Cultivation of Jute

Botanical Classification

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

Agronomic Practices

• Land Preparation
• Deep ploughing + 2–3 harrowing.
• Land should be clod-free, fine-tilled, and moist at sowing.

• Sowing

• 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:

1. Leaf shedding: Plants harvested and left 2–4 days for natural leaf shedding.
2. Bundling: Bundles 15–20 cm in diameter.
3. Initial Soaking: Bundles placed vertically for 3–4 days to start retting from the base.
4. Submergence: Then bundles are tied horizontally into a floating platform called a Jack (2–3 logs).
5. Water Level: Bundles must be 20 cm below water surface for proper retting.
6. 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 extracted from phloem, but microbial degradation starts from cambium.

Grading and Marketing

• 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.