Time and method of fertilize application

 Sowing may be done behind the plough or by seed drill in well prepared field with moisture. If soil test is not done, one should apply the fertilizers as recommended below:

 To increase the fertilizer use efficiency, the fertilizers should be applied according to soil type as described below:

 1. In loam and clay loam soils, half dose of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorous and potash should be applied at the time of sowing at a depth of 2-3 cm. The rest half dose of nitrogen should be applied 24 hours after the first irrigation.

 2. In sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils, 1/3^rd dose of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash each should be applied at the time of sowing at a depth of 2-3 cm. The rest 1/3^rd dose of nitrogen should be applied 24 hours after the first irrigation (crown root stage- 20-25 days after seeding) and the rest amount should be applied after the second irrigation. Top dressing is found beneficial if it is done after the irrigation. The resource poor farmers who are applying only upto 40 kg nitrogen/ha and only 2 irrigations, should apply whole dose of nitrogen at the time of sowing in heavy loam soils and ½ dose of nitrogen in furrows at the time of sowing in light soils and the rest half dose after the first irrigation through top dressing.