The second important and useful plants for the civilized man are the fibre yielding plants which complete the necessity of clothing. In addition to clothing fibers are utilized in paper industry and cottage industries in making of baskets package bags etc. Fibres are the elements of sclerenchymatous cells. They are elogated slender rigid cells with narrow lumen and pointed end walls. There was is highly making fibrous more strong and durable. These fibres occur in the phloem pericycle wood fivres in xylem etc. Strength and durability of fibre is due to presence of complex cellulose.

Jute is the best fibre obtained from the secondary phloem of jute yielding plant named corchrous capsulari and corchorus loitoruis belongs to family Tiliaceae.

Jute occupies a very important position among the fibre crop and is a most important cash crop. Jute plant is a native plant of Malaya and Ceylon and is cultivated in India, Bangladesh, Egypt , China, Sudan, Brazil, America and Japan. In our country it is cultivated in the stated viz. West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam and U.P . India and Bangladesh together contribute 90% of world’s jute requirement.

Botanical description of jute plant :

Jute plant belongs to family tiliaceae. The plant is an annual shrub, tall slender half shruby nearly 2-3 meters of height. Stem bears alternate leaves simple and petiolate. Flowers are yellow and small. Fruit are capsules bears round pod and bears elogated pod.It has well branched tap root stem is terminally branched. Fibers produced from its secondary phloem.

Improved varieties of jute :

There are large varieties of jute. Some high yielding varieties of jute has been recommended for cultivation according to jute agricultural research institute, Barrackpur, Calcutta and Indian council of agricultural research, new Delhi. These varieties includes –

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(a) Capsularis varieties :

a. Sabuja sona : (JRC-212) – Yeilds 30-35 quintal per hactre and require 125-135 days to mature.

b. Shyamli : (JRC-7447) – Yeilds 35-40 q/ha, 130-135 days.

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c. Fanduk : Early maruting (Reddish)

d. D-154 : Yeilds 20-30 q/ha, and matures within 150 to 180 days.

e. JRC-321: Fast growing 20-25 q/ha – 150-160 days

f. JRC – 1108: Resistant variety, 25-35 q/ha

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(b) Olitorius varieties :

a. Baisakhi tossa (JRO-632) – 40 q/ha 140-150 days.

b. Chaitali tosa (JRO – 78) – red stem, 30 q/ha, 150-160 days.

c. Basudev (JRO-524) 34 q/ha

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d. Navin (JRO-524) – 35 q/ha 140-150 days.

Some commonly growing varieties are Dhaleshwari, Phuleswari, Fanduk,  Chinsua, Sanali, Pusa , Baisakhi, c-206, c-212, c-412, O-630, O-632 etc.

Methods of cultivation of jute :

Jute crop requires a warm and humid climate having a temperature between. The rain fall between 40-60 inches is favorable for cultivation.It grows well in alluvial or rich loamy or light sandy soil. Plant is propagated through direct sowing method. It requires clean clod free,fine seed bed.

i. Seed bed preparation (Field preparation)

The land is ploughed several times after harvest of previous crop first shower of rain or irrigation. Seed bed is prepared by repeated drilling ploughing and leveling either by use of plough or tractor, so that the soil should be finely macerated and well aerated. Seed bed should be completely clean and clod free. Manuring may be done during ploughing.

ii. Sowing :

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Sowing of seeds of Jute is done usually during june or middle of June before arrival of first monsoon rain. After receiving a rainfall ploughing is done and seeds directly sown to the moist field. Then the field is leveled. After getting sufficient the moist field. Then the field is leveled. After getting sufficient moisture or a light rain fall seeds germinate and seedling arise n=moisture or a light rain fall seeds germinate and seedling s arise. Sowing is done manually by hand or by sowing machine in rows.

iii. Weeding and manuring :

Weeding and manuring is done during seedling stage. Field should be completely free from weeds. Herbicides may be applied for weed control. Simple manual labour may be utilized for weeding.

Apart from organic manure fertilizers may be applied in the field. NPK, Urea are usually used at intervals.

iv. Pest control :

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Various pesticides as prescribed may be applied to the crop for controlling insect pests and fungal pests.

v. Harvest:

The crop of jute is harvested when the plants are nearby 90-120 days old or at the flowering stage. Harvestion is done by cutting the plants from its base or by uprooting. Stems are tied in bundles and are exposed to sun rays for 3-4 days when the leaves get dried and defoliated. Leaves are removed by shaking the bundles and the bundled made cleaned.

vi. Retting :

Retting is the processing of extraction of jute fibres from the plant. For this purpose bundles are submerged in gently flowing cleep clean water of tanks or ditches or pond for 10-15 days. During this period mucilaginous substances are decomposed and fibres get loose from the sheath. When retting completes stalks are taken and the fibres are wrapped out by finger manually and separated. Separated fibres are properly rinsed, cleaned wringed and stocked on clean ground.

Retted fibres dried under the sun to make them appear glistening white with silky lustre. The fibres so obtained should be 2-3 meters long and look white or pale yellow. Dried fibres are tied in to bundles and are stored for sale.

Economic importance of jute :

i. Jute fibers are commonly used in making ropes , bags, sacs, canvass, gunny bags, twine, carpets, curtains, twining threads and covers for cotton bales.

ii. The stalks used as fuel and for making fun powder.

iii. Fine quality fibres used for making paper boards.

iv. Oil is extracted from seeds used in manufacture of sopa paints etc.