Seed rate: 75kg/ha dry seed for any recommended variety.
Seed hardening with 1% KCl for 16 hours (seed and KCl solution 1:1) and shade dried to bring to storable moisture. This will enable the crop to withstand early moisture stress.
On the day of sowing, treat the hardened seeds first with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/kg of seed and then with Azophos 1 kg/ha or Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 1 kg/ha each per ha seed.
Drill sow with 20 cm inter row spacing using seed drill.
The seeds can also be sown behind the country plough.
Depth of sowing should be 3 - 5 cm and the top soil can be made compact with leveling board.
Pre-monsoon sowing is advocated for uniform germination.
Sowing of seed by multi crop planter (Happy Seeder) under dry condition @ 40 kg/ha .
Thinning and gap filling should be done at 14 - 21 days after sowing, taking advantage of the immedate rain.
