GUAR

Guar is an important legume crop. It is cultivated for fodder as well as for grain purpose. It is also used as vegetable and green manure crop.  It is drought tolerant crop and also thrives in semi arid regions. Guar gum is extracted from guar beans (endosperm of seed) has several industrial uses. It is used to make gum powder which is used for oil extraction in industries, food processing and preservation, printing, textile and paper industry.

It can be grown on all type of soils. It gives best result when grown on well drained sandy loam soils.

FH 277: Developed by CCSHAU, Hisar, suitable for all guar growing areas in India. Straight growing variety, can be sown with Jowar and Bajra. Gives average green fodder yield of 110-120 qtl/acre.

HFG 156: Tall and straight growing variety. Ready to harvest in 70 days. Resistant to bacterial blight. Gives more yield compared to HFG 119 i.e 130-140 qtl/acre.

Other States Varieties

HG 563: Early maturing variety suitable for all guar growing areas in India. Gives average yield of 7-8 qtl/acre.

RGC 936: Early maturing variety, suitable for all guar growing areas in India. Gives average yield of 8 qtl/acre.

For guara cultivation, firm and uniform beds are 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.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for sowing is mid of July.

Spacing
For sowing use row to row distance of 30 cm to 45 cm.

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

Method of sowing
For sowing use seed drill, Pora or kera method.

Seed Rate
For sowing use seed rate of 8 to 10 kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing, seed treatment is necessary. It will 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 Ceresan or Thiram@3gm/kg of seeds it will protect seeds from fungus. Then dry seeds in shades.

Fertilizer Requirement kg/acre

Nutrients Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply Nitrogen@9kg in form of Urea@20kg and Phosphorus@20kg in form of SSP@125kg/acre before sowing.

Keep field weed free during initial growth of crop by doing hoeing and weeding. To control weed chemically within 24 hours of sowing take spray of Pendimethalin@750ml/200Ltr of water per acre.

In rainfed areas, crop did not required irrigation. But if needed provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity.

• Insect Pest and their control

Jassid: If infestation is observed, take spray of Malathion 50EC@250-450ml/100Ltr of water for two - three times with interval of 15 days.

• Disease and Their control

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 or Captan @260gm/100Ltr of water per acre. If necessary repeat the spray at interval of 15 days.

When it is grown for fodder purpose, harvesting is to be done when crop is at flowering stage. Whereas 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. Picking for green pods is carried out at interval of 10-12 days. For grain purpose, carry out harvesting once pods gets mature. Cut crop with the 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.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare