Carrot

 

Climatic Requirements Carrot is widely adapted to cool climates, but generally restricted to regions with low rainfall during summer and early autumn. A dry warm atmosphere is desirable for maturing plants that are gough and woody. Seed production is suited to inland regions, away from coastal areas, where conditions are drier for maturing seed.
Like turnip it also has two races, namely, biennial or temperate, and annual or oriental. both the types porduce seed in temperate parts. The seeds of oriental or annual types can be produced in the Northern Plains.		  

 

Land Requirements Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants. The soils of selected fields should be deep, with good drainage and fertility.  

 

Isolation Requirements

Carrot is corss-pollinated by insects, including bees.A good nectar supply easily accessible attracts many insects.The seed fields must be isolated from other vareity fields and fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal purity requirements of certification, by at lest 1000 metres for foundation seed production,and 800 metres for certified seed production.


Method of Seed Production L:ike other biennials both seed to seed and root to seed methods can be followed.. Generally, the toot to Seed method is followed because in the seed to seed method root rot is usually very high, as compared to the transplanted roots. The whole roots with the tips cut (to examine the colour) are planted, keeping the crown exposed.  

Cultural Practices

ROOT TO SEED METHOD

FIRST SEASON - MOTHER ROOT PRODUCTION)

Time of Sowing The sowing of seed crop should be done from 15th July to 7th August, depending upon duration of variety and climatic conditions.
  


Preparation of Land Carrots need deep, loose soil for their best development. Thorough pulverisation of soil is essential. Prepare the field to a fine tilth by repeated ploughing, harrowings, followed by levelling.


Source of Seed Obtain breeder's/foundation seeds from source approved by a seed certification agency.


Seed Rate 2.5 to 3.5 kg per hectare. the roots produced on one hectare are sufficient for transplanting 3 to 4 hectares under seed production.


Sowing of Seeds For better development of roots, sowing on ridges is preferred to flat sowing. Double row ridges 75 cm apart produce larger number ofwell-developed roots than single row ridges . The seed takes eight to 10 days for germination. For uniform germination, the ridges should remain moist till germination takes place. Hence, the field should be irrigated just after sowing. Afterwards, when the plants are 5 to 6 cm high, thin out plants to a distance of 6 to 7 cm.


Fertilisation Apply 15-20 tonnes of farmyard manure per ha to soil well before sowing, and mix it into the soil thoroughly.Apply 40-50 kg phosphorus and potash per ha at the time of sowing. Top dress once or twice with 75 to 100 kg ammonium sulphate per hectare, after weeding.


Irrigation Irrigate at eight to 10 days interval as required.


Interculture Carrot is a slow-growing crop. Therefore, weeding and hoeing should frequently be done, particularly in the early stages. One earthin-up by end of September, orearly October, will keep the crop clean till the close of autumn, when it is uprooted for planting.


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Harvesting of roots Uproot the plants when they have fully developed roots.


Selection of roots for transplanting

Thorough selection of roots is made on the basis of character of tops, whether short or heavy, colour of skin, shape and size of roots. The colour of flesh, colour and size of the core are the most important characters to be considered. the core should be of the same colour as the flesh and as small as possible.

SECOND SEASON (SEED PRODUCTION)

Planting of selected roots After selection their tops are clipped and the tips pruned aand then reset in a well-prepared field.  

 

Brief Cultural Practices

1. Preparation of land: . Carrots need deep, loose soil for their best development. Thorough pulverisation of soil is essential. Prepare the field to a fine tilth by repeated ploughing, harrowings, followed by levelling.

Method of transplanting: The selected roots prepared in the manner already described r are reset in the field at a distance of 75 x 22.5-30 cms. The soil is then firmed and tapped around the roots. Soon after transplanting the field is irrigated.

Manuring:Apply 20 tonnes of well-rotted farmyard manure well before sowing, and mix it in the soil thoroughly.At the time of final preparation mix in the soil 250-300 kg Super Phosphate and 100-150 kg muriate of postash per ha Make surface application of 25-300 kg ammonium sulphate per ha during April to May after hoeing and earthing.

Interculture: One weeding during March and another hoeing and earthin-up during April-May is required.

Other cultural practices are same as described for the previous season.

  

 

Roguing Roguing should be done at bloom stage. Early bolters and off-types should be removed from time to time as required.  

 

Harvesting and Threshing The best time for harvesing is when the secondary umbels (heads) are fully ripe and tertiary heads are beginning to turn brown. the crop ripens unevenly, Seed is commonly harvested by handpicking. Two to three pickings may; often be necessary. Afterdrying, the heads are threshed and cleaned. After cleaning, tghe seed is rubbed by hand to remove the bristles on the surface and graded by means of sitters and sieves. Before storage, the seed moisture content should be reduced toeight per cent.  


Seed Yield The average seed yield is about 500 to 600 kg per hectare.