Knol-Khol

Land and Isolation Requirements

Land to be used for seed production shall be free of volunteer plants.

The soil of selected field should be deep, fertile, well-supplied with organic matter with a pH value 5.5  The field should be well-drained.

  

Cultural Practices

Time of Sowing and transplanting The seed is sown in the nursery from seventh to fifteenth August. the seedlings ae planted in the field during the first fortnight of September and the operation may continue up to the end ofthe third week. the crops planted during October and later, fail toform good knobs.
  


Preparation of Land For transplanting Prepare the field well by ploughing and three to four harrowings before the seedlings are set in the field.


Source of Seed

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


Seed Rate Main season and late varieties – 375 to 400 gm per hectare and early varieties 600-750 gm per hectare.


Sowing of Seeds in Nursery : The seeds are sown in raised nursery beds in a manner similar to that of cauliflower.


Fertilisation Apply 20- 25 tonnes of farmyard manure per hectare at the time of preparation of field. apply 100 to 150 kg superphosphate per hectare at the time of land preparation; . Top-dress 100-150kg ammonium sulphate per hectare after first weeing. Top-dress another dose of 100-150 kg ammonium sulphate per hectare during spring when the crop recommences growth after overwintering. Extra application of nitrogen may be done before flowering, if necessary.


Transplanting Three to four week old seedlings are transplanted.  Transplanting should preferably be done in the evening and the field irrigated immediately afterwards.


Spacing Row to row           - 60 cm
Plant to Plant          - 45 cm


Irrigation Requires a continuous supply of moisture.  Irrigate the crop as frequently as required.  Heavy irrigation should, however, be avoided when the heads  have formed.  A sudden heavy irrigation after a dry spell may cause bursting of heads


Interculture One hoeing and weeding during September to October,and one weeding and earthing-up during November to December is required. Keep the crop clean till the spring when one more hoeing and earthing -up is done.


Insect and Disease Control Adopt recommended IPM methods


Roguing Selection of Knobs is done during February to March when the knobs are well-developed only ture-to-type plants are retained. Off-types, or diseased plants, are removed.
Subsequent roguing is done at the flowering stage. The off-type plants observed at the flowering stage,are usually determined by the extent ofbranching ofthe flowering shoots. the higher the production of fully branched plants, the greater is the seed yield. Therefore, care is necessary in nucleus seed production to select the right type of plants at flowering stage. Remove any undesirable plants.
Subsequent roguing for off-types, diseased plants affected by diseases such as phyllody, black-leg, black rot, soft rot or leaf spot should be done from time to time as required.


Harvesting and Threshing

starts seed stalk elongation from 10-20th March when the mean temperature rises to 10-13 C.  Flowering and pod formation starts during the first week of April at mean temperature of 13-18.5C.  From 15th April to 15th May, the crop is in full flush of flowering and fruiting.  The ripening of pods commences by 15th June to 20th June and the harvesting continues up to second week of July.  At mean temperatures below 20C during June and July, the maturity of crop is delayed at least by a fortnight and the harvesting may continue up to July end.  To avoid shattering of seeds, the whole crop is harvested in two or three lots with sickles.  Generally, the early plants are harvested first and when the pod colour in about 60-70 per cent of the rest of the crop changes to yellowish-brown it is harvested completely and piled up for curing.  After 4-5 days, it is turned upside down and allowed to cure for another 4-5 days, in the same way.  It is then threshed with sticks and sifted with hand sifters.  After thoroughly drying the seeds they are cleaned and stored.


Seed Yield The average seed yield is about 5 to 6 qtls per hectare.