to first fortnight of July. 

Spacing
Use plant spacing of 45-60cm X 20-30cm. 

Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 2-3cm on ridges.

Method of sowing
In some areas, broadcasting method is used for sowing and in some area drill method is used.

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 12kg-18kg for sowing one acre land. When it is grown for grain/pod purpose, seed rate of 8kg is optimum where as higher seed rate is required for fodder purpose.    

Seed Treatment
Before sowing, seed treatment is necessary to protect seeds from soil borne pest and disease. Dip seeds in hot water@ 56°C for 10 minutes then dried seeds at room temperature. Treat seeds with Thiram@3gm/kg of seeds it will protect seeds from fungus. Then dry seeds in shades. After chemical treatment, inoculate seeds with bacterial culture. For that, make 10% sugar/gur solution in boiling water. After cooling of this solution, add 3-4 packets of bacterial culture and make thin paste and Inoculate seeds with this. Then dried seeds in shade and then immediately used for sowing.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of last ploughing, add well decomposed cow dung@4-4.8tonnes/acre in soil. At the time of sowing, add Nitrogen@8kg in form of Urea@18kg/acre along with Phosphorus@24kg in form of Single Super Phosphate@150kg/acre and Potash@8kg in form of MOP@14kg/acre.
To increased yield along with good growth of crop, 30days after sowing take spray of Sodium Molybdate@15gm/10Ltr of water.

Keep field weed free during initial growth of crop by doing hoeing and weeding. Along with weed control these operations help in increasing soil aeration. To control weeds, do pre-plant application of Basalin@800 ml/acre.

As it is a rainfed crop, it does not required irrigation. But if needed provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity. For summer season crop, depending upon soil moisture, apply water at interval of 10-15 days. 

• Pest and their control:
  

Hairy Caterpillar: They attacked in masses and defoliating crop, thus reducing the yield. Larvae are reddish brown with black band and reddish hairs on all over body.

Set up 3-4 light traps immediately after receipts of rains. Collect and destroy egg masses in the cropped area. To control grown up caterpillar, spray with 200ml of Dichlorvos 100EC/150Ltr water/acre.

Leaf Spot: It is observed mostly in rainy season. On young leaves the spots are yellowish green, on older leaves they are dark and water soaked. Severely affected leaves become chlorotic and defoliation occurs.
To control various leaf spot and yellowing diseases, take spray of Dithane Z-78@2gm/Ltr of water. Repeat the spray with interval of 15 days.

Jassid: Nymphs and adults of jassids suck sap from underside leaves and causes curling of leaves.
When 50% of plants upper canopy show yellowing and curling of leaves take spray of Imidacloprid 17.8 SL@40-50ml or Thiamethoxam@40gram or Acetamiprid@80gm/acre/150litres of water.

Pod borer: They bore flowers and pods, if left uncontrolled causes 10-90% losses, .
If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Carbaryl@900gm/100Ltr of water per acre.

• Disease and their control:

Wilt: The roots turn black and later rot away. Plant growth is stunted and discolored, foliage turn yellow and downward curling of leaflets take place. The entire plants get wilted.
Treat seeds with Thiram@3gm/Ltr water or Carbendazim@2gm/Ltr water before sowing. Drench the infected area with Carbendazim@5gm/Ltr water.

Powdery Mildew: Patchy, white powdery growth appears on lower side of leaves, branches and pods. It parasitizes the plant using it as a food source. Infestation can occur at any stage of development. In severe infestation it causes defoliation.
If infestation is observed, take spray of Karathane 40EC@80ml in 100Ltr water per acre. Take three sprays of Karathane with interval of 10days or spray crop with water soluble Sulphur@ 20gm/10Ltr of water 2-3times with interval of 10days.

Anthracnose: It is more severe in high rainfall areas. Small, reddish or light coloured diseased spots are observed on plant leaves also on stem and pods. Wounds are form on stem and thus weaken plant.
Before sowing, treat seeds with Captan or Carbendazim@@3-4gm/kg of seeds. Avoid water logging in field. If infection observed, remove affected plant and destroyed them away from field and take spray with Dithane M-45@400gm/150Ltr of water for one acre.

Blight: Dark brown spot with dot like bodies developed on stem, branches, leaflet and pods. In severe infestation, withering of stem and pod is observed.
For cultivation use resistant varieties. On incidence of disease spray with Indofil M-45@400gm/100Ltr of water per acre. If necessary repeat the spray at interval of 15 days.

When cultivated for fodder purpose, harvesting is to be done when crop is at flowering stage. For green manure purpose, buried crop in field when it is at pod development stage. Depending upon variety used, harvesting for green pods is started from 60-90 days after sowing. Carry out remaining harvesting at interval of 10-12 days. For grain purpose, carry out harvesting once pods gets mature. Cut crop with help of sickle then harvested plants are left in field for a few days for proper sun drying. Afterwards carryout threshing operation.

From guar seeds guar gum is extracted. Seeds are first dehusked, then milled and screened to obtain guar gum. For manufacturing edible and industrial grade guar gum, Thermo mechanical process is used.