GUAR (CLUSTER BEANS)

Guar, it is an important legume crop. It is cultivated for fodder as well as for grain purpose. Also it is 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 in oil extraction industry, 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.

Pusa Sadabahar: It is suitable for growing both in kharif and Rabi season. Legumes bear in bunches (5-6 legumes) which is light green in color. The variety matures in 80-85 days and it gives an average yield of 20-22qtl/acre.

Pusa Mausami: It is suitable for growing only in Kharif season. Legumes bear in bunches (6-7 legumes). Legumes are big in size and deep in color. The variety matures in 80-85 days and it gives an average yield of 20-22qtl/acre.

Pusa Navbahar: It is grown only in kharif season. Legumes are big in size. It has single stem. The variety matures in 80-85 days and it gives an average yield of 24-26qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

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
Complete sowing from mid-July to mid-August.

Spacing
For sowing use row to row distance of 45cm. And plant to plant distance of 15-20cm. For fodder purpose, use closer spacing of 30x12cm. 

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

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

Seed Rate
For grain purpose, use seed rate of 18-20kg/acre and for fodder and green manure purpose, use seed rate of 16kg/acre.

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

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply Urea@6 kg/acre, Phosphorus@20-25 kg/acre before sowing. To increase fodder as well as grain yield, take spray of sodium molybdate@1.5 gram per Litre of water.

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

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/150Ltr of water per acre.

• 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.