ASPEE COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY

NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

NAVSARI 396450

FSC - 512

GAP FOR HORTICULTURAL CROPS

ASSIGNMENT ON
GAP FOR VEGETABLE CROPS

SUBMITTED BY
BAMBHANIYA KINJAL KALUBHAI
M.Sc. (Horticulture)
Department of Vegetable Science
Reg no. 2020218004

SUBMITTED TO
Dr. Y. N. Tandel
Associate Professor
Department of Fruit Science
Navsari Agricultural University
Navsari 396 450

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 GAP of Tomato
Varieties
Improved varieties
Arka Saurabh, Arka Vikas, Arka Ahuti, Arka Ashish, Arka Abha , Arka Alok, HS101, HS102, HS110,
Hisar Arun, Hisar Lalima, Hisar Lalit, Hisar Anmol, KS.2, Narendra Tomato 1, Narendra Tomato
2, Pusa Red Plum, Pusa Early Dwarf, Pusa Ruby, Co-1, CO 2, CO 3, S-12, Punjab Chhuhara, PKM
1, Pusa Ruby, Paiyur-1, Shakthi, SL 120, Pusa Gaurav, S 12, Pant Bahar, Pant T3, Solan Gola and
Arka Meghali.
F1 hybrids:
Arka Abhijit, Arka Shresta, Arka Vishal, Arka Vardan, Pusa Hybrid 1, Pusa Hybrid 2, COTH 1 Hybrid
Tomato, Rashmi, Vaishali, Rupali, Naveen, Avinash 2, MTH 4, Sadabahar, Gulmohar and Sonali.
Climate
 Climate and soil requirements Tomatoes grow best in temperatures 20–27°C.
 Fruit setting is poor when average temperatures exceed 30°C or fall below 10°C.
 Tomatoes prefer well drained soil because they are sensitive to waterlogging.
 Optimum soil pH is 6.0–7.0.

Soils
The tomato grows on practically all soils from light sandy to heavy clay. Light soils are good for an
early crop, while clay loam and silt-loam soils are well suited for heavy yields. Tomatoes do best in a
soil that has a soil reaction from pH 6.0 to 7.0. If the soil is acidic liming is required.
Seed rate

 For raising the seedlings in nursery bed 300 - 400 g/ha seeds are required.
 Hybrid seeds are very costly so it should be sown in plastic cups or ice cube tray, which require only
70-90 g.
Time of planting

 Tomato is a day neutral plant so wildly it found grown in any season.

 In the northern plains three crops are taken but in frost affected area rabi crop is not fruitful. The kharif
crop is transplanted in July, rabi crop in October - November and zaid crop in February months.
 In the southern plains where there is no danger of frost, The first transplanting is done in December-
January, Second June-July Third in September-October depending on the irrigation facilities available.
Raising seedlings

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 Seedlings are grown before one months of transplanting raised beds of 60-100 cm width and of
convenient length.
 Soil solorization of nursery bed by covering them with white transparent polythene sheet for one month
should be done in hot summer months. It will kill the disease causing organisms like fungus, bacteria,
nematode as well as insects and seeds of weeds.
 For one m2 of nursery area apply 5kg well rotten FYM and 20 g of each N, P and K fertiliser, and also
apply 2.5g carbofuran or 200 g of neem cake and 10-25 g trichoderma.
 While preparing the nursery beds, neem cake /castor cake/ neam leaf/ castor leaf/ pongamia leaf/
calotropis leaf has to be incorporated @ 400 g/m2 for protection against nematodes.
 After sowing the seeds, mulch with green leaves and irrigate with a rose-can daily in the morning.
Remove the mulch immediately after germination of the seeds. Restrict irrigation one week before
transplanting and irrigate heavily on the previous day of transplanting.
 Cover the nursery bed with fine nylon net to escape the damage by virus transmitting insects.
Seed treatment
 To avoid damping off disease treats the seed with Tricoderma @ 5-10 g/Kg seed or carbendazim 2g/Kg
seed.
 The treated seeds are dried in shade for 30 minutes and then sown sparsely along the lines in ½ cm
depth and then covered by the topsoil.
Land preparation
Land is prepared to a fine tilth by thorough ploughing or digging 2 - 3 times. At the last ploughing
organic manure and 10 kg carbofuran granules or 200 kg neem cake has to be applied
Manuring
Apply well rotten farm yard manure / compost @ 20-25 t/ha at the time of land preparation and mix
well with the soil. A fertilizer dose of 75:40:25 kg N:P 2O5:K2O / ha may be given. Half the dose of
nitrogen, full phosphorus and half of potash may be applied as basal before transplanting. One fourth
of nitrogen and half of potash may be applied 20-30 days after planting. The remaining quantity may
be applied two months after planting.
Transplanting

 The transplanting is done in small flat beds or in shallow furrow depending upon the availability of
irrigation.
 In heavy soil it is usually transplanted on ridges and during the rains also it is advantageous to plant
the seedlings on ridges.
 For indeterminate varieties/hybrids, the seedlings have to be staked using bamboo sticks of two meter
length or planted in broad ridge of 90 cm width and 15 cm height. The seedlings are planted in the
furrows at a spacing of 30 cm and the plant is allowed to spread on the broad ridge.
Spacing

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 The spacing recommended for the autumn-winter crop is 75 x 60 cm and for the spring-summer crop
75 x 45 cm.
Irrigation
Tomatoes need very careful irrigation that is just sufficient water at the right time. It is necessary to
maintain an even moisture supply. During summer season, irrigation at every 5to 7 days interval is
necessary, whereas in winter 10 to 15 days interval is sufficient. A period of drought followed by
sudden heavy watering during the fruiting period may cause cracking of fruits.
Weed Control

 There is need of light hoeing during first four weeks in the field which encourage the growth but also
remove the weeds from the field. The surface soil is loosened by hand hoeing as soon as it is dry
enough after every irrigation or shower. All weeds should also be removed in this process.
 Mulching with straw, black polythene and many other materials has been found beneficial in moisture
conservation, in controlling weeds and some diseases.
Plant protection
Insects
Gram pod borer Heliothis armigera
It is a polyphagous, attacks most of the cultivated crops, major pest of tomato, and widely distributed
throughout the country. Young larvae feed on tender foliage, while advanced stages attack the fruits.
Larva bore circular holes in fruits.
Serpentine leaf miner Liriomyza trifolii
It is a polyphagous in nature very widely distributed throughout the India. Maggot mines into the leaf
and feeds on the mesophyll of the leaves making serpentine mines/galleries.
Tobacco caterpillar Spotoptera litura
It is also polyphagous in nature, major pest of tomato, distributed widely. Freshly hatched larvae feed
gregariously, scraping the leaves from ventral side, later stages, feed voraciously at night on the
foliage. Larvae may also feed on fruits hollowing these out.
Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne spp.
This nematode has wide host range, widespread all over India, affects most of the vegetable crops,
often tomato, brinjal, okra. Root-knot nematodes are small, microscopic, males are slender and females
swollen. The most characteristic symptom on the root is production of root galls. Above ground
symptoms are reduced growth, chlorosis of foliage, susceptibility to wilting, and reduced fruit
production.
Insects Management

 Two rows of marigold for every 16 rows of tomato can be grown as a trap crop. Marigold flowers
attract egg laying of H. armigera.
 Spray 5% neem seed kernel extract to kill early stages larvae.

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 Placement of 15-20 bird perches (T shaped) per ha helps in inviting insectivorous birds.
 Spray NPV @ 625 LE/ha during evening hours.
 Jaggery @ 1 kg, sandovit or Teepol(100 ml) are to be mixed with NPV on need basis spary 2 ml
Endosulfan, Chlorpyriphos or Quinolphos per litre of water
 Application of chopped leaves of Pongamia or Crotalaria reduces disease severity caused by nematode.
 Farmers of the Andhra Pradesh uses garlic+ chilly extract and slurry of cow dung + urine for protection
against pest and diseases.
Disease
Tomato is attacked vast range of fungus, bacteria and viruses. The most common diseases are
anthracnose, bacterial spot, bacterial blight, bacterial canker, buck eye rot, damping off, early blight ,
fusarium blight, late blight, leaf curl, mosaic, powdery mildew, rots, and septorial leaf blight. Few
major disease are discussed below.
Bacterial Wilt Pseudomonas solanacearum
Deadly disease of tomato. Wilting, stunting, yellowing of the foliage and finally collapse of the entire
plant are the characteristic symptoms of the disease. The lower leaves may droop first before wilting
occurs.
Damping Off Pythium aphanidermatum, Rhizoctonia solani
Common in many parts of India, Occurring in nurseries of Tomato, Tobacco, Chillies, Cabbage,
Cauliflower, Brinjal and Cucurbits. Young seedlings are killed before they emerge through the soil
surface or collar region of grownup plants get rotten and toppling of small plants are seen in nursery
bed.
Early Blight Alternaria solani
Common disease of tomato occurring all over India. The characteristic leaf spots and blight first
becomes visible as small, isolated, scattered pale brown spots on the leaf which later on also develop
on stem and fruits. Fully developed spots are irregular, brown to dark brown in colour, and with
concentric rings inside the spot. In severe attacks the entire plant may be defoliated.
Wilt Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Lycopersici
It is a worst disease of tomato occurring all over India. First symptoms appear as chlorosis of the leaf.
Soon the petiole and leaves droop and wilt. When plant roots and basal stems are split open dark brown
or black discoloration of the vascular tissues may be seen.
Tomato Mosiac Tobacco mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus
The common symptom of mosaic is mottling of the leaves. The normal green colour of the leaf is
interspersed with light green to pale yellow islands of irregular patches. The edges of the leaf turn
downward and are stiffer than those of a healthy leaf.
Powdery Mildew Leveillula taurica
A light powdery covering of the lesions may occur on the lower surface. Heavily infected leaves die
but seldom drop from the plant.

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 Septoria Leaf Blight Septoria lycopersici
It is a Major disease of tomato throughout India. In young plants numerous spots appear on older leaves
or on plants with poor growth. Small, circular spots are first observed as water soaked areas on the
under surface of the lower leaves. As the spots enlarge, they develop dark brown marking and sunken,
white or grey centres.
Rots
Black mold rot Alternaria alternata, Stemphylium botryosum
Sunken or slightly flattened lesions with water soaked in appearance occurs on fruits. Soon these
lesion become brown to black in colour. Tomato fruits coming in contact with the soil are attacked by
soil-borne fungi causing rotting of the fruits.
Disease Management

 Soil solorization or partial sterilisation of the soil by burning trash on the surface
 Seed treatment with tricoderma 5-10g or carbendazim 2g or thirum3 g/Kg seed.
 Field sanitation
 Crop rotation with non-solanaceous
 Providing better drainage, forming raised beds
 Uproot the heavily infected or virus infected plants
 Sanitation and crop rotation reduces the disease incidence
 Spraying the plants with a mixture of Streptocycline 200 ppm and Copper oxychloride 3g per litre of
water gives fairly good control of the disease.
Tomato Good Agricultural Practices (T-GAP) for Field and Greenhouse Production
Approved Tomato Good Agricultural Practices (T-GAP) for Field and Greenhouse Production

(a) Prevention/Minimizing Risks in the Field - Field Management

1. Tomato fields should not be located in any area that can receive drainage or drift from an animal
operation or any other source of contamination.
2. Run-off or drift from any animal operation should be prevented.
3. Tomato growers should determine previous usage of land if at all possible and should assess potential
sources of contamination on land used.
(b) Land Usage and Greenhouse Usage
1. Animal Exclusion
a. Domestic animals and livestock should be excluded from tomato fields during the growing and
harvesting seasons.
b. Wild animal presence cannot be excluded but should be minimized to the degree possible by methods
identified by wildlife experts.

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 2. Pest Control
a. Establish and maintain a pest control program including removal of debris materials that might harbor
or provide habitat for pest reproduction.
3. Environmental Review and Monitoring
a. Routinely review field and greenhouse environments for compliance with the provisions of this
manual and maintain records of findings and assessments.

Harvest
 Tomato can be harvested at different stages, depending upon the time needed to
market the fruit.
 For long distance transport, fruit can be harvested at the breaker stage (not more than
10% of the surface is tannish-yellow, pink, or red).
 Fruit for local sale can be harvested at later ripening stages.
 Poor care of fruit after harvest will lead to poor fruit quality.
 Avoid fruit injury and do not mix damaged and undamaged fruit.
 Harvest during cool periods, such as late afternoon or early morning.
GAP of Kale
Climate Requirement for Growing Kale:
This is the hardiest crop which can withstand cold as low as -10°C to -15°C.
Basically, this leafy vegetable prefers temperate climate and can be cultivated in the areas having
cold winters as well.
Soil Requirement for Kale Plantation:
This crop prefers well-drained sandy loam soil with good organic matter.
It can be grown on a wide range of soils having good drainage conditions.
This hardy crop tolerates salts in the soils.
The ideal soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic) will result in good yield.
Propagation in Kale Cultivation: The most common way of propagation is by seeds. Seeds should be
sown in nursery beds to raise the seedlings and transplanted in the main field.
Propagation in Kale Cultivation:
The most common way of propagation is by seeds.
Seeds should be sown in nursery beds to raise the seedlings and transplanted in the main field.
Land Preparation and Planting in Kale Cultivation:

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Land should be prepared until it attains fine tilth stage by giving a couple of deep ploughings which
also helps in removing any weeds from the field.
In poor soils, supplementing with well rotten farmyard manure will increase the soil fertility hence
the good yield.
An average seed rate of 400 to 450 grams is sufficient for 1-hectare land.
August to October is best planting time in north India whereas August to September is the best time
for Himachal, Kashmir and Nilgiri regions.
Nursery raised seedling of 5 to 6 weeks age should be transplanted in the mainland at a spacing of 45
cm x 30 cm. For late planting, spacing can be reduced.
Weed Control of Kale Plants:
Weed control is essential in Kale farming.
Regular shallow hoeing and weeding should be carried out to make the crop weed-free.
3 to 4 hoeings and weedings are sufficient and once the leaves cover the soil, there is no need for
hoeing.
Irrigation Requirement of Kale Crop:
irrigation should be given immediately after transplanting in the field.
Provide subsequent irrigations at 3 weeks interval.
You may also check Zero Tillage Farming Advantages.
Manures and Fertilizers for Kale Production:
Supplement the field with 25 tonnes of farmyard manure (FMY)/hectare at the time of land
preparation. Chemical fertilizers of P & K of 75 kg/ha (full dose) should be applied whereas ‘N’ of
150 kg/ha should be applied in equal split doses, one dose at planting time, one dose after 1 month of
planting and final dose 3 weeks before first harvesting.
Pests and Diseases of Kale and Control Methods:
Aphids, Flea beetles, Whiteflies and Caterpillars are the main pests found in the Kale crop.
Keeping the field clean and weed-free and applying neem oil will be the best solution to control these
pests. Selection of healthy seeds and disease-resistant seeds will be a good idea for having less
disease.
Harvesting Process of Kale: In Kale leaves cultivation, harvesting starts from November and
continues up to January.
For better quality, it should be harvested at the right vegetative stage.
Harvested leaves should be bundled, packed and marketed.
The yield of Kale per Hectare:

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 This crop yields on an average 100 to 200 quintals/ha depending on the variety and farm management
practice

GAP of Brinjal

Varieties
CO 1, CO 2, MDU 1, PKM 1, PLR 1,PLR (B) 2, KKM 1, PPI 1, Annamalai COBH 1 and COBH 2

Soil
Well drained soil rich in organic matter with pH of 6.5-7.5.

Season of Sowing
December – January and May – June.

Nursery bed preparation

Apply FYM 10 kg, neem cake 1 kg, VAM 50 g, enriched super phosphate 100 g and furadon 10 g
per square metre before sowing. Area required for raising seedling for planting 1.0 ha is 100 sq.m.

Seed rate
Varieties : 400 g / ha
Hybrids : 200 g / ha

Seed treatment
Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride @ 4 g / kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g / kg of seed.
Treat the seeds with Azospirillum @ 40 g / 400 g of seeds using rice gruel as adhesive. Irrigate with
rose can. In raised nursery beds, sow the seeds in lines at 10 cm apart and cover with sand.
Transplant the seedlings 30 – 35 days after sowing at 60 cm apart in the ridges.

Protected nursery

 Prepare the nursery area of 3 cents with slanting slope of 2 % for the seedling production to
cover 1 ha.
 Cover the nursery area with 50 % shade net and cover the sides using 40 / 50 mesh insect
proof nylon net.
 Form raised beds of 1 m width and convenient length and place HDPV pipes at 2m interval
for further protection with polythene sheets during rainy months.
 Mix sterilized cocopeat @ 300 kg with neem cake 5 kg along with Azospirillum and
phosphobacteria each @ 1 kg. Approximately 1.2 kg of cocopeat is required for filling one
protray. 200 protrays are required for the production of 18,700 seedlings, which is required
for one hectare adopting a spacing of 90 x 60 x 75 cm in paired row system.
 Sow the treated seeds in protrays @ 1 seed per cell.
 Cover the seed with cocopeat and keep the trays one above the other and cover with a
polythene sheet till germination starts.
 After 6 days, place the protrays with germinated seeds individually on the raised beds inside
the shade net.

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  Water with rose-can everyday and drench with 19:19:19 @ 0.5% (5g/l) at 18 days after
sowing.

Field preparation
Thoroughly prepare the field with the addition of FYM @ 25 t / ha and form ridges and furrows at a
spacing of 60 cm. Apply 2 kg / ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg / ha of Phosphobacteria by mixing with
50 kg of FYM. Irrigate the furrows and transplant 30-35 days old seedlings at 60 cm apart on the
ridges.

Spacing
Varieties : 60 x 60 cm
Hybrids : 90 x 60 cm

Mulching
Mulch with black LDPE sheets of 25 micron thickness and bury both the ends into the soil to a depth
of 10 cm.

Weed control
Apply Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i. / ha or Fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i / ha as pre-emergence herbicide,
followed by hand weeding once at 30 days after planting.

Irrigation
After establishment of seedlings, irrigate at weekly intervals.

Layout and planting for drip irrigation and fertigation

 Apply FYM @ 25 t / ha as basal dose before last ploughing.

 Apply 2 kg/ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg/ha Phosphobacteria by mixing with 50 kg of FYM.
 Apply 75 % total recommended dose of superphosphate i.e. 703 kg / ha as basal.
 Install the drip irrigation with main and sub main pipes and place lateral tubes at an interval
of 1.5 m.
 Place the drippers in lateral tubes at an interval of 60 cm and 50 cm spacing with 4 LPH and
3.5 LPH capacities respectively.
 Form raised beds of 120 cm width at an interval of 30 cm and place the laterals at the centre
of the each bed.
 Before planting, wet the beds using drip system for 8-12 hrs.
 Planting to be done at a spacing of 90x60x75 cm in the paired row system, using ropes
marked at 75 cm spacing.
 Spray Pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i./ha or Fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i/ha as pre-emergence herbicide at
3rd day after planting.
 Gap filling to be done at 7th day after transplanting.

Manuring
Apply 2 kg each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria in the main field at planting.

Varieties
Basal dose : FYM 25 t/ha, NPK 50:50:30 kg/ ha.
Top dressing : 50 kg N/ha on 30th day of planting or during earthing up.

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Hybrids
Basal dose : FYM 25 t/ha, NPK 100:150:100 kg/ha.
Top dressing : 100 kg N/ha on 30th day of planting or during earthing up.

Fertigation schedule for hybrids

Recommended dose: 200:150: 100 kg / ha

75% RD of Phosphorus applied as superphosphate = 703 kg / ha.

1. 19:19:19 = 79 kg / ha
2. 13:0:45 = 189 kg/ ha
3. 12:61:0 = 37 kg / ha
4. Urea = 340 kg / ha

Growth regulators
Spray 2 ppm (1 ml in 500 lit) Triacontanol plus Sodium Borate or Borax 35 mg/l of water 15 days
after transplanting and at the time of full bloom to increase the yield.

After cultivation
Hand weeding, top dressing and earthing up on 30th day of planting.

Plant protection
Pests
Shoot & fruit borer

1. Remove the affected terminal shoot showing boreholes.

2. Remove the affected fruits and destroy.
3. Avoid using synthetic pyrethroids.
4. Spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5 % or any one of the following chemicals starting from
one month after planting at 15 days interval.

Nematode and Damping off disease

Seed treatment with antagonistic fungi viz. Trichoderma harzianum 4 g/kg seed and T.
viride 4 g/kg seed along with application of press mud at 5 kg/m2 or Carbofuran 3 G 10
g/m2. Application of Carbofuran 3 G at 10 g/sq.m at the time of sowing. Apply Pseudomonas
fluorescens at 10 g/m2 at the time of sowing to control root knot nematode and damping off
disease.

Epilachna beetle

 Collect the beetles, grubs, pupae and destroy.

 Spray any one of the following insecticide.

Whitefly
Monitor the whitefly with yellow sticky trap at 12 Nos./ha. Spray Neem oil 3% + Teepol
(1 ml/lit) or spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5 %.

Ash Weevil
Apply Carbofuran 3 G at 15 kg/ha at 15 days after planting.

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 Aphid
Release 1st instar larvae of Green lace wing bug (Chrysoperla carnea) @ 10,000 Nos./ha.
Apply phorate 10 % G @ 15 kg /ha or spray any one of the following insecticide

Red Spider mite

Apply phorate 10 % G @15 kg /ha or spray any one of the following insecticide

Diseases
Damping off
Treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride 4 g/kg or Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g /kg of seed 24
hours before sowing. Apply Pseudomonas fluorescens as soil application @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50
kg of FYM. Water stagnation should be avoided. Drench with Copper oxychloride at 2.5 g/lit at
4 lit/sq.m

Leaf Spot
Leaf spot can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb 2 g/lit.

Little Leaf
Remove the affected plants in the early stages and spray Methyl demeton 30 EC @ 1.0 ml/lit. to
control the vector.

Harvest
Harvest can be done 55 – 60 days after transplanting. Fruits are harvested at tender stage at 4 – 5
days intervals.

Yield
Varieties:25 to 30 t/ha
Hybrids:60 - 80 t/ha

IPM Package for Brinjal

 Seed treatment with Trichoderma viride (4g/kg) and Pseudomonas @ 10 g/ kg of seed

 Nursery + seedling dip treatment with Pseudomonas @ 10 g/ lit of water
 Soil application with Neem cake @250 kg/ha
 Maize as boarder crop against movement of whiteflies/ Liriomyza
 Use of yellow sticky traps against White flies and Liriomyza
 Clipping of shoot borer infested terminals
 Leucinodes adult monitoring with pheromone traps
 Trichogramma release after each brood emergence of Leucinodes
 Application of Neem oil formulations 10000ppm @1% / Neem seed kernel extract (5%)

GAP of Cowpea

Varieties
Co 2, VBN 2, Pusa Komal, PKM 1 and Arka Garima are commonly cultivated.

Soil
Well drained soil with rich organic matter content and warm humid climate is best suited for the
cultivation of vegetable cowpea.

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Season
June – July (Rainfed), February – March (irrigated)

Varieties
Co 2, VBN 2, Pusa Komal, PKM 1 and Arka Garima are commonly cultivated.

Soil
Well drained soil with rich organic matter content and warm humid climate is best suited for the
cultivation of vegetable cowpea.

Season
June – July (Rainfed), February – March (irrigated)

Seed rate
20 kg of seeds/ha is required.

Seed treatment
Treat the seeds with Rhizobium bacterial culture 600 g before sowing.

Preparation of field
Plough the field to fine tilth and form ridges and furrows at 45 cm apart or beds of convenient sizes.

Sowing
Dibble the seeds on both sides of the ridges or in lines in the beds at 45 x 15 cm spacing.

Irrigation
Give irrigation immediately after sowing and on 3rd day, thereafter once a week.

Application of fertilizers
Apply FYM 25 t/ha, Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria 2 kg /ha and N 25 kg and P 50 kg/ha for
irrigated crop. Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha and N 12.5 and P 25 kg/ha for rainfed crop.Fertilizers can be
applied in several split doses at fortnightly intervals.

Pinching
Before flowering, the tendrils should be pinched thrice for getting bushy plants.

After cultivation
Give one hoeing and weeding on 25th day after sowing.

Plant protection
Pests
Aphids
Aphids can be controlled by spraying Dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit or Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit.

Pod Borer
Pod borer can be controlled by spraying Quinalphos 25 EC 2ml/lit.

Diseases
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew can be controlled by dusting Sulphur 25 kg/ha or spray Wettable sulphur 2 g/lit.

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Yield
2500 kg (rainfed) and 5000 kg (irrigated) in a crop duration of 75 to 90 days can be obtained.

GAP of Potato

Agro-climatic requirements:

Growing season Cool season crop

Temperature for germination and Between 17 and 25ºC
vegetative growth
Temperature for tuberization Between 17 and 19ºC
Crop duration Short (80-90 days)
Photoperiod Potato need long day condition during growth and short
day condition during tuberization

Soil suitability:
 Deep, well-drained, sandy loam soils
 pH 5 - 6.5(acidic soil)
 Stone free soils
 Light, sandy soils
Field Preparation:
 The field should be ploughed once 20-25 cm deep with soil turning plough. Thereafter, two
to three cross harrowing or four to five ploughings with local plough should be done.
 One or two planking are also needed to make the surface smooth and well levelled.
 Enough moisture is essential at the time of sowing.
Fertiliser requirement
 Apply 20-30 tonnes FYM 2 weeks before planting.
 Usual rates of NPK applied are: Nitrogen: 180-200 kg/ha, Phosphorous: 100-150
kg/ha, Potassium: 100-150 kg/ha
 Too much nitrogen leads to high yields which have poor eating quality Application
is usually decided on after soil tests.
 fertilser is broadcast onto the soil before planting.
Water management in potato
Potato yield and quality can be reduced by both under and over-irrigation.
Water requirements of potato varies from 350 to 550 mm depending on crop duration, atmospheric
conditions, soil type and variety under cultivation.
8-12 irrigations are necessary in potato for obtaining high yield.
Furrow irrigation is most common and popular method of irrigating potato in plains.

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Earthing up
Proper earthing up is necessary for proper development of tubers as depends upon aeration, moisture
availability and proper soil temperature.
Earthing up also protect the crop from light.
Light exposure causes greening of tubers and leads to alkaloids (poisonous) forming skins. Earthing
up should be done when the plants are 15 - 22 cm high or generally it is done at the time of top
dressing of nitrogenous fertilisers.
Weed Management in Potato
The weed control in potato crop is normally done by manual labour.
Weeds can be controll indirectly by crop rotation and stubble cleaning.
Deep ploughing also buries weeds.
Earthing up also helps in weed control
Alachlor (lasso) may also be used as preemergence herbicide.
Important diseases and pests of potato and its management
A] LATE BLIGHT OF POTATO
C.O - Phytophthora infestans
SYMPTOMS
1.Start from tip of the leaf margin as small black areas which may extend and kill the foliage. 2.The
affected tubers show light brown patches on the surface.
MANAGEMENT
1.Foliar spray with RIDOMIL, MANCOZEB, ZINEB, COC @2g\lt.
2.Use of resistant varieties such as Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Navtal.
B] EARLY BLIGHT OF POTATO
C.O. - Alternaria solani
SYMPTOMS
1.Appearence of target like concentric ring type on leaf and stem.
2.The canker may cause wilting of the plant.
MANAGEMENT
1.Removal the crop debris and destroy them by burning after harvest.
2.Spray fungicides such as RIDOMIL, MANCOZEB, COC ZINEB @ 2g/lit.

C] BROWN ROT OF POTATO

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C.O. - Ralstonia solanacearum
SYMPTOMS
1.Sudden wilting of the plant.
2.Affected plants show droopy appearance and the branches gradually turn bronzy and die.
MANAGEMENT
1.The seed tuber should be treated with Aretan 0.5% or 0.2% streptocyclin solution for 15 to 20
minutes.
D] WART DISEASE OF POTATO
C.O. - Synchytrium endobioticum
SYMPTOMS
1.The chief symptoms of the disease is the appearance of tumours or warts of the tuber. 2.infection
of wart appears on the eyes of the tubers.
MANAGEMENT
1.Wart affected tubers should not be planted.
2.Quarantine legislation should be strictly followed.
OTHER IMPORTANT DISEASES
Black Leg - Erwinia carotovora
Dry rot - Fusarium oxysporium
Wilt - Fusarium solani
Golden nematode-Heterodera rostochinensis
Leaf roll- leaf roll virus
Scab - Streptomyces Scabies
Sclerotium rot - Sclerotium rolfsii
Root knot-Meloidogyne incognita
Charcoal rot - Macrophomina phaseolina
Pest And Control
Wireworm: use poison baits
Slugs: use slug pellets
Aphids: use insecticides or ladybirds
Potato cyst nematode: Employ crop rotation

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Harvesting
Earlies are harvested from early June onwards.
Early crops (new potatoes) have low yield but get high price.
Maincrop are harvested in late September or October at full maturity.
Haulms are killed off 3 weeks before harvesting.
Use contact herbicide.
In these 3 weeks skin on tuber hardens leads to less bruising and scratching on harvesting.
STORAGE
Buildings for storage should be: Leak proof
Frost proof discourage rotting
Well ventilated- Less risk of sprouting and rotting
Forced draught ventilation systems are needed where stacks exceed 1.8m in height
Easy access for tractors and trailers
Strong, reinforced walls
Potatoes to be sold after February 1st should be treated with sprout inhibitor or else refrigerated.
Paired-row concept for Cultivation of True Potato Seed: -
Paired-row concept for cultivation of True Potato Seed (TPS) is the innovation in which TPS are
sown in narrow inter space of 10 cm ×10 cm with 5 cm for plant-to plant distance.
A total of 100 plants per m2 were maintained in all cases. This innovation is less laborious than a
single row system, which need more time.
Very high level of seedling maintenance is the major utility of this concept.
Advantages of using True Potato Seeds as planting material: -
100 grams is sufficient to cover one hectare instead of planting 2-2.5 tons of Potato seed tuber.
Being hybrid capable of giving more production.
No cold storage facility is required for storing T.P.S.
Comparatively more resistance to pests and diseases.
Net profit is more as cost of cultivation is less and also as per hectare production is much more. The
seed tubers being utilized could be otherwise used for consumption.

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