Agriculture

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BOTTLE GOURD

General Information

Bottle gourd is also known as “lauki” and it belongs to family “Cucurbitaceae”. It is an annual climbing vine which has vigorous growth. The plant bears white color flowers which bears fleshy and bottle shaped fruits. The fruit is used for cooking purpose. Also, it is good for health as it possesses medicinal property. It helps in better digestion, reduces sugar level and constipation, cures insomnia and urinary infections and is good remedy for treating insomnia. 
 
In Plain areas of Uttar Pradesh, it is taken as Kharif as well as Summer crop.

Soil

It is grown in variety of soils. It gives best result when grown in sandy loam to loamy soil. 

Popular Varieties With Their Yield

Swarn Purna: Fruits are medium size. Gives average yield of 120 to 140qtl/acre.
 
Swarn Shweta: Fruits are solid and medium size. Gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre.
 
Swarn Ageti: Fruits are solid and medium size. Gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre.
 
Pwainset: Fruits are dark green color. Gives average yield of 60-80qtl/acre.
 
Pant Sankar (Lauki 1): Fruits are about 35cm long. Fruits are ready for first picking in 60days. Gives average yield of 160qtl/acre.
 
Pant sankar (Lauki 2): Fruits are 40cm long. Fruits are ready for first picking in 60days. Gives average yield of 160qtl/acre.
 
Pant Lauki 4: Fruits are 40cm long. Medium duration and high yielding variety. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.
 
N.Rashmi: Early maturing variety, suitable for summer as well as rainy season. Gives average yield of 120-160qtl/acre.
 
N.Dharidar: Long bottle shape variety suitable for summer cultivation. Gives average yield of 140qtl/acre.
 
N.Jyoti: Early maturing variety, ready to harvest in 60days. Fruits are long. Gives average yield of 160-240qtl/acre.
 
N.Shashir: Round variety suitable for winter season. Resistant to powdery, downey mildew. Gives average yield of 340qtl/acre.
 
N.Madhuri: Gives average yield of 400qtl/acre.
 
N.Shivani: Gives average yield of 520qtl/acre.
 
N.Bottle gourd (NDBG 132): Suitable for spring and summer season. Ready for first picking in 60days. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre.
 
Bottle gourd (NDBG 619): Early maturing variety with cylindrical shape. Gives average yield of 120qtl/acre. 
 
Hybrid Varieties: Aman, Priya.
 
Other state varieties:
 
Pusa Summer Prolific Round: Gives average yield of 100-120qtl/acre. 
 
Pusa Hybrid 3: Fruits are green, suitable for long distance transport. Ready for first picking in 50-55day after sowing. Gives average yield of 170qtl in summer and 190qtl/acre.
 
Kashi Bahar: Hybrid gives average yield of 200-220qtl/acre.
 
Kashi Ganga: Early variety gives average yield of 190-220qtl/acre.
 
Pusa Manjri (Hybrid  variety)

Land Preparation

For bottle gourd farming, well prepared land is used. To bring the soil to fine tilth, ploughing followed by harrowing is done. 

Sowing

Time of sowing:
For summer season, complete sowing in February to March. For Kharif season, June-July is optimum time for bottle gourd cultivation.
 
Spacing:
Use row to row spacing of 1.5-2.0m and plant to plant spacing of 30-45cm. 

Sowing depth:
1-2cm deep seeds are sown. Sow two seeds in one hole. After germination, remove weak seedling and keep healthy one.
 
Method of sowing:

Seed

Seed rate:
For one acre land, use seed rate of 1.5 to 2 kg of seed.
 
Seed treatment:
Seed is treated with Bavistin@0.2% @3gram/kg of seed to protect the seed from soil borne fungus.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

UREA SSP MURIATE OF POTASH
70 150 40

 

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASH
32 24 24

 

Bottle gourd crop required well decomposed cow dung @8-10ton/acre, Nitrogen@32kg (Urea@70kg), Phosphorus@ 24kg (SSP@150kg) and Potash@24kg/acre (MOP@40kg). Apply well decomposed cow dung, full dose of Potash and Phosphorus, and one-third of Nitrogen, two to three week before seed sowing. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen in two equal splits. Provide first dose 25-30days after sowing and second dose 40-50days after sowing (i.e. before flower emergence). 

Weed Control

To control the weeds, 2-3 hoeings are required at the initial stages of plant growth. Weeding operations are carried out at the time of fertilizer application. Earthing up is also an effective way which should be carried out in rainy season. To control, weed chemically, take spray of Pendimethalin@1tr/acre in 200 Ltr of water, within 48hours after seed sowing.

Irrigation

In kharif season, it does not required irrigation. if needed then provide irrigation. Also, avoid water stagnation in field. Provide proper drainage. In summer season, after sowing, immediate irrigation is necessary. In summer, it required 6-7 irrigations. Apply them with interval of 4-7days. 

Plant protection

  • Pest and their control:
Fruit fly: They feed themselves on internal tissues of fruits which cause premature fruit dropping and rotting and yellowing of fruits.
 
Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre.

 

Aphids: They suck the sap of the plant which results in curling and crinkling of leaves.
 
Treatment: Spray of Dimethoate@200-250ml in 150ltr water is done to get rid of aphids. 
Pumpkin beetles: The beetles destroy the roots by feeding on themselves. 
 
Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre. 
Epilachna beetle: The grubs destroy the plant parts by feeding on them. 
 
Treatment: Spray with Carbaryl@10% @ 600-700gm in 150ltr water per acre.
  • Disease and their control:
Downy mildew: Chlorotic spots are the symptoms of this disease. 
 
Treatment: Spray with Mancozeb@400gm in 150ltr water per acre.
Powdery mildew: Small, white color spots are seen on leaves and stems are the symptoms of this disease. 
 
Treatment: Spraying of M-45 or Z-78@400-500gm is used to get rid of this disease.
Mosaic: The disease causes stunted growth and yield gets reduced.
 
Treatment: Spray of Dimethoate@200-250ml in 150ltr water is done to get rid of mosaic.

Harvesting

Depending upon variety and season, crop is ready for harvesting in 60-70days. Depending upon market requirement, medium and tender fruits are harvested. Mature fruits are mostly stored for seed production purpose. Cut the fruits from vines with help of sharp knife. In peak season, picking should be done in every 3-4 days. 

Seed production

Keep isolation distance of 800m from other varieties of sponge gourd. Remove diseased plants from the field. For seed production, the fruits are harvested when they get physiologically mature. Three field inspections are required for the production of true to type seed. After harvesting, fruits are dried and then seeds are extracted. 

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