Castor Production Research Articles

Trends in Area, Production and Productivity of Castor in Telangana

Aims: To analyse the trends in area, production and productivity of castor in Telangana and major erstwhile districts of Telangana. The main purpose of the study is to understand the growth rate of castor in a region of Telangana, as India is the largest exporter of castor oil, which has multiple industrial applications. Methodology: The secondary data of the area, production and productivity of castor from 2001-02 to 2022-23 were collected from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was used to analyse the time-series data of castor. CAGR was calculated for 3 periods -Period I (2001-02 to 2011-12), Period II (2012-13 to 2022-23), Overall Period (2001-23). Results: The results showed a decreasing trend in both castor area and production. But castor productivity observed a positive growth rate in Telangana and the major erstwhile castor-growing districts like Mahbubnagar and Medak. However, few districts like Rangareddy, Nalgonda, and Warangal showed negative trends in productivity during Period I. The study highlighted a decline in the castor area due to the incidence of diseases like Botrytis, shifting to other crops such as cotton and climate variability. Conclusion: The study indicated that the decline in the castor area is a major concern and this study will be useful in agricultural policy making to take appropriate actions to reverse the declining trends of castor cultivation in Telangana.

The effect of temperature, time, and methanol concentration on enhancing the yield of biodiesel production of castor and rapeseed seeds via the Transesterification process

The effect of temperature, time, and methanol concentration on enhancing the yield of biodiesel production of castor and rapeseed seeds via the Transesterification process

Performance of castor-based intercropping in semi-arid zone of Haryana

To enhance the productivity of castor per unit area and over time, a study was conducted during the kharif 2020-21 season at the Regional Research Station, CCS HAU, Bawal,. The study aimed to evaluate the compatibility, production potential, and optimal row proportions of component crops in intercropping systems involving castor. The field investigation was carried out to identify suitable intercrops for maximizing castor yield and analyse the economic viability of various treatments under two different row spacing for castor: 150 cm and 200 cm. The results indicated that the highest castor seed and stalk yield were achieved in sole castor (3,879 kg/ha and 5,656 kg/ha, respectively) with 200 cm row spacing, a similar performance was observed with a 150 cm row spacing. Further, intercropping of castor (150 cm) + mungbean (1:2) recorded higher seed yield (3,547 kg/ha) and stalk yield (5,248 kg/ha), highest castor equivalent yield (4,220 kg/ha) and land equivalent ratio (1.53) and resulted in higher economic returns with a benefit-cost ratio of 3.78.

Growth and Productivity of Castor as Influenced by Millet Based Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2022 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the influence of millet based intercropping systems on growth and productivity of castor under irrigated situation. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. The treatment consist of nine cropping systems viz., castor + foxtail millet (1:3), castor + proso millet (1:3), castor + little millet (1:3), castor + kodo millet (1:3), paired row castor + foxtail millet (2:4), paired row castor + proso millet (2:4), paired row castor + little millet (2:4), paired row castor + kodo millet (2:4), sole castor. Experimental results revealed that the different millet based cropping systems significantly influenced growth and productivity of castor. Sole castor was recorded the highest growth, yield parameters and seed yield (20.98 q/ha). Among the millet based intercropping systems, maximum values of growth parameters viz., plant height (170.20 cm), number of branches/plant (7.90), stem girth (8.70 cm) and dry matter production (29.83 q/ha) were recorded in the paired row castor + proso millet (2:4) and it was on par with paired row castor + foxtail millet (2:4). Similarly, yield and yield attributing characters viz., number of spike/plant (28.2), number of capsule/ spike (55.8), highest length of primary branch (40.1 cm) and seed yield (20.03 q/ha) was obtained in paired row castor + proso millet (2:4) and it was comparable paired row castor + foxtail millet (2:4). The economic study revealed that the higher net return and benefit cost ratio was obtained from paired row castor + foxtail millet (2:4) (₹. 74,842.00 and 2.30) and paired row castor + proso millet (2:4) ((₹. 72,702.00 and 2.26). From this study, it was concluded that proso millet and foxtail millet were indentified to be compatible intercrops with castor for improved productivity.

Doubling of farmers income through front line demonstrations of castor in Ananthapuramu district

The cluster frontline and frontline demonstrations were implemented in castor crop during kharif 2021-22 by AICRP on Castor, Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh to evaluate the performance of ICH-66 and package of practices on production and productivity of castor. Total of 100 demonstrations were executed during kharif, 2021 under rainfed conditions in Ananthapuramu district covering 26 villages and 14 mandals on Castor with different crop management modules of castor. In the Ananthapuramu district all most all mandals received the excess rainfall during the season. The results indicated that with improved practice there is a significant improvement in the seed yield, gross, net returns and B:C ratio compared with farmer’s practice.

Balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization enhances productivity, profitability and partial factor productivity in rainfed castor (Ricinus communis)

A field experiment was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka to study the effect of balanced crop nutrition with mid-season foliar fertilization on productivity, profitability, and partial factor productivity of rainfed castor (Ricinus communis L.) during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019–20. Significantly higher seed yield (1,604 kg/ha) was observed with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O and ZnSO4 through soil followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 days after sowing which gave 11.38 and 54.37% higher yield over 50, 50 and 25, i.e. 125% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and 40, 40 and 20 (100% RDF) kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O/ha respectively. Foliar application of 2% 19 : 19 : 19 enhanced partial factor productivity (PFP). Higher gross returns (`75,425/ha), net returns (`46,042/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (2.57) were also higher with 30, 30, 15 and 20 kg N, P2 O5 , K2 O, ZnSO4 /ha through soil, followed by foliar application of 2% water-soluble 19 : 19 : 19 at 40 DAS. Therefore, integration of soil and foliar application of plant nutrient looks to be feasible nutrient-management modules of castor in boosting the crop productivity. Further, this nutrient-management module was validated in 50 farmers’ fields with large plot study (0.4 ha) showed 92.26% hike in yield (746 kg/ha) over farmers’ practice (388 kg/ha).

Resource-use management of castor (Ricinus communis L.) growers in Andhra Pradesh

A study was conducted to assess the resource-use management (RUM) behaviour of castor growers in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh with 120 randomly selected castor growers through a pre-standardized scale. It was found that the respondents with large size of land holdings had medium to high level of RUM behaviour, while respondents with small and medium size of land holdings had low to medium level. Overall, there was low to medium level of RUM behaviour as exhibited by the castor growers. The respondents had low to medium level of management towards land, cropping system, seed, soil-moisture and nutrients, while medium to high level of management towards weeds, pests, diseases and irrigation. Seed, soil-moisture and nutrient were the primary indicators contributed towards both productivity and profitability of castor cultivation. Strategies for efficient management of these indicators are to be popularized through need-based extension efforts to improve the productivity and profitability of castor under rainfed conditions of Andhra Pradesh.

A site suitability analysis for castor (Ricinus communis L.) production during Brazil's second harvest incorporating disease prediction

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important industrial crop with a wide range of industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Brazil is among the largest castor-producing countries. Between 2004 and 2010, castor cultivation was stimulated with an emphasis towards biodiesel production. However, this was not enough to leverage the production of castor in Brazil, mainly due to the lack of structured trade and the competition with other cheaper raw materials for the production of biodiesel. Despite this failure, the species presents itself as an excellent alternative for crop rotation in the second crop among soybean, corn, beans, and cotton cultivation areas as the oil is highly valuable for other products. Moreover, it has drawn the attention of producers and researchers in Brazil for this potential rotation as it is considered a plant tolerant of water-deficiency and is highly susceptible to gray mold, a disease favored by high humidity in the final stages of the crop. For instance, its cultivation in the second crop in Cerrado regions, where rains occur in the early stages of the crop and cease when the plants reach the final stage of production, has been successful and shows great promise. The current study aimed to evaluate the suitability of environments throughout Brazil to grow castor, incorporating variables associated with the incidence of gray mold and confirm these findings based on existing castor trial data obtained from the literature. The site suitability analysis determined that 74.99 million hectares - 8.8% of Brazilian territory - are highly suitable for castor production during second harvest, mostly located in the Northeastern and Midwestern regions. These results are surprising since Brazil currently has around 7.8% (∼66.81 million hectares) of its territory occupied with agriculture (grains, fruits, vegetables, and perennial crops). The findings of this study provide a method to perform site suitability for crops using data associated with agronomic and disease characteristics, as is the case with gray mold that often results in significant losses in castor production. Also, this analysis provides evidence for the great potential of Brazil to increase castor production and meet the world demand for its oil through utilization of second-crop cultivation.

Effective management practices for enhancing castor (Ricinus communis) productivity in dryland agriculture

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2016, 2017 and 2018 at Centre for Natural Resources Management, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, to study the effect of land configurations and mulching on productivity and rainwater-use efficiency of castor (Ricinus communis L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 4 replications in loamy sand soil, having goodinfiltration capacity. The treatment comprised, viz. control (conventional method), raised-bed method, ridge and furrow method, ditch method, conventional method with castor-shell mulch, conventional method with plastic mulch, raised-bed with castor-shell mulch, raised bed with plastic mulch, ridge and furrow method with castor-shell mulch, ridge and furrow method with plastic mulch, ditch method with castor-shell mulch, ditch method with plastic mulch. The results of pooled data of 3 years showed that, the conventional method with plastic mulch resulted in higher seed yield (1,943 kg/ha), followed by ridge and furrow method with castor-shell mulch and conventional method with castor-shell mulch. However, the higher rainwater-use efficiency (3.57 kg/ha-mm of water) was observed in the treatment of raised bed with plastic mulch. The magnitude of increase in seed yield in conventional method with castor-shell mulch over the control was 56.74% on pooled basis. Thus, use of castor-shell mulch or crop-residue as low-priced input in dryland farming may be encouraged for enhanced in-situ moisture conservation, castor-grain yield and rainwater-use efficiency.

Inter cropping on growth, productivity and economics of kharif castor in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Inter cropping on growth, productivity and economics of kharif castor in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Castor Farmers in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate the technical efficiency and production practices of castor farmers in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. Snowballing sampling technique was used. Data on production practices, inputs, and outputs were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire by trained enumerators and analysed by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Results showed that the mean technical efficiency was 0.4272 or 42.72%, the maximum efficiency was 1 and the minimum efficiency was 0.1315. Only 14% had a frontier technical efficiency of 1. For the castor farmers to operate on the production frontier, the efficiency needs to be increased by 57.28%. Technically inefficient farms should emulate the operating practices of the most productive farms, to improve their performance. Furthermore, the slacks of the DEA showed that the two most overused variables were seed and labour. The farmers need to use the right quantity of seeds and labour in other to reduce costs without reducing the output. The production practices for castor production were divided into three steps; pre-planting, planting, and post-planting. The list of operations included; land clearing, ploughing, ridging planting, weeding with hoe/machete, herbicide spraying, pesticide spraying, fungicide spraying, fertilizer application, pruning, harvesting, shelling and winnowing. From the study, it can be concluded that if the castor farmers were to operate on the production frontier, the efficiency of input usage would have to increase by 57.28%.

COSTS AND RETURNS OF CASTOR CULTIVATION: CATEGORICAL ANALYSIS OF FARMERS IN GUJARAT

India ranks first in terms of castor area under cultivation, production and productivity and dominates the international castor oil trade, seed and its derivatives Amongst the states of India, Gujarat ranks first in area under castor cultivation and the castor production of India. The present paper attempts to analyse the cost and returns pertaining to castor cultivation in Gujarat with special focus on various categories of farmers to understand that how lucrative is castor cultivation especially across various categories/size of (marginal, small, medium, large) farmers in Gujarat. It has been observed that there is a statistically significant difference in cost of castor cultivation between / across the categories of (marginal, small, medium and large) farmers. The cost (C2) of castor cultivation was estimated to be highest for medium farmer followed by large farmer, marginal farmer and small farmer. It has been found that there is a statistically significant difference in returns from castor cultivation between / across the categories of (marginal, small, medium and large) farmers. The per hectare gross income as well as net income was determined to be highest for medium farmers, followed by marginal farmers, large farmers and small farmers. It was perceived that cost of castor cultivation and returns from castor cultivation differed with the category/size of farmers.

CASTOR CULTIVATION IN GUJARAT: ANALYSIS OF COSTS AND RETURNS

India ranks first in terms of castor area under cultivation, production and productivity. Amongst the states of India, Gujarat is the leading castor growing state that shares more than 62% of the area under castor cultivation and 78% of the total castor production of the country. The present paper attempts to analyse the cost of castor cultivation and returns from castor cultivation in Gujarat. A micro level survey has been undertaken in major castor growing (Banaskantha, Mahesana and Kutch) districts of Gujarat to determine the cost of cultivation and returns from cultivation of castor in Gujarat. It has been noticed that there is a statistically significant difference in cost of cultivation between / across the Banaskantha, Kutch and Mahesana districts. The Cost-C2 for cultivation of castor was estimated to be highest in Kutch followed by Mahesana and Banaskantha. It has been perceived that there is a statistically significant difference in returns from castor cultivation between / across the Banaskantha, Kutch and Mahesana districts. The per hectare gross income as well as net income was determined to be highest in Kutch, followed by Mahesana and Banaskantha. It revealed that cost of cultivation of castor and returns from castor cultivation differed with the zone of districts.

TECHNOLOGICAL GAP IN RECOMMENDED CASTOR PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. In India, oilseed crops constitute the second largest agriculture produce next to food grains. Castor is an important cash crop for farmer as well as for country too as it fetches valuable foreign exchange by export of seeds, oil and derivatives to all over the world. The present study was conducted in Patan District of Gujarat State. Among the nine talukas of Patan district, only Patan, Saraswati and Harij this three talukas of Patan district were selected purposively for the reason having highest area under castor cultivation as compared to other talukas of the district. The multi-stage sampling (three stage) technique was used for selection of talukas, villages and respondents. Ex-post facto research design was used for this study. The study was conducted to know the technological gap of castor growers of Patan district. Technological gap has been defined as the proportion of gap in the adoption of castor production technology and it is expressed in percentage. In the present study technological gap was operationalized on the division in adoption of castor production technology by the castor growers and expressed in percentage. revealed that the high technological gap was observed in plant protection measures 75.40 per cent followed by seed treatment 71.00 per cent, weed control 68.75 per cent, FYM 64.00 per cent, crop rotation 58.35 per cent, chemical fertilizer 51.77 per cent, sowing time 45.10 per cent, spacing 40.67 per cent, seed rate 36.00 per cent, recommended variety 30.33 per cent, harvesting 27.85 per cent, interculturing 21.90 per cent and irrigation schedule 16.00 per cent, which were ranked as first to thirteen, respectively.

Impact of Technological Change on Growth and Agricultural Sector in Gujarat State of India: A Time-Series Data Study

This study assessed the growth rate of commercial and food-grain crops due to technological change in Gujarat. Growth rate model was employed to examine the growth rate of area sown, production and yield of crops. Subsequently, impact of technological change, and other inputs on yield of individual crop was estimated using a Cobb-Douglas production function model. Time trend factor was used as a proxy variable to capture the impact of technological change, and other inputs (i.e., area sown, irrigated area, application of fertilizer, agricultural labors, rural literate population and annual actual rainfall) on yield of crops. Growth rate of cropped area, production and yield of cotton, sugarcane, castor, potato, rice, arhar, maize, gram and wheat crops were seemed positive in Gujarat. Yield of cotton, sugarcane, castor, rice, arhar, maize, bajra, gram, wheat, jowar ragi, potato, groundnut, sesamum, rapeseed&mustard and soyabeans crops was positively associated with time trend factors. Furthermore, the regression coefficient of time trend factor with yield of cotton, tobacco, potato, groundnut, sesamum, rapeseed & mustard, rice, arhar, maize, bajra, gram, wheat, jowar and ragi was reported positive and statistically significant. Hence, the estimates shows that yield of aforesaid crops were improved due to application of technological change in agricultural sector in Gujarat. Several practical policy suggestions are given to increase the use of technology in agricultural sector to improve the growth of major food-grain and commercial crops.

Knowledge level of castor growing respondents of Sirohi district of Rajasthan

Castor is an important oilseed cash crop. Castor oil obtained from castor seed is non-edible, but is of great industrial importance. India is the largest castor growing country in the world. Gujarat state has highest area and production of castor. In Rajasthan, Sirohi district stands first in terms of area and production of castor. Therefore, a study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge of respondents about castor production of Sirohi district. The study was conducted in 5 blocks. Further, 100 farmers were selected randomly from 10 villages. The findings of this study revealed that majority (52%) of the castor growers had medium to level of knowledge regarding recommended hybrid castor production technology. Predominantly the hybrid castor growers had good knowledge regarding castor cultivation practices viz., land preparation, harvesting, recommended rates of seed land preparation, manual weeding and FYM application.

Phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms enhances phosphatase enzyme activity, phosphorus use efficiency and productivity of castor

Phosphate solubilizing micro-organisms enhances phosphatase enzyme activity, phosphorus use efficiency and productivity of castor

Production and tribological characterization of castor based biodiesel

With this rapidly changing industrial scenario, the need for eco-friendly petroleum alternatives is constantly increasing. Castor based biodiesel would prove to bring revolutionary changes in the petroleum sector. Being a non-renewable source of energy, petroleum reserves will be exhaust soon in the future and their extensive usage also produces a hazardous effect on the environment. To mitigate these harmful effects and hazardous emissions, usages of castor based biodiesel would prove to be one of the best options in this sector.This study focus on the production of cost-effective castor based biodiesel using the transesterification process. Their detailed characterization was studied and analyzed. The Physio-Chemical properties of castor based biodiesel are measured and compared with standard and published work. In this work, produced biodiesel has shown good physicochemical properties and a less coefficient of friction at 180 N load as compared to the synthetic 20 W40 base oil.

Socio-Economic Impact of Hybrid Castor - (YRCH 1) among Salem and Namakkal Castor Farmers

India has the largest area (11.48 lakh ha) and the highest productivity (1666 kg ha-1) of castor in the world. Castor is one of the crucial non-edible oilseed crops grown in arid and semi-arid regions. Castor farming is currently besieged by a slew of issues, including fluctuating rainfall patterns, biotic and abiotic stress. Castor productivity can be boosted by using the latest improved castor hybrids, changing the planting pattern, using automation methods, and adopting new production technologies. So, introducing hybrid castors like YRCH 1 will boost castor productivity. The Hybrid castor-YRCH 1 was released in the year 2009 and more extension activities was undertaken to popularise this hybrid in the major castor growing districts of Tamil Nadu, by the Tapioca and Castor Research Station (TCRS), Yethapur, and the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of respective districts. The present study was undertaken with the objective of analysing the socioeconomic impact of Hybrid castor-YRCH 1 among castor farmers. This study was conducted in the Namakkal and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu, which has the maximum area under Hybrid castor (YRCH 1) cultivation. In this study, four villages have been selected, from which 120 farmers were selected by simple random sampling technique. Using a well structured interview schedule, the required data were collected and percentage analysis was done. From the findings, it is revealed that most farmers have increased material possession (62.92%) due to the adoption of Hybrid castor (YRCH 1) and its production technologies.

Site suitability analysis incorporating disease prediction in castor (Ricinus communis L.) production

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is an important industrial crop used in the production of nylon, cosmetics, and many industrial lubricants. Currently, castor production in the USA has nearly ceased for > 45 years, resulting in vast imports of castor oil to meet US demands. Renewed interest in this crop, especially the possibility of its use as a biolubricant, has increased the desire to learn more about where it can be produced. This study evaluated possible locations for castor production through site suitability analysis. This analysis determined potential sites for castor production by evaluating geospatial climatic, soils/geophysical, and disease data, the major drivers of castor growth and yields. The site suitability analysis determined that 12% of the contiguous USA is highly suitable for castor production. The state of Illinois has the highest percentage of arable land highly suitable for castor production (56%/8 million ha). However, due to its large size, Texas has the most land area highly suitable for castor production (~ 15 million ha). Validation of the site suitability analysis was obtained through ground-truthed data obtained from recent environmental studies testing various castor genotypes. For the southern USA (< 40◦ N latitude), the regression analysis interested in site suitability point data versus performance (oil yield) at known growing sites resulted in a significant result (R2 = 0.46, p < 0.01). Geospatial averaging site suitability values for 1-km buffer of those growing sites further improved regression analysis (R2 = 0.57, p < 0.01). T he findings of this study provide a method to perform site suitability for novel crops such as castor using data associated with agronomic and disease characteristics. Moreover, the analysis provides suggestion that castor could easily be reintroduced to US agricultural practices.