TURNIP

It is hardy cool weather crop belongs to family of Brassicaceae. It is grown for its roots as well as for green leaves. Turnip root is rich source of Vitamin C where as its leaves are rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, foliate and Calcium. It is grown in temperate, tropical as well as sub-tropical region of India. Commonly grown turnip is of white color. Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and TamilNadu are major turnip growing states in India.   

It can grow on variety of soil but turnip give best result when grown on loamy soils rich in organic matter. Avoid heavy or compact soils also very light soils as it produce rough, malformed roots. Ideal pH of soil for good growth is 5.5 to 6.8.

Pusa Chandrima: Released by IARI, New Delhi. It is white, smooth, soft flesh variety which is 8-9cm long and 9-12cm in diameter, the variety matures in 55-60 days.

Pusa Kanchan: Light red in color, round roots, which remains fiberless for longer time.

Purple Top White Globe: Round shaped roots variety, which has upper part purple and lower part is brown in color. It has soft flesh and is somewhat sweet in taste.
 

खेत की जोताई करें और खेत को नदीन रहित और रोड़ियों रहित बनायें। गाय का गला हुआ गोबर 60-80 क्विंटल प्रति एकड़ में डालें और खेत की तैयारी के समय मिट्टी में अच्छी तरह मिलायें। बिना गले हुए गोबर का प्रयोग करने से बचे इससे जड़ें दोमुंही हो जाती हैं।

Time of sowing
In hilly areas, sowing should be done in March to May month and in plain areas, sowing is done in July to September month for desi varieties and October to November month for European varieties.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 30cm and plant to plant spacing of 10cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow seeds at depth of 1-1.5 cm.

Method of sowing
Direct sowing on bed, in lines or on ridge.
 

Seed Rate
For sowing of one acre land seed rate of 1.2-1.6kg is sufficient. 

Seed treatment
Before sowing treat seed with Thiram@3gm per kg of seeds to protect crop from crown rot.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Along with well decomposed cowdung@33-40qtl/acre, apply Nitrogen@11 kg per acre (in the form of Urea@25kg/acre), Phosphorus@2 kg per acre (in the form of SSP@16 kg/acre) and potash@9 per acre (in the form of MOP@16kg/acre) in soil at time of sowing.

After sowing, apply first irrigation, it will help in good germination. Depending upon soil type and climate, apply remaining irrigations at the interval of 6-7 days in summer and 10-12 days interval in winter month. Overall turnip required five to six irrigations. Avoid excessive irrigation as it will leads ugly shape of roots and numerous hair growth.

10-15 days after germination, carry out thinning operation. Take intercultural operation like weeding and hoeing to keep check on weed growth also to provide soil aeration. Take one weeding operation, two to three weeks after sowing. After weeding, carryout earthing up operation.

• Disease and their control:
  

Crown rot: As a preventive measure, before sowing treat seed with Thiram@3 gm per kg of seeds. 7th and 15th day after sowing, drenched soil around seedlings with Captan@200 gm in 100 ltrs water.

Depending upon variety uproot turnip roots after attaining marketable size i.e. when they are 5-10 cm in diameter. Generally roots are reached to marketable size in 45-60 days i.e. depending upon variety after sowing. Delay in harvesting will leads to tough and fibrous root formation. Carry out harvesting in evening time. After harvesting, roots along with green tops are washed with water. They are filled into the basket and then sent to market. Under cool and moist condition, roots can be stored for 2-3 days where as they can store for 8-15 week at 0-5 °C temperature with 90-95% relative humidity.
 

For seed purpose, sow seeds of turnip in mid-September and then transplant seedling in first week of December. Use spacing of 45 cm x15 cm. Apply N@30 kg (in form of Urea@65 kg) and P@8 kg (in form of SSP@50 kg) per acre. At time of sowing apply whole amount of Phosphorus and half amount of Nitrogen. Apply remaining amount of Nitrogen, 30 days after sowing. Carry out harvesting when 70% pods changes its color to light yellow.