Jute (Corchorus spp.) – “Golden Fibre”

1. Basic Information

• Botanical name: Corchorus capsularis (White jute), Corchorus olitorius (Tossa jute)
• Family: Tiliaceae (now Malvaceae)
• Common name: Golden Fibre
• Origin: Indo-Burma region (capsularis), Africa (olitorius)
• Growth habit: Annual bast fibre crop
• Importance:
  • Second most important fibre crop after cotton
  • Known as “fibre of the future” → eco-friendly, biodegradable
  • Provides ~70% of world’s jute

2. Climate Requirement

• Type: Warm, humid tropical crop
• Temperature: Optimum 24–37°C
• Rainfall: 1500–2000 mm, evenly distributed
• Humidity: >80% preferred
• Sensitive to frost and drought
• Long day crop – needs bright sunshine

3. Soil Requirement

• Ideal: Well-drained alluvial soils of Ganges delta
• Sandy loam to clay loam soils suitable
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Tolerates temporary waterlogging

4. Land Preparation

• 2–3 ploughings + harrowing for fine tilth
• Fields should be well-leveled for uniform moisture

5. Sowing

• Season: Pre-kharif (March–May, with pre-monsoon showers)
• Seed rate:
  • C. capsularis: 7–8 kg/ha
  • C. olitorius: 4–5 kg/ha
• Spacing: 30 × 10 cm (line sowing)
• Method: Broadcasting (traditional) or line sowing (modern)

6. Varieties

• Capsularis (white jute): JRC-212, JRC-321, Baisakhi Tossa
• Olitorius (tossa jute): JRO-524, JRO-7835 (Navin), JRO-632 (Shakti)
• Tossa jute generally produces stronger, finer, and longer fibres

7. Fertilizer Requirement

• Recommended dose: 40–60 kg N + 20–40 kg P₂O₅ + 20–40 kg K₂O/ha
• Micronutrients: Zn & B improve fibre quality
• Apply N in 2–3 splits (basal + top-dressing at 30 DAS and before branching)

8. Water Requirement

• Total: 500–600 mm
• Irrigation critical at sowing and early establishment in dry years
• Crop thrives with monsoon rains
• Avoid prolonged waterlogging

9. Intercultural Operations

• Thinning: At 20 DAS (to maintain optimum density)
• Weeding: 2–3 weedings (20, 40 DAS)
• Earthing up if needed in heavy soils

10. Weed Control

• Manual weeding effective
• Pre-emergence: Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha
• Early weed competition reduces fibre yield drastically

12. Harvesting

• Stage: 100–120 DAS (before flowering, when 50% plants shed flowers)
• Harvesting later reduces fibre quality (becomes coarse & lignified)
• Method: Plants cut at base, tied in bundles

13. Post-Harvest Technology (Retting)

• Retting: microbial decomposition of pectin → separates fibre
• Methods:
  • Water/pond retting (traditional, most common)
  • Ribbon retting (eco-friendly, reduces water use)
• Duration: 10–20 days depending on water temp & quality
• Fibre extracted, washed, dried in sun, bundled for market

14. Yield

• Fibre yield: 20–30 q/ha
• Stick yield: 40–50 q/ha (used as fuel, fencing, board-making)

15. Economic Importance

• Bast fibre → gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, handicrafts
• Jute sticks → paper, fuel, particle board, charcoal
• Blending with synthetic fibres → diversified products
• Employment → 4 million families in India and Bangladesh depend on it

16. Major Producing Regions

• World: Bangladesh > India > China > Thailand
• India: West Bengal (80%) > Bihar > Assam > Odisha > Tripura

17. Quick MCQ Facts

• Family: Malvaceae (earlier Tiliaceae)
• Species cultivated: C. capsularis (white), C. olitorius (tossa)
• Seed rate: 7–8 kg/ha (capsularis), 4–5 kg/ha (olitorius)
• Harvest stage: Before flowering (100–120 DAS)
• Retting: Microbial, in stagnant/slow-moving water
• Major state: West Bengal (India’s jute basket)
• Fibre part used: Bast (phloem)