1.  About Us

961-62, a shceme for reserch on spices and condiments was sanctioned with head quarter at Manund. Thereafter, this scheme was shifted to Vijapur in 1965-66. Research work related to cumin, fennel etc. was carried out under the Essential Oilseeds Research Scheme in the set up of, thethen, Oilseed specialist, Department of Agriculture Gujarat State and the other crops namely coriander,fenugreek, chillies etc. were included under the Spices Research Scheme. In 1964, Agriculture College of Junagadh came into exitence and the technical control of Spices Research Scheme was handed over to the Professor of Botany, College of Agriculture, Junagadh with head quarter of Spices Research Scheme at Pilwai and that of Essential Oilseeds Research Scheme at Vijapur.

In 1972, when Gujarat Agricultural University came into existance, the technical control of the spices research and Essential Oilseeds Research located at T.C.D. Farm, Pilwai was with the Professor of Botany (PG), Junagadh. In 1979, the T.C.D. farm at Pilwai was handed over to the State Department of Agriculture, hence all these research schemes were shifted to Vijapur, However due to difficulties for irrigation as a result of failure of the tube well, the Spices Research was shifted Jagudan, in Mehsana Dist. during 1980-81

Introduction

Jagudan centre of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University is the main Spices Research Station in Gujarat with the mandate to take up multidisciplinary research work in various seed spices as well as medicinal crops viz; cumin, fennel, coriander, fenugreek, dill seed, Ajwain, chilli and isabgul to meet the need of developing production technology for increasing spices production in Gujarat as well as export to abroad. The spices Research Station is located in the village Jagudan situated 10 km south of Mehsana and 60 km North from Ahmedabad on Ahmedabad - Delhi railway line and state highway.

Agro-climatic Zone

North Gujarat Agro-climatic zone - IV

(a) Rainfall : The annual rainfall of this region for the last 25 years range from 170 mm to 1308 mm with an average precipation of 550 mm.

(b) Soil : The soil of the farm is sandy loam in texture, poor in organic carbon, medium in  available potash. Most of the micro-nutrients (Mn, Cu & Fe) are up to sufficient   level in the soil. The soil reaction is slightly towards alkaline having pH 7.9.

(c) Climate : The climatic conditions of the area represents the tropical conditions with semi arid conditions. The monsoon commenced by third week of  June and ceases by middle of September. The July & August are the  months of heavy rains. The winter is cool & dry while summer is quite   dry & hot. The January is the coolest month of winter with mean   monthly minimum temperature varying from 8.2 C to 21.5 C. On the other hand, May is the hotest month in which the maximum  temperature varies from 39.6 C to 47.3 C.

Geographical Details

Climate : Subtropical,
Latitude: 23' 52 N,
Longitude : 72' 43 E,
Altitude : 70 mt. ASL,
Temperature varies : 8 to 45 Degree Centigrde,
Average Rainfall : 550 mm

Soil properties

Type :

Sandy Loam, Highly productive and responsive to fertilizers

pH :

7.9

Organic carbon :

0.33 %

Available N2 :

181 kg/ha

Available P2O5 :

38 kg/ha

Available K2O :

345 kg/ha

Conductivity :

0.30 dSm-1

Water properties :

pH : 8.30

EC Micromhos/cm):

1190 (high)

SAR :

3.93 (low)

RSC (meq/lit) :

+ 0.70

Class :

C 3 S 1

Fluoride

0.53