India ranks first in the world in respect of acreage and second in production. Castor plant is a tall annual or perennial shrub or a small tree growing to a height of 3 to 8 metres.

The castor plant grows throughout India up to an elevation of 2500 meters. Castor requires a moderately high temperature 20-27 degree centigrades with low humidity throughout the growing season. It grows best in areas where there are clear warm sunny days. Prolonged cloudy weather with high temperature at the time of flowering results in poor seed set.

Castor season is in the climate when the mercury ranges between 20-27 degree centigrade.

Castor can be raised practically on any type of soil, but as in cace of many plants drained loam will produce the optimum yield. The crop cannot tolerate alkalinity of soil but can withstand slight to moderate acidity of soil.

There are lot of varietes of Castor available in the market which give the desired output to the farmers. Selection of varieties depends on the following factors:

• Method Of Sowing
• Crop Rotation
• Pest and Disease
• Irrigration Facilities
• Climatic Conditions