PACKAGE OF PRACTICES

RECOMMENDATIONS :
CROPS 2016

15th edition

Chief Editor
S. ESTELITTA
Editors
BINOO P. BONNY, S. HELEN,
A. SUMA

DIRECTORATE OF EXTENSION
KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
THRISSUR – 680 651, KERALA, INDIA
English
Package of Practices Recommendations : Crops 2016
First published 1973
Second edition 1974
Third edition 1975
Fourth edition 1976
Fifth edition 1978
Sixth edition 1981
Seventh edition 1983
Eighth edition 1986
Ninth edition 1989
Tenth edition 1993
Eleventh edition 1996
Twelfth edition 2002
Twelfth edition (Reprint) 2003
Thirteenth edition 2007
Thirteenth edition (Reprint) 2008
Fourteenth edition 2011
Fifteenth edition 2016
Fifteenth edition (Reprint) 2017
November 2017
Copies: 1000
January 2018
Copies: 1000

Price: 300/-
Technical guidance
Dr. P. V. Balachandran
Dr. P. B. Pushpalatha
Former Directors of Extension
Published by :
Dr. Jiju P. Alex
Director of Extension
Kerala Agricultural University
Mannuthy, Thrissur – 680 651, India
© Kerala Agricultural University 2016
All Rights Reserved
Cover :
Sri. M. A. Vasudevan
Type set :
Smt. C. B. Deepa
Printed at :
KAU Press, Mannuthy – 680 651
Citation :
Kerala Agricultural University 2016. Package of Practices Recommendations : Crops
15th edition. Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur - 392 p.
Internet edition : [Link]
KAUP 262/1000/01/2019
 FOREWORD
The Package of Practices: Crops (PoP), published by the
Kerala Agricultural University is widely revered as the most
authentic guide of farmers, scientists, extension officers in line
departments, non-govermental organisations and all other
stakeholders in the field of Agriculture.

This new version of PoP sports not only a fresh look but has
also been substantially updated to cover the latest technologies
and developments. I hope the package of knowledge and
expertise reflected in this compendium will help to enhance the
productivity of our crops and aid to realise the goals of food
security, safety and nutritional security.

Bringing out this voluminous edition, the hallmark of which

is authenticity than popularity, needs great perseverance and
patience. I take this opportunity to congratulate one and all who
have toiled behind this attractive edition of PoP.

I dedicate this repository of valuable information and

recommendations to the farming community of Kerala.

30th June 2016 Prof. (Dr.) P. Rajendran

Vellanikkara Vice-Chancellor
 PREFACE

Technology intensive farming that ensure high productivity without

deteriorating the environment is the challenge of the day. Kerala Agricultural
University remains commited to this cause through technology generation and
transfer programmes. In these programmes sustainable food production that
ensure livelihood security of farmers and food safety of society remain the
prime concerns. These commitments are reiterated in the 15th edition of the
Package of Practices Recommendations : Crops 2016 also.
All efforts are made to maintain the long standing credentials of the
publication by including crops suitable for the diverse agro climatic regions of
Kerala. All technical aspects of farming that include high yielding varieties of
crops, use of bioinputs, small farm mechanization, waste management,
precision farming and introduction of under-exploited fruits, vegetables, tubers
and medicinal plants find a place in this. The generated technologies were
presented, deliberated and finalized in a series of workshops attended by
scientists, extension officers, farmers and input dealers.
I am honoured to publish this much appreciated reference document on
the agricultural technological developments of the State. I am sure it will serve
as a guide to the extension personnel and farming community in the
furtherance of agriculture in our state. My appreciation goes to all the
researchers, administrators, extension personnel, farmers and other staff
members who have contributed their expertise, time and energy to bring out
this valuable document. Special thanks are also due to the Directors of ICAR
institutes in Kerala, Chairpersons of all Commodity Boards who contributed in
making this publication worthy. Technical support of Dr. D. Ambikadevi
Professor, RARS, Kumarakom and Dr. Joy M. Associate Professor COA, Vellayani
also deserves special mention.
I wish this edition of the Package of Practices Recommendations: Crops
2016 will be a driving force for the scientific transformation of Kerala’s farming
sector.

30th June 2016 Dr. S. Estelitta

Mannuthy Director of Extension
 INTRODUCTION

It is with immense pleasure that I look forward to the release of the

Package of Practices Recommendation : Crops 2016. This is the culmination
of painstaking efforts of research leading to standardization of agro
techniques, proven management of pests and diseases with emphasis on
‘safe to eat food’. These technolgies emanating from actual field experiments,
committed efforts of several scientists, vetting at various levels, interaction
and presentation before eminent scientists of SAU and ICAR, officers of
department of agriculture /development department and commodity boards
had reached its final approval at the POP workshop.
This release of the POP recommendation is the final lap of a relay of
various activities so that this reliable guide for all persons engaged in
agriculture finds meaning and relevance. Besides serving as a ready reckoner
for farmers, field officers and students, this POP is presented in the most
simple understandable form that it is totally farmer centric and the same
can be understood by anyone.
I will be failing in my duties if I do not place on record the tremendous
service rendered by our scientists who have contributed to this final
outcome. My colleagues in the Directorate of Research, Dr. Jim Thomas,
Dr. V. S. Devadas, Dr. Pathummal Beevi and Dr. Sally K. Mathew of the College
of Horticulture have put in strenuous efforts and need to be acknowledged.
Total coverage of all cultivation aspects and problems of crops grown
in the state have been our focus. I hope this objective has been served. But
agriculture being so dynamic can never be complete and the Directorate of
Research welcomes all constructive criticism in the best interest of all
stakeholders and farmers in particular.

30th June 2016 Dr. Sajan Kurien

Vellanikkara Director of Research
 CONTENTS
Page Page
Cereals and Millets Vegetables
Rice .. 1 Amaranth .. 183
Maize .. 42 Okra .. 184
Sorghum .. 42 Cucurbitaceous vegetables
Ragi .. 43
Bitter gourd .. 186
Pulses Snake gourd .. 187
Black gram .. 44 Cucumber and oriental pickling melon .. 188
Cowpea .. 44 Water melon .. 189
French bean .. 48 Bottle gourd .. 190
Green gram .. 49 Pumpkin .. 190
Green pea .. 49 Ash gourd .. 191
Horse gram .. 50 Solanaceous vegetables
Red gram .. 50
Soybean .. 51 Brinjal .. 192
Chilli .. 193
Tubers Tomato .. 194
Elephant Foot Yam .. 53 Vegetable cowpea .. 195
Xanthosoma .. 54 Cool season vegetables
Colocasia .. 56 Cabbage .. 196
Greater yam .. 57
Cauliflower .. 196
Lesser yam .. 58
Carrot .. 197
White yam .. 59
Beet root .. 198
Sweet potato .. 59
Tapioca .. 62 Radish .. 198
Potato .. 199
Coleus .. 67
Onion .. 199
Commercial crops Garlic .. 200
Cashew .. 68 Minor vegetables .. 201
Cotton .. 80 Tips for vegetable seed production .. 203
Rubber .. 81 Guidelines for Homestead cultivation of
Sugarcane .. 93 Vegetables in Rain shelters .. 207
Oil seeds Fruits
Coconut .. 96 Banana .. 208
Groundnut .. 112 Guava .. 215
Oilpalm .. 113 Indian gooseberry .. 216
Sesame .. 116 Jack .. 216
Spices and Condiments Mandarin orange .. 218
Cardamom .. 118 Mango .. 219
Cinnamon .. 124 Papaya .. 221
Clove .. 126 Pineapple .. 223
Vanilla .. 129 Sapota .. 227
Ginger .. 130 West Indian Cherry .. 227
Mango-ginger .. 133 Apple .. 228
Nutmeg .. 134 Ornamental plants
Black Pepper .. 136 Anthurium .. 230
Turmeric .. 146 Orchids .. 231
Camboge .. 148 Jasmine .. 233
Tamarind .. 151 Gladiolus .. 234
Beverages and Stimulants Tuberose .. 235
Arecanut .. 152 Crossandra .. 236
Betel vine .. 156 Marigold .. 237
Cocoa .. 158 China aster .. 238
Coffee .. 167 Medicinal and Aromatic plants
Tea .. 176 Eucalyptus .. 239
Tobacco .. 181 Kacholam .. 239
 Page Page
Lemongrass .. 241 Kampakam .. 288
Palmarosa .. 242 Irul .. 289
Vetiver .. 243 Mahagony .. 290
Chethikoduveli .. 244
Neela amari .. 244 Thembavu .. 291
Chengazhinirkizhangu .. 245 Venga .. 292
Kasthurimanjal .. 246 Chadachi .. 293
Chittaratha .. 247 Punna .. 293
Nilappana .. 249 Agroforestry systems .. 294
Jeevakom .. 250 Others
Adapathiyan .. 251
Asoka .. 252 Agro ecological zones of Kerala .. 295
Kanjiram .. 253 Composting : Vermicompost and coirpith compost .. 308
Thippali .. 254 Biofertilizers .. 311
Neem .. 255 Guidelines for maximizing fertilizer-use efficiency .. 315
Pathimugham .. 255 Beekeeping .. 318
Chittadalotakam .. 256 Sericulture .. 324
Koovalam .. 256
Rodents and their control .. 327
Thulasi .. 257
Karinochi .. 257 Control of Loranthus .. 331
Kattarvazha .. 257 Biocontrol of Salvinia .. 331
Arrow root .. 258 Biocontrol of papaya mealy bug using
Danthappala .. 258 parasitoid .. 332
Brahmi .. 258 Ecofriendly management of water hyacinth
Kurumthotti .. 259 in water bodies .. 332
Medicinal plants as intercrops
Biocontrol agents against plant pathogens .. 333
in Homesteads .. 259
Soil solarisation .. 334
Fodder crops
Mushroom cultivation .. 336
Guinea grass .. 260
Gamba grass .. 261 Tissue culture propagation of crops .. 339
Setaria grass .. 261 Improving the Keeping quality of fruits and
Hybrid napier .. 263 vegetables .. 340
Para grass .. 264 Low cost technology for irrigation and
Congosignal grass .. 265 protected cultivation .. 341
Subabul .. 266 Farm machinery suitable for Kerala .. 343
Hedge lucerne .. 267
Agathi .. 267 Appendices
Shevri .. 268 1. Agroclimatic classification of Kerala .. 350
Fodder cowpea .. 268 2. Average nutrient content of common
Stylo .. 269 manures and fertilizers .. 352
Fodder maize .. 271 3. Neutralising value of liming materials .. 352
Fodder sorghum .. 272
4. Conversion of nutrients (kg ha-1) to
Green manure crops co