Cultivation of Jute
Botanical Classification
Feature | Corchorus capsularis | Corchorus olitorius |
Common Name | White Jute | Tossa Jute |
Trade Name | White Jute | Tossa Jute |
Leaf Taste | Bitter (due to Corchorin) – Tita Pat | Tasteless – Mitha Pat |
Habitat | Grows in low and midlands, tolerates waterlogging | Grows on well-drained uplands, waterlogging sensitive |
Fibre Quality | White fibre, coarser | Yellow-reddish, fine, lustrous, stronger |
Sowing Time | Late Feb–March | April–May |
Yield | ~20 q/ha | ~27 q/ha |
Seed Rate | 4–5 kg/ha | 2–3 kg/ha |
Use Efficiency | Less nitrogen use efficiency | Higher nitrogen use efficiency |
Area & Zones
- India is the largest producer of raw jute globally.
- Jute is mainly cultivated in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Tripura & Meghalaya.
- India’s jute-growing region is divided into 8 agro-climatic zones.
Mesta (Roselle – Hibiscus spp.)
- Grown in areas unsuitable for jute.
- Also a bast fibre crop.
- Hardy and adapted to low fertility or acidic soils.
Research Institutions
Institute Name | Present Name | Location |
Jute Agricultural Research Institute (JARI) | Now CRIJAF (Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres) | Barrackpore, WB |
CRIJAF | Renamed to NIRJAFT – National Institute for Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology | Kolkata, WB |
Agronomic Practices
- Land Preparation
- Deep ploughing + 2–3 harrowing.
- Land should be clod-free, fine-tilled, and moist at sowing.
- Sowing
Type | Sowing Time |
Capsularis | Late February to March |
Olitorius | April to May |
- Spacing
- Broadcast or line sowing at 20–30 cm apart rows.
- Seed Rate
- Capsularis: 4–5 kg/ha
- Olitorius: 2–3 kg/ha
- Manuring & Fertilization
- High N requirement:
- 60–80 kg N/ha (split dose)
- 20–40 kg P₂O₅/ha
- 20–40 kg K₂O/ha
- Micronutrient: Zn, B may be beneficial.
Water Management
- Requires 5–6 irrigations if rainfall is inadequate.
- Waterlogging tolerant (Capsularis more so), but well-drained fields essential for Olitorius.
Harvesting
- Ideal Harvesting Stage: At small pod stage or initiation of pod formation (around 135–140 DAS).
- Early harvesting gives fine fibre, late harvesting gives coarse fibre.
Retting (Steeping)
What is Retting?
- Microbial process that loosens bast fibres (phloem) from the woody stem.
Procedure:
- Leaf shedding: Plants harvested and left 2–4 days for natural leaf shedding.
- Bundling: Bundles 15–20 cm in diameter.
- Initial Soaking: Bundles placed vertically for 3–4 days to start retting from the base.
- Submergence: Then bundles are tied horizontally into a floating platform called a Jack (2–3 logs).
- Water Level: Bundles must be 20 cm below water surface for proper retting.
- Water Condition:
- Gently flowing, clear, soft water.
- Ideal Temperature: ~34°C
- Retting Duration:
- July: 10–15 days
- August–September: 18–20 days
- October–November: 21–30 days
Additives:
- Ammonium Sulphate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] or bone meal (especially in cold/stagnant water)
- Adding Dhaincha or Sunnhemp to jute bundles hastens microbial activity.
Fibre Extraction
- Manual Method:
- Fibre is pulled by hand either:
- From individual plant (produces sleek, clean fibre)
- Or by beat-break-jerk method from small bundles.
- Fibre is pulled by hand either:
- Fibre is extracted from phloem, but microbial degradation starts from cambium.
Grading and Marketing
Quality Factor | Good Quality Fibre |
Color | Golden yellow or bright |
Strength | Strong and flexible |
Fineness | Uniform and smooth |
Defects | Free from root, knots, bark, or entanglements |
- Graded from TD1 to TD8 (TD = Tossa Deshi grade).
- Sold in local markets or via regulated APMC mandis.
Economic Importance
- Major source of natural fibre for packaging (gunny bags).
- Used in textiles, carpets, handicrafts, geo-textiles, composites.
- Biodegradable, sustainable – potential alternative to plastic.
