CARROT

1. Carrot is a usually grown on ridge to facilitate good root development. The seeds are dibbled at 1.5 cm depth at a spacing of 30-45 x 8-10 cm. For enhancing germination, the seeds are soaked in water for 12-24 hours before sowing.

2. The seed rate of 5-6 kg/ha is recommended.

3. Varieties –Nantage – This variety is introduced from Europe. Pusa Kesar, and Pusa meghali are recommended.

4. Weed control -For control of weds hand weeding is recommended. No chemical is recommended. Earthing up of roots along with weeding is done to prevent exposure of roots to atmosphere and consequent discoloration.To check the growth of leaves and inhance root development it is recommended to spray 500 ppm Cycocel after 50 days of germination.

5. Fertilizer management –The fertilizer dose depends upon the fertility of soil and amount of organic manure applied to the crop. For a good yield, 25 t/ ha of well-decomposed FYM is incorporated into the soil. Generally, application of 80 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kg K2O is recommended for optimum yield.Out of this half dose of N, and full dose of P and K is given at the time of planting. Remiaing dose of N should be given 20 days after sowing.As the feeder roots are well distributed in 25cm layer therefore, fertilizers should be ploughed to a depth of 25cm, particularly in dry weather, instead of applying them on the soil surface.

6. Irrigation management –Irrigation is given immediately after sowing. The irrigation cycle depends upon season, type of soil and amount of organic matter present in soil. Depending upon the planting season and the available soil moisture, carrots may be irrigated at 10-12 days interval during winter and 5-6 days interval during summer. Irrigation should be discontinued 2-3 weeks before harvesting to increase the sweetness and taste of the carrots.

7. Important pest and Diseases –- Leaf Blight -The disease produce severe blighting on carrot leaves and petioles if wet weather is prolonged during the growing season. Entire leaves and petioles may die on severely infected plants. Disease spreads in humid condition. Control- The use of disease-free seed is strongly recommended because the fungus can survive on or in the seed. Treat the seed with 3 gm of Captan or Thirum.Early applications of Diethane M 45, 25 gm in 10 lit of water starting at the first sign of infection, effectively control leaf blights on carrots. - Powdery Mildew –The symptoms appear as white powdery growth on the leaves and petioles causing the leaves to turn brown and wilt.Control- Dusting of Sulphur powder effectively controls the disease.- Carrot weevil, six spoted hopper and root fly are important pests. For weevil and hoppers spray Malathion 10 ml in 10 lit of water. - Root fly is feeding on roots by boring it. Roots develope with irregular shape and decay. To control this pest spray 33 ml Dimethoate in 10 lit of water

BANANA - cultivation

Soil Fertility of soil is very important for successful cultivation, as banana is a heavy feeder. depth and drainage are the two most important considerations in selecting the soil for banana. The soil suitable for banana should be 0.5 1m in depth, rich, well drained, fertile, moisture retentive, containing plenty of organic matter.The range of pH should be 6.5-7.5. Alluvial and volcanic soils are the best for banana cultivation. Banana is grown in India on a variety of soils such as the heavy clay soil of the Cauveri delta, alluvial soils of the Gangetic delta, black loam in Maharashtra, coastal sandy loams and the red lateritic soil of the hilly tracts of Kerala. These areas are famous for growing good crop of banana.

Climate:

Banana is tropical plant requiring a warm and humid climate. However, it can be grown from sea level to all altitudes of 1200 metres. It can be cultivated in a temperature range of 10°C and 40°C with high humidity but growth is retarded at temperatures of 20°C and less and more than 35°C. Yields are higher when temperatures are above 24°C for a considerable period. In cooler climate, the crop requires longer time to mature. Plants exposed to low temperature and humidity during active growth stage show reduced growth and yields. Hot winds blowing in high speed during the summer month's shred and desiccate the leaves. It requires on an average, 1700 mm rainfall distributed throughout the year for its satisfactory growth. Stagnation of water is injurious and may cause diseases like Panama wilt.

Weed Control :

Regular weeding is important during the first four months. Spading is commonly used and normally four spadings a year are effective in controlling weeds. Integrated weed management by including cover crops, judicious use of herbicides, intercropping and hand weeding wherever necessary will contribute in increased production.Pre-emergence application of Diuron (1kg a.i./ha) or Glyphosate (2 kg a.i./ha) is effective in controlling grasses and broad-leaved weeds without affecting the yield and quality of banana. Double cropping of cowpea is equally effective in suppressing the weed growth.

Intercropping :

Intercropping can easily be raised in banana plantation at the early stages of growth. Vegetable and flower crops like radishes, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, chilli, brinjal, lady's finger, gourds, marigold, and tuberose can be successfully grown as intercrop. Mixed cropping with arecanut coconut and cassava is a common and widely adopted practice in South India.

Desuckering :

During the life cycle, banana produces number of suckers from the underground stem. If all these suckers are allowed to grow, they grow at the expense of the growth of the main plant and hence the growth of the sucker should be discouraged. Removal of unwanted suckers is one of the most critical operations in banana cultivation and is known as desuckering. Such suckers are removed either by cutting them off or the heart may be destroyed without detaching the sucker from the parent plant. Removal of suckers with a portion of corm at an interval of 5-6 weeks hastened shooting and increased the yield.

Earthing Up :

In case of furrow planting earthing up should be done during rainy season to avoid water logging while during winter and summer the plant should be in the furrow.

Propping :

Propping operation is carried out in areas with high wind speeds. Pseudostems are propped up with bamboo, especially, at the time of bunch emergence.

Leaf Removal :

Pruning of surplus leaves helps to reduce the disease from spreading through old leaves. Leaf pruning can change light and temperature factors of microclimate. Pruning of leaves before bunch initiation delays flowering and harvesting cycle. For maximum yields a minimum of 12 leaves are to be retained.

Bunch Covering :

Bagging (bunch covering) is a cultural technique used by planters where export quality bananas are grown. This practice protects bunches against cold, sun scorching, against attack of thrips and scarring beetle. It also improves certain visual qualities of the fruits. Bunch covering with dry leaves is a common practice in India.

Removal of Male Flower Bud :

Removal of male bud after completion of female phase is necessary. Once the process of fruit setting is over, the inflorescence rachis should be cut beyond the last hand otherwise it grows at the cost of fruit development. This helps in early maturity of the bunch.

WHEAT production

With a production reaching ten times in past five years, India is today the second largest wheat producer in the whole world. Various studies and researches show that wheat and wheat flour play an increasingly important role in the management of India’s food economy. Wheat production is about 70 million tonnes per year in India and counts for approximately 12 per cent of world production. Being the second largest in population, it is also the second largest in wheat consumption after China, with a huge and growing wheat demand.

Production area

Major wheat growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar. All of north is replenished with wheat cultivation. Wheat has a narrow geographic land base of production as compared to rice or pulses. Wheat is a temperate crop requiring low temperatures and most of the country is tropical.

Growth promotional activities

The total procurement of wheat ranges from 8 to 14 million tonnes, accounting for about 11 to 20 per cent of the total production. The government system handles only a small proportion of the total wheat production and private merchants handle the large proportion. Yet the support price operation and the PDS play a significant role in maintaining reasonable and stable food grain prices in the country for both the producers and consumersIndia’s wheat production increase is driven principally by yield growth and by shift in production from other crops to wheat and an increase in cropping intensity. Among the major factors that affect yield, fertilizer use appears to have less effect in recent years while expansion in irrigated and high yielding variety (HYV) area seem to play a more important role in raising yield. Depending on the population and income growth, poverty alleviation and the rate of urbanization, a demand-supply gap may open at a rate of about 1 to 2 per cent per year which is equivalent to 0.7 to 1.4 million tonnes of wheat, growing larger over the years. Promoting rapid economic development and income growth in India which embraces the poor and particularly the rural poor, may lead to considerable growth in demand for wheat and thus an expansion in trade opportunities.

Ground Nut Cultivation

GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)is believed to be the native of Brazil to Peru, Argentina and Ghana, from where it was introduced into Jamaica, Cuba and other West Indies islands. The plant was introduced by Portuguese into Africa from where it was introduced into North America. It was introduced into India during the first half of the sixteenth century from one of the Pacific islands of China, where it was introduced earlier from either central America or South America.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.

The oil content of the seed varies from 44 to 50 per cent, depending on the varieties and agronomic conditions. Groundnut oil is an edible oil. It finds extensive use as a cooking medium both as refined oil and Vanaspati Ghee. It is also used in soap making, and manufactoring cosmectics and lubricants, olein stearin and their salts. Kernels are also eaten raw, roasted or sweetened. They are rich in protein and vitamins A, B and some members of B2 group. Their calorific value is 349 per 100 grammes. The H.P.S. type of groundnut kernels are exported to foreign contries. The residual oilcake contains 7 to 8 per cent of N, 1.5 per cent of P 2O5 and 1.2 per cent of K2O and is used as a fertilizer. It is an important protein suppliment in cattle and poultry rations. It is also consumed as confectionary product. The cake can be used for manufacturing artificial fibre. The haulms (plant stalks) are fed ( green, dried or silaged) to livestock. Groundnut shell is used as fuel for manufacturing coarse boards, corksubstitutes etc. Groundnut is also of value as rotation crop. Being a legume with root nodules, it can synthesise atmospheric nitrogen and therefore improve soil fertility.

CLIMATE AND SOIL.

Groundnut is grown throughout the tropics and its cultivation is extended to the subtropical contries lying between 45 degrees N and 35 degrees S and upto an altitude of 1000 metres. The crop can be grown successfully in places receiving a minimum rainfall of 1,250 mm. The rainfall should be well distributed well during the flowering and pegging of the crop.The total amount required for presowing operations (preparatory cultivation) is 100 mm; for sowing, it is 150 mm and for flowering and pod development an evenly distributed rainfall of 400-500 mm is required. The groundnut crop, however, cannot stand frost, long and severe draught or water stagnation.

Groundnut is grown on wide variety of soil types. However, the crop does best on sandy loam and loamy soils and in the black soils with good drainage. Heavy and stiff clays are unsuitable for groundnut cultivation as the pod development is hampered in these soils.

SEASON

Groundnut is raised mostly as a rainfed kharif crop, being sown from May to June, Depending on the monsoon rains. In some areas or where the mansoon is delayed, it is sown as late as August or early September. As an irrigated crop it is grown to limited between January and March and between May and July.

CULTIVATION.

For a kharif crop, with one set of rains in May-June, the field is given two ploughings and the soil is pulvarised well to obtain a good tilth. The third ploughing may be given just before sowing. Harrows or tillers can be used for cultivation. When the soils are heavily infested with perennial weeds, e.g. Cynodon or Cyperus, very deep ploughing is needed. If a field is infested with white grubs, chemicals, such as Heptachl or chlordane, are drilled at the rate of 25 kg per ha before final horrowing. For the irrigated crop, beds of convenient size may be made, depending on the tropography of the land, the nature of the irrigation source and the mode of liftinfg water. Since groundnut is a deep rooted plant it uses up both moisture and nutrients in the deeper layers of the soil. Generally, the following fertilizer schedules are recommended, depending upon the soil fertility, the variety grown, and the quantum and distribution of rainfall.

Cultivation of COTTON

The cultivation of cotton and its manufacture into textiles has been practiced in India since pre-historic times. The evidences from the excavations of Mohanjodaro prove that Desi Cottons of Northern India or 5,000 years old. Spread from India to Far East and Mediterranean countries.

Preferred over synthetic fabrics because of its durability, washability, vapour transfer, softness, chemical stability, elasticity and strength on both wetting and drying. By products of cotton are cotton seed oil and cotton cake. India ranks first in area and fourth in production.

Cotton, often referred as "White gold" has been in cultivation in India for more than five thousand years. Though synthetic / man-made fibres have made inroads in many countries in the world, cotton deserves the prime position in India constituting more than 70% of the total fibre consumption in the textile sector. The economic reforms and the trade policy liberalistion carried out during the last decade with a view of globalising the Indian economy have exposed the Indian cotton textile industry to a new challenge. In India, cotton is grown over an area of about 9 million hectares and provides livelihood for over 4 million farming families.

Various allied activities like ginning, yarn and fabric production, textile processing, garment manufacture, marketing etc., provide employment to several million people. Several ancillary industries like fertilizer, pesticide, agrochemicals, dyeing industry etc., depend on cotton.

The value of textile material exported from India during 1998-99 amounted to over Rs.5,27,208 million, comprising 30% of the total foreign exchange earnings of the country.
In the last two decades, the production of cotton has gone up from 7.5 million bales in 1983-84 to 16.3 million bales of 170 kg/bale during 1998-99. This is due to the introduction of high yielding varieties, hybrids and proper management of insect pests and diseases.
The cotton required for the purpose of manufacturing yarn is cultivated in about 9 million hectares of land in India and thus India ranks first in the world. Yet, in regard to productivity of cotton, we are far behind other cotton producing countries. While per hectare yield of cotton in India is as low as 333 kgs, a small country like Turkey produces 1170 kgs of cotton per hectare and occupies the first rank in the world. The per hectare yield of cotton in USA is 696 kgs and in China it is 1026 kgs. The higher productivity in these countries is mainly due to innovative and modernized method of cultivation. In India, more than 75% of the cotton is cultivated either without suitable irrigation facilities or under rainfed conditions as well as due to the non-adoption of good seeds and manures.

However, in recent times, the adoption of improved technologies on cotton cultivation have paved the way for stabilising the yield atleast to certain extent and this is a welcome feature.

Rice Cultivation - common problems

India's population is expected to be 1.2 billion by 2012. The demand for rice in India is projected at 128 million tonnes for the year 2012 and will require a production level of 3,000 kg/ha significantly greater than the present average yield of 1,930 kg/ha.Major constraints to rice production that India faces are land, water, labour and other inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides, and even high quality germplasm, without affecting the already degraded and stressed agricultural environment. The problems/constraints in rice production vary from state to state and area to area.Some of the major problems in rice cultivation
About 78% of the farmers are small and marginal in the country and they are poor in resource.
The problems of flash floods, water logging/ submergence due to poor drainage are very common in East India.
Continuous use of traditional varieties due to the non-availability of seeds and farmers lack of awareness about high yielding varieties.
Low soil fertility due to soil erosion resulting in loss of plant nutrients and moisture. Low and imbalanced use of fertilizers, low use efficiency of applied fertilizers particularly in the North-Eastern and Eastern States.
The Eastern region experiences high rainfall and severe flood almost every year which lead to heavy loss. Heavy infestation of weeds and insects/pests. Delay in monsoon onset often results in delayed and prolong transplanting and sub-optimum plant population (Mostly in rainfed lowlands). In the years of scanty or adverse distribution of rainfall, the crop fails owing to drought etc.