Visit to Organic based farming system
On this based day we visit to organic -based farming sysytem under interrogation of Abhishek Nischal
Sir.
In this we study about sweet potato okra cultivation
Organic instructor : Md-Sakil ullah
Okra Seed in 15 plot
Sweet potato in 9 plot
Sweet potato germination takes place in days
Irrigation : 15-20 days first irrigation
Sweet potato:
Scientific name : Ipomoea batatas
Family : Convolvulacea
Chromosomes no. : 2n=90
Sweet potato Cultivation involves serveral key steps to ensure a successful harvest.
1.Soil preparation: Sweet potatoes prefer well drained, Sandy loam soils. PH
between 5.8 and 6.2.
2. Planting: Sweet potatoes are typically grown from elips, which and shoots that
sprout from a mature sweet potato. These slips are planted on raised beds or
rows. Plant them 12-18 inches apart, with a 3-4 feet between rows..
3. Climate: Need warm growing season, temp. 65 degree f and 95 degree f(18
degree c to 35 degree c). "Requied about 90 to 120 Frost free days to mature.
4. Watering: Regular watering is crucial durring periods. Avoid over watering.
5. Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer or on high in phosphorus and potassium.
Avoid high N- fertilizers as they can promote vine growth at the expense of tuber
development.
6. Weed and Pest Control: Hand weeding, mulching Watch pests like sweet potato
weevils and diseases such as fusariumwilh.
7. Harvesting: Sweet potatoes are typically ready for harvest 90-150 days after
planting, depending on variety. Harvest before first frost, as cold temperatures,
can damage the tubers.
8.curing and Storage: Cure harvested Sweet potatoes in a warm, humid environment (about 29°c with
90% humidity) for 07-10 days to improve flavor in a warm and storage life. Store cured sweet
potatoes in a cool dry place around 13 - 16 degree celcius.
Disease of sweet potato and management
1.Fusarium Wilt: caused by fusarium oxysporum fungus, this disease leads to yellowing and wilting of
leaves.
• Use a resistant varieties.
•Improve soil drainage and avoid excessive watering. Practice crop rotation, avoid sweet potatoes
planting or related crops in the same soil for several years
.
2.Sweet potato weevil: larvae of this pest can cause internal damage to tubers , making them unfit for
Storage
Control: Use pest-resistant varieties if available.
Implement proper field sanitation, by removing and destroying infected Plants and debris
Apply insecticides if necessary,
3.Leaf spot diseases: Fungal and that cause bacterial infections the spots on leaves such as Alternaria
and Cercospora leaf spots.
Control:
use disease - resistant varieties.
Apply fungicides as recommended during wet periods.
bestody sofected plant Remove and destroy infected plant debris and crop rotation.
Okra : SN: Abelmoschus esculentus
Family : Malvaceal
Chrorhosome no.: 2n = 72 to 144 (polyplaloid)
Origin: South Africa
Importance
Bendi has high iodine content and has ability to cntrol goiter.
Bendi leaves are used in turkey to reduce inflammation.
Roots and stem are used for clarifying cane juice and in manufacture of gur or brown sugar.
Plants are soked in water solution and resulting solution is used as clarifier in jaggery
manufactures.
Mature fruits fibre and used in contain fruit fibre and used in paper industry.
Climate:
Prefers warm climate.
Sensitive to frost and require frost free growing period.
Optimum temperature 24℃ to 27℃ seed does not germinate when the temperature is below
20°C.
Plant growth in rainy season, compared to summer.
Temperature higher than 42° may drop flower drop.
Soil:
Sandy loam soils. however clay soil give good yield.
Ideal Soil should be rich in organic manure.
Roots are sensitive to high water Stagnation ptt is 6 to 6.8.
Also grown in saline soils upto EC value of 6 milli mhos per cm.
Time of sowing:
n north India summer crop is sown in February to March.
In south India generally sown in November as main crop.
Rainy season crop is sown in June- July throughout India.
Seed rate:
20 to 25 kg per hac is required for Summer crop.
12 to 15 kg per hac is required for rainy season crop.
Spacing :
Summer crop 30x30cm
rainy crop 60x30cm
Harvesting:
Pods are ready for harvesting in about 45 to 65 days after sowing.
Yield:
60-75 quintols Per hac in Summer and 126-125 quintols per hac in rainy season.
okra can be stored just for 2 to3 days under room temperature conditions.
Dieases:
(i) leaf curl: Transmitted by white fly
Management: i.Remove infected plant and burn them to avoid further spread of these.
ii. Spray insecticides.
(ii) Powdery mildew : Odium asteris-punicei
Management: i.Use Overhead irrigation.
ii.Use appropriate fungicides.
iii) white mold: Sclerotina. sclerotum
Management: i.Use wide row spacing
ii.Avoid excesive use of fertilizer.
