Mesta

Land Requirements Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants. In addition, the land should be well-drained loam, rich in humus content. On poorly drained soils plants usually die before flower or seed is produced.  
Isolation Requirements Mesta is mainly a self-pollinated crop, though cross-pollination to varying degrees depending upon insect activity has been observed. For seed production the seed field must be isolated.

 

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing Mid -May to June  


Preparation of Land The land should be ploughed and harrowed four to five times, followed by levelling to provide a fine tilth.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency.


Seed Rate 10-12.5 kg per hectare.


Sowing of Seeds The seed crop should be sown in rows.


Fertilisation Excessive nitrogen produces too much vegetative growth. The seed crop needs 70 to 80 kg nitrogen, 120 to 140 kg phosphorus and 90 kg potash per hectare. Higher doses of fertiliser are required for sandy soils where leaching is quite high. Foliar sprays of urea have also been found useful.


Spacing Row to row                           30 cm
Plant to plant                       12 to 15 cm


Irrigation One to two irrigations are necessary before the onset of the nonsoons. Subsequently, irrigate as and when required.


Interculture and weeding The seed plot should be weed free. One to two hand weedings are necessry. First weeding and thinning may be done after three to four weeds. Subsequent weedings should be done as per requirements of the crop. The field must be cleaned of Convolvulus plants before the harvest so as to avoid mixture of Convolvulus seed with that of mesta seeds.


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Roguing Roguing for off-types, plants affected with stem and root rot (Macrophomena phaseoli) should be done from time to time.


Harvesting and Threshing

The crop is ready for harvest when seeds on the lower and middle branches are ripe. The crop is cut by hand and left in the field todry for three to four days, this allows seed on the top branches to mature. Delayed harvesting results in shattering. Threshing of plants is done by hand, either by placing stooks on tarpaulins and flailing with long poles, or planks wrapped in canvas, or passing them through a stationery thresher. Later, seeds are winnowed with a coarse sieve and tanning mill. After winnowing , the seed should be dried to eight percent moisture before storage.


Seed Yield The average seed yield is about 800 to 900 kg per hectare.