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Miscellaneous


Few related questions frequently asked by the farmers:


Q. Rapeseed/mustard cakes are not suitable for human consumption. Explain?

Ans. The repeseed/mustard oil possesses a sizeable amount of erucic acid (38-57 percent), linolenic acid up to 4.7 to 13 percent along with oleic acid having higher nutritive values constituting about 27 percent. The rapeseed/mustard whole meal consists of 24-30 percent protein and to a maximum of 35-40 percent but due to presence of toxic glucosinoilates in the cake it becomes unsuitable source of protein for human enzymic hydrolysis by myrosinase (thioglucosidase) gives rise to isothiocynates, oxezolidinethiones and cyano compounds. These products can cause goiter and can adversely affect growth and reproduction. The glucosinolates are found to be below 0.5 percent in old varieties and 0.5 percent in new ones. The upper limit of below 0.5 percent is being considered by the Government and the scientists now to avoid ill-effects of glucosinolates.

The high context of erucic acid can cause abnormalities of fat utilization in the heart and skeletal muscles with undesirable changes in the tissues of myocardium. Rapeseed oil with low erucic acid content is essentially high oleic acid oil but contains more linolenic acid than most vegetable oils. Linolenic acid oxidises readily, causing deterioration in flavour and reduction in the amount in rape oil would be a positive point.

Q. Oil seeds can be inoculated with bacteria for nitrogen fixation. How?
Ans. By using “poly ethylene glycol” oil seeds can be treated with bacteria as this chemical ruptures the root cell protoplasm after which inoculation can be done.

Q. How can I use bokashe?
Ans. Bokashe should always be applied 10 days before sowing in the field.

Q. What are the substitutes of inorganic fertilizer?
Ans. The substitutes of inorganic fertilizers are vermicompost, green manure, EM compost, oil cakes, bio-fertilizers etc.

Q. Rapeseed-mustard and Toria seeds are not treated with bio-fertilizers. Is there any alternative to get the benefit of bio-fertilizer?
Ans. As the seeds of these crops are very small, seed treatment is not possible. Hence direct application of bio-fertilizer is recommended for these small seeded crops. Bio-fertilizers @ 3-4 kg/acre should be mixed with fine FYM and spread over the field.