Planting a secondary crop right before harvesting the main paddy crop is proving to be a cost-effective way for agricultural growers to secure additional farm revenue without incurring major land-preparation expenses. In Chhattisgarh, this practice has a longstanding tradition known locally as utera farming. By utilizing the leftover soil moisture and nutrients beneath standing paddy stalks, cultivators can raise subsequent crops such as linseed, mustard, tiwada, lakhdi, and lentils. According to Dr AR Gaur, a scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Balod, transitioning from conventional seed scattering to modern management protocols can significantly lower input costs while delivering impressive yields.
Understanding Utera Cultivation and Optimal Timing
The operational core of utera farming lies in strategic scheduling. Seeds of chosen follow-up crops are broadcast directly into the standing paddy field approximately 15 to 20 days before the paddy is scheduled for harvest. Traditionally, growers merely scattered local seeds across fields and left them unattended without any follow-up care. However, adopting improved scientific methods unlocks the true productivity potential of this method, allowing farmers to boost total output without spending heavily on field ploughing and primary tillage.
Certified Seeds and the Value of Seed Inoculation
Selecting the right planting material forms the cornerstone of a successful harvest. Agricultural experts advise farmers to bypass unverified local seed stocks in favor of certified, high-grade seeds with proven germination vigor. Inoculating and treating the seeds prior to broadcasting is essential for early vigor. In the cultivation of pulse varieties like tiwada, treating seeds with biofertilizer formulations including Rhizobium culture, PSB culture, KSB culture, and ZSB culture is strongly recommended.
This pre-sowing biological treatment provides young seedlings with ready nutrition right from germination. During the primary paddy cycle, residues of fertilizers such as DAP, potash, and zinc frequently remain locked within the soil bed. The applied bio-cultures activate these trapped minerals, helping the newly emerged plants absorb residual nutrition far more efficiently.
Crop Growth at Harvest and Nutrient Spray Schedule
By the time farmers initiate the physical harvesting of the paddy crop, the utera seedlings typically attain a height of roughly 10 to 15 centimeters. To support rapid vegetative development and promote sturdy branching at this stage, applying foliar sprays of water-soluble fertilizers like 12:32:16 or 19:19:19 is advised. The initial nutritional spray should be administered during the branch development phase, followed by a second application right at the flowering stage.
By putting the residual field moisture and post-harvest window to systematic scientific use, farmers can harvest a valuable second crop with minimal out-of-pocket expenditure, meaningfully boosting overall seasonal earnings.
