Seed Production of Vegetable, Tuber and Spice Crops

Method of seed production

Isolation distance

• Isolation distance of 50 metres for foundation and 25 metres for certified seed is essential.
Sowing

• Cluster bean can be sown twice in a year, February - March in Northern plains and December - January in Southern plains.
Seed rate

• In order to sow one hectare area about 30-40 kg seed of cluster bean is required.
Nutrition

• The yield of cluster bean has been maximum when the crop was applied with
• 40 kg nitrogen and 60 kg phosphorus per hectare. The application of micronutrient to cluster bean crop proves very beneficial. Two sprays of molybedenum at 0.15 per cent at 15 and 30 days after seedlings emergence give better yield.
Roguing

• The first roguing should be done before flowering, the second one during flowering and fruiting stage and the third roguing at maturity.
Field standards

Factors	Foundation	Certified
Off types	0.10%	0.20%
Designated Diseases	0.20%	0.20%
Harvesting

• When cluster bean pods attained full maturity (they turn grey in colour) the harvesting is done either by cutting entire plant at ground level or the plants are cut just below the first pod from ground level. Seed quality will be higher when seed crop is harvested after taking two pickings of fresh pods for vegetable use.
Seed extraction

• It is done by threshing followed by cleaning (winnowing).
Drying

• Cleaned seed is again allowed to dry in open sun on tarpaulin to 9.0 percent moisture.
Seed yield

• Under good crop management, about 10-12 quintals of seed yield is obtained per hectare.
Plant protection
Pests
Leaf hopper

• Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit or dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit.
Pod borer

• Carbaryl 50 WP 2 g/lit; or endosulfan 35 EC 2 ml/lit
Diseases
Leaf spot

• Spray Mancozeb 2 g/lit.
Powdery mildew

• Spray Wettable sulphur 2 g/lit or dust with Sulphur 25 kg/ha. Repeat it at 15 days interval.
Seed standards

Factors	Foundation	Certified
Pure seed (max.)	98%	98%
Inert matter (max.)	2%	2%
Other crop seed (max.)	None	None
Total weed seed (max.)	None	None
Other distinguishable varieties (max.)	5/kg	10/kg
Germination (max.)	75%	75%
Moisture (max.)	9%	9%
For vapour proof container (max.)	8%	8%