Guar, an important legume crop. It is cultivated for fodder as well as for grain purpose, also used as vegetable and green manure crop.  It is drought tolerant crop and thrives in semi arid regions. Gaur gum is extracted from gaur 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.

In India, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are major guar producing states.

In Maharashtra, near about 8950hectare area is under guar cultivation.
 

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

Pusa Sadabahar: Suitable for kharif as well as for summer season. Ready to harvest in 45 to 55days after sowing.

Pusa Nav Bahar: Cultivated for vegetable purpose. Gives average yield of 16-20qtl/acre.

Pusa Mousami: Suitable for kharif season. Ready to harvest in 75 to 80days.

Sharad Bahar: Suitable for kharif season.  

Durga Bahar: Cultivated for vegetable purpose. Gives average yield of 20-25qtl/acre.

Surati Gawar: Suitable for summer season sowing.

Deshi Gawar: Pods are short. This variety is popular in rural areas.

Other State varieties:

HFG-119: Ready to harvest in 130-135days.Gives average green fodder yield of 10-12ton/acre.

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 110-120qtl/acre. 

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

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

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

For guar 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
Guar is cultivated in Kharif as well as summer season. For kharif season, June – July is optimum time for sowing where as for summer season carry out sowing in January - February month.
 
Spacing
Depending upon soil type and variety, spacing should be kept. Use row to row spacing of 45-60cm and plant to plant spacing of 20-30cm.
For fodder purpose, use closer spacing of 30x12cm.
 
Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 2-3cm.

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

Seed Rate
For grain and vegetable purpose, use seed rate of 6-10kg/acre.
For fodder and green manure purpose, use seed rate of 16-18kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing, seed treatment is necessary. It will protect seeds from soil borne pest and disease. Dip seeds in hot water@ 56oC for 10minutes then dried seeds at room temperature. Treat seeds with Carbendazim@1gm or Thiram@3gm/kg of seeds it will protect seeds from fungus. Then dry seeds in shades. 
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply Nitrogen@20kg in form of Urea@45kg, Phosphorus@24kg in form of SSP@125kg/acre and Potash@24kg/acre in form of MOP@40kg/acre at time of sowing.

Apply fertilizer 4-5cm below the seed.
 

At time of field preparation, apply fluchloralin @ 0.4kg/250Ltr of water.
 
Keep field weed free during initial growth of crop by doing hoeing and weeding. To control weed chemically within 24hours of sowing take spray of Pendimethalin@750ml/200Ltr of water per acre. 

Take first weeding, 20-25days after sowing and second hand weeding 40-45days after sowing.
 

In rainfed areas, crop did not required irrigation. But if needed provide irrigation deepening upon rainfall intensity. Take care water should not stagnate in field. Provide proper drainage. Generally, guar crop required four to five irrigations.

• 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 help of sickle then harvested plants are left in field for a few days for proper sun drying. Afterwards carryout threshing operation.