Introduction-
Carrot is an important root vegetable commonly grown in the country. It is rich in vitamin ‘A’ and some of the major minerals. The total area under Carrot in Andhra Pradesh is about 4,954 hectares with an estimated annual production of 88,925 tons.
Scientific name-Daucus carota L.
Suitable season for growing carrots
August-November (15 days gap)
Soil requirement for carrot cultivation
Well drained deep loamy soils are best suited for its cultivation.
High yielding carrot varieties-
1.Pusa Kesar
It has red coloured roots and self-coloured core. Suitable for early sowing (from August to early-October), it matures in 90-110 days and yields 30 t/ha. It contains 7,753 mg carotene/100g fresh weight.
2.Nantes Half long
Cylindrical, stumpy roots, well shaped with abrupt tail, orange-scarlet with the self-coloured core, flesh sweet, fine-grained with good flavour and orange scarlet in colour. It takes about 110-120 days for root formation.
3.Giant Chanteney
Almost cylindrical roots terminating abruptly in small, thin, tail, 12-15cm long, fine textured, orange flesh with a self-coloured core, maturity 90-110 days.
4. Chanteney
An excellent variety for canning and storage. Roots are conical to near conical, thick, attractive orange, smooth, thick at the shoulders with gradual tapering towards the distinct stumpy end. Core indistinct, flesh tender, sweet and fine-textured.
5.Pusa Yamadagni
Orange flesh, self-coloured core, earlier by a week to 10 days than Nantes.
Seeds and Sowing
5kg of seed per hectare may be dribbled at a spacing of 30cm x 5cm
Fertilizer requirement in carrot cultivation
Apply farmyard manures at the rate of 25 tons/hectare in the last ploughing and incorporate it into the soil. Nitrogen 50 kg/ha. Phosphorus 40 kg/ha. Potash 50 kg/ha.
Nitrogen is applied in two split doses i.e. 25kg N with the last ploughing as basal dose and remaining 25kg N next 6 weeks after sowing as a top dressing. All P2O5 and K2O as basal.
Intercultivation of Carrot
Irrigate the field once in 7-10 days depending on soil type and weather conditions. Keep the land free from weeds.
Spray Schedule
Spray the crop with 20ml Malathion or 40g Carbaryl with 24g to control the leaf hoppers, weevils, and aphids. Wettable sulphur and 30g Copper oxychloride in 10 litres of water 4 weeks after sowing. About 360 lit of spray mixture is required per hectare, for the control of leaf spot, blight, and powdery mildew.
Repeat the same spray 7 weeks and 10 weeks after sowing. Use about 450 and 540 lit of spray mixture per hectare respectively.
Harvesting of carrot and Yield per acre
The crop will be ready for harvest in about 3 months. About 20,000 kg tubers may be expected from one hectare.
Plant Protection-
Pests control for carrots-
1. Leaf hopper (Empoasca Punjab enosis)
Both adults and nymphs suck sap and devitalize the plants.
Control
Apply Monocrotophos or Phosphamidon or Dimethoate or Oxymethyl demeton (0.05%)
2. Weevil (Listronotus Oregon enosis)
Control
Spraying of monocrotophos 0.05% or carbaryl 0.15% two or three times at 10 days intervals.
3.Aphids (Cavariella aegopodii)
Control
Spray 0.1% Dimethoate 3ml/l of Methyl demeton 2ml/l of Acephate 1.5g in one litre of water. Spray alternating the chemicals at weekly interval.
Diseases of carrot-
1. Leaf spot (Cercospora carotae)
Control
Seed treatment with hot water at 500C for 15 minutes. Spray Copper oxychloride or Mancozeb @ 3g/lit water for 2-3 times at 7 days interval.
2. Powdery Mildew(Erysiphe polygoni):
Spray Dinocap @ 1ml/lit.
Source –
- Dr. Y. S. R. Horticulture University, Andhra Pradesh.
