Guar 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. 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.

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

Guara 80: Recommended for cultivation throughout state. It is resistant to leaf blight and stem breakage. Seeds are round, flat shape and of light grey color. Late maturing variety gives yield of 8qtl/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.

FS-277: Developed by CCSHAU, Hisar, suitable for all guar growing areas in India.

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 30 cm.

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

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

Seed Rate
For sowing use seed rate of 8-10kg/acre.

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

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrients Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply Nitrogen@9kg in form of Urea@20kg and Phosphorus@19kg in form of SSP@120kg/acre before sowing.

 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.

 In rainfed areas, crop did not required irrigation. But if needed provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity.

• 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. 

 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.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare