GNCH-1
A recent Gujarat release bred for resistance to Fusarium wilt and leafhopper, the two pressures that most often cut castor yield.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Castor
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 200–220 days (staggered picking)
- Expected yield
- Around 2,545 kg/ha in trials, roughly 14% higher than GCH-7; 20–25 q/ha under good irrigated management
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Disease resistance
- Bred for resistance to both Fusarium wilt and leafhopper/jassid
- Release
- Released 2017 by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release (CVRC), for irrigated cultivation in Gujarat
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
GNCH-1 (Gujarat Navsari Castor Hybrid-1) is a hybrid from the Pulses and Castor Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, made by crossing the pistillate line SKP-84 with the male line DCS-94. It was released in 2017 by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release (CVRC) for irrigated cultivation in Gujarat. In 18 trials over five years in south and middle Gujarat it gave 2,545 kg a hectare, which is 13.8% more than GCH-7, 35.9% more than DCH-519 and 31.0% more than DCH-177. The primary spike matures in 110 to 112 days on a plant 70 to 80 cm tall, with a long spike of 64.8 cm and 78.4 capsules. Seed oil is 47.0 to 48.0%. It showed under 20% wilt at national sick plots and hopper-burn grade 0 to 1 on a 0 to 4 scale. It also did well in late-kharif and rabi sowings and in paddy-based cropping systems.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose GNCH-1 for irrigated land in Gujarat, especially if you sow late or after paddy. It gave 2,545 kg a hectare in 18 Gujarat trials and is listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt and leafhopper. Choose GCH 8 or GCH-9 instead if you want the highest yield on paper, since the ICAR-IIOR table lists them at 3,588 and 3,820 kg irrigated. Those figures come from other trials, so ask your KVK which hybrid has done best in your district.
Sowing & cultivation
- FertilizerHybrid dose under irrigation: 90:45:45 kg NPK per ha. ICAR-IIOR recommends GNCH 1 for the irrigated castor areas of Gujarat only, so the rainfed dose of 60:30:30 does not apply to it. These are TNAU's blanket doses, so use your soil test where you have one. Put all the phosphorus and half the nitrogen and potash in at sowing. Under irrigation, give the rest of the nitrogen and potash in two equal splits at 30 and 60 days after sowing
- HarvestingPrimary spike matures in 110-112 days; plant height 70-80 cm, primary spike length 64.8 cm, capsules per primary spike 78.4 — all easing harvest, per the release paper
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Wilt resistant — under 20% infection at national sick plots, per the release paper
- Leafhopper (jassid) resistant — hopper-burn grade 0-1 on a 0-4 scale, per the release paper
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- 13.8-35.9% higher yield than established check hybrids (GCH-7, DCH-519, DCH-177) across an 18-trial, 5-year evaluation
- Combines wilt and leafhopper resistance with a shorter 110-112 day primary-spike maturity and easy-harvest plant architecture
- Performs well beyond the main kharif season — suited to late-kharif, rabi and paddy-based cropping systems
Things to consider
- Released for irrigated cultivation in Gujarat only. We do not recommend it for rainfed land or other states.
- The 2,545 kg comes from Gujarat trials against older check hybrids. The ICAR-IIOR table lists GCH 8 at 3,588 kg irrigated and GCH-9 at 3,820 kg, from other trials, so GNCH-1 is not the top yielder on paper.
- The ICAR-IIOR table lists only Fusarium wilt and leafhopper resistance for it. We found no grey mould or root-rot figure.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Gujarat
How to read GNCH-1's 2,545 kg against other hybrids
The figure to remember for GNCH-1 is 2,545 kg a hectare. It comes from 18 trials over five years in south and middle Gujarat, set against GCH-7, DCH-519 and DCH-177 as the checks. In that company GNCH-1 won by 13.8%, 35.9% and 31.0%.
Now put it beside the ICAR-IIOR table, where the irrigated yields listed are 3,588 kg for GCH 8 and 3,820 kg for GCH-9. They look higher, but they come from different trials, years and locations, so the gap does not prove GNCH-1 is the weaker hybrid. It does mean GNCH-1 is not shown to be the best.
How to use this: GNCH-1 is a sound choice for irrigated Gujarat, with wilt and leafhopper resistance and the late-sowing and after-paddy record. If the highest yield is the goal, set up a small comparison on your own field, with GNCH-1 and GCH 8 side by side, and keep the same irrigation and fertiliser. One season on your own soil settles it better than any table.
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 1 | 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-1this page | 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
What is the parentage of GNCH-1 castor?
Pistillate line SKP-84 crossed with male line DCS-94, developed at the Pulses and Castor Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, per an ICAR release paper.
How much higher-yielding is GNCH-1 than older castor hybrids?
13.8% more than GCH-7, 35.9% more than DCH-519, and 31.0% more than DCH-177, across 18 trials over 5 years in south and middle Gujarat, per the release paper.
Is GNCH-1 resistant to wilt and leafhopper?
Yes — under 20% wilt infection at national sick plots and hopper-burn grade 0-1 (on a 0-4 scale) for leafhopper, per the release paper.
When was GNCH-1 released and for which zone?
Released in 2017 by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release (CVRC), for commercial cultivation under irrigated conditions in Gujarat.
How long does GNCH-1's primary spike take to mature?
The primary spike matures in 110 to 112 days. The whole crop, with all its pickings, runs about 200 to 220 days. These are two different measures, so do not use the spike figure to plan labour or the next crop.
Can I sow GNCH-1 late or after paddy?
Its release paper reports good performance in late-kharif and rabi sowings and in paddy-based cropping systems. The primary spike matures in 110 to 112 days, and the whole crop runs about 200 to 220 days with all pickings, so a late sowing needs irrigation water for the full season. The release is for irrigated Gujarat, so do not take this advice to rainfed land.
How does GNCH-1 compare with GCH 8 and GCH-9?
The ICAR-IIOR table lists irrigated yields of 2,545 kg a hectare for GNCH-1, 3,588 kg for GCH 8 and 3,820 kg for GCH-9. All three are listed as resistant to Fusarium wilt. GNCH-1 and GCH 8 are also listed as resistant to leafhopper. These numbers come from different trials, so they are a guide, not a head-to-head result.
Where do I get GNCH-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. Hybrid castor seed from a previous crop is not true to type, so buy fresh seed every season.
Does GNCH-1 have any known weakness?
No figure is published for grey mould or root rot. The release is for irrigated Gujarat only. Its trial yield was measured against older check hybrids, so it is not proven to beat GCH 8. In the AICRP trials we read, grey mould ran at 56 to 62% severity on every hybrid tested, so do not assume any hybrid is safe from it.
Sourced from: GNCH-1: a high yielding, wilt and leafhopper resistant castor hybrid suitable for Gujarat — Journal of Oilseeds Research (ICAR ePubs), ICAR-IIOR hybrids and varieties table, Vikaspedia (high yielding hybrids and varieties of castor), ICAR-IIOR castor cultivar page: recommended states and ecology for each hybrid (DCH 519, GCH 4, GCH 7, GNCH 1), Nutrient management: castor — TNAU Agritech Portal (blanket NPK doses for varieties and hybrids, rainfed and irrigated). editorial policy.