GAUCH 1
An old Gujarat hybrid (VP-1 x GAUC-1), listed by ICAR-IIOR as released in 1976 for irrigated Gujarat and the rainfed south. It gives about 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated against 3,588 kg for GCH 8, and is reported susceptible to wilt and root rot.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Castor
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 150–180 days
- Seed rate
- 5 kg a hectare, two seeds a hill, thinned to one plant at 15 days, in ICAR hybrid demonstrations in Rajasthan. No GAUCH 1-specific rate is published.
- Expected yield
- About 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated (ICAR-IIOR); no rainfed figure published
- Suitable soil
- Sandy to sandy loam
- Disease resistance
- Susceptible to wilt and root rot — grow on land with no recent wilt history
- Release
- Listed as released in 1976 (ICAR-IIOR hybrid table)
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
GAUCH 1 is an early-maturing castor hybrid with a drought-escape habit, made by crossing VP-1 with GAUC-1. ICAR-IIOR lists it as released in 1976, for irrigated areas of Gujarat and rainfed areas of southern India, with an average irrigated yield of 1,520 kg a hectare. Seed comes through the Gujarat State Seed Corporation, Gandhinagar. Other castor guides report it as susceptible to wilt and root rot, so it suits only land with no wilt history. The newer GCH 8 gives 3,588 kg irrigated in the same ICAR-IIOR table and is listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose GAUCH 1 only if you know it, can buy its seed easily, and your field has never had wilt. It matures early and escapes drought, which helps where rain is short. But it gives about 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated in the ICAR-IIOR table, against 3,588 kg for GCH 8, and other guides report it susceptible to wilt and root rot. For a new planting, GCH 8 is the better hybrid. Keep GAUCH 1 for a known rainfed plot where its early finish matters more than yield.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeKharif. Hybrids in recent ICAR trials were sown from the first week to mid-August (Rajasthan demonstrations; Sardarkrushinagar 2016-17). No GAUCH 1-specific date is published.
- Seed rate5 kg a hectare, two seeds a hill, thinned to one plant at 15 days, in ICAR hybrid demonstrations in Rajasthan. No GAUCH 1-specific rate is published.
- Spacing120 x 60 cm to 120 x 90 cm in recent ICAR hybrid trials and demonstrations. No GAUCH 1-specific spacing is published.
- FertilizerICAR hybrid trials used 80 kg N and 40 kg P a hectare (Rajasthan) or 180-37.5-0-20 kg N-P-K-S (Sardarkrushinagar). No GAUCH 1-specific dose is published.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Early maturing with a drought-escape habit, useful where rain is not assured (ICAR-IIOR).
- Listed for both irrigated Gujarat and the rainfed south.
- Seed is available through the Gujarat State Seed Corporation.
Things to consider
- Reported susceptible to wilt and root rot, so avoid fields with a wilt history.
- About 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated, against 3,588 kg for GCH 8 in the same ICAR-IIOR table.
- A 1976 hybrid. We found no recent AICRP trial that tests it against newer hybrids.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Gujarat
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
A 1976 hybrid next to a 2018 hybrid: what changed
GAUCH 1 is among the oldest hybrids in the ICAR-IIOR table, and GCH 8 is among the newest. The gap shows what 42 years of castor breeding bought. Irrigated yield went from 1,520 kg to 3,588 kg a hectare, about 2.4 times. GCH 8 also has a rainfed figure (1,895 kg), which GAUCH 1 does not.
The disease label changed too. GAUCH 1 is described as an early hybrid with a drought-escape habit, and other guides report it susceptible to wilt and root rot. GCH 8 is listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt and leafhopper. In the AICRP trials it had 18.4% wilt irrigated, 29.1% rainfed and 16.9% root rot.
GAUCH 1 still has one real advantage, which is earliness. Where the rains stop early, a hybrid that finishes sooner can save the crop. Be careful with the comparison itself: the tables come from different decades, soils and trial designs. The gap is large enough to trust in direction, but not to promise 2.4 times in your own field.
Where the planting material comes from
This is a hybrid, so seed kept from your own harvest will not breed true. The next crop comes up uneven in height, maturity and yield. Buy fresh certified seed every season and keep the bag tag until harvest.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Castor variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCH-519 | Rainfed or irrigated fields where a proven, wilt-resistant hybrid with easy seed supply is wanted | 200–230 days (staggered picking) | 1,740 kg a hectare rainfed and 2,130 kg irrigated (ICAR-IIOR); 3,874 kg in Rajasthan farmer-field demonstrations | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| GAUCH 1this page | Farmers who already grow GAUCH 1 and have land with no wilt history | 150–180 days | About 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated (ICAR-IIOR); no rainfed figure published | Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| GCH 8 | Farmers who can irrigate and want the highest-yielding, wilt-resistant castor hybrid | About 7 months with four pickings (sown in mid-August, last picking in the last week of March at Sardarkrushinagar) | 19 q/ha rainfed; 36 q/ha irrigated | Gujarat |
| GCH-4 | Farmers who already grow GCH-4 and can get its seed, on land with little wilt | 200–220 days (staggered picking) | 1,200 kg a hectare rainfed and 2,200 kg irrigated (ICAR-IIOR table) | Gujarat |
| GCH-7 | Irrigated Gujarat fields with a wilt problem, where the farmer already knows this hybrid and its seed | 200–220 days (staggered picking) | About 3,000 kg a hectare irrigated (ICAR-IIOR); 4,324 kg in a 2016-17 trial at Sardarkrushinagar | Gujarat |
| GNCH-1 | Irrigated Gujarat fields, including late-kharif, rabi and after-paddy sowings, where wilt and leafhopper are the main risks | 200–220 days (staggered picking) | Around 2,545 kg/ha in trials, roughly 14% higher than GCH-7; 20–25 q/ha under good irrigated management | Gujarat |
| Kranti | Rainfed farmers who want seed they can save, and who accept a lower yield than a hybrid | Not published for Kranti. Castor in general needs 5 to 10 months for a paying seed yield (ICAR-IIOR). | No published figure for Kranti. ICAR-IIOR gives 1,100 kg a hectare rainfed for the comparable open-pollinated variety 48-1 (Jwala). | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Castor is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Castor plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Castor variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Castor into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Castor in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Castor rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Castor seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Why does GAUCH 1 still get planted despite its wilt susceptibility?
It matures early and escapes drought, and its seed is easy to find. Those are real reasons in a rainfed field with a short rainy season. But on land with any wilt history, GCH 8 is the safer choice: it is listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt and gives 3,588 kg irrigated in the same ICAR-IIOR table.
Was GAUCH 1 really India's first castor hybrid?
Not on the evidence we found. The Castor Research Station at Junagadh says its hybrid GCH-3 (TSP-10R x J-1) came in 1968, eight years before GAUCH 1 (1976). Treat the 'first hybrid' label with caution.
How does GAUCH 1 compare with GCH 8?
In the ICAR-IIOR table GAUCH 1 (1976) gives 1,520 kg a hectare irrigated. GCH 8 (2018) gives 3,588 kg irrigated and 1,895 kg rainfed, which is about 2.4 times the GAUCH 1 irrigated figure. GCH 8 is also listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt and leafhopper, with 18.4% wilt irrigated and 29.1% rainfed in AICRP trials. The tables come from different decades and trials, so read the gap as a guide.
Where can I get GAUCH 1 seed?
The ICAR-IIOR table lists the Gujarat State Seed Corporation Ltd, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382043 as the seed source. Buy only sealed, labelled packets and keep the bill and the tag, so you can trace the seed lot if the crop is not true to type.
Which areas is GAUCH 1 listed for?
ICAR-IIOR lists it for irrigated areas of Gujarat and rainfed areas of southern India. Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the states where it is grown. It is not listed for Rajasthan or the rest of the north.
Should I plant GAUCH 1 on land that has had wilt?
No. Castor guides report GAUCH 1 as susceptible to wilt and root rot, and wilt is the disease that most often ruins a castor field. On such land choose a hybrid listed as resistant. The ICAR-IIOR table lists GCH 8, GNCH-1 and DCH-519 as resistant to Fusarium wilt, and DCH-519 and GCH 8 had 17.0% and 18.4% wilt in the irrigated AICRP trial.
Sourced from: Castor Cultivation Information Guide — Agri Farming, Castor Crop Cultivation: Techniques and High-Value Varieties — Agriculture.Institute, ICAR-IIOR hybrids and varieties table, Vikaspedia (high yielding hybrids and varieties of castor), Patel et al., A high yielding and wilt resistant castor hybrid for India (GCH 8), Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 90(5), 2020, Moola Ram and Meena, Seed yield and economic performance of castor at farmers' field in Rajasthan, Annals of Arid Zone 59(3&4), 2020, Jat and Desai, Performance of castor hybrids under different fertility levels, Annals of Arid Zone 59(3&4), 2020, Castor Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University. editorial policy.