Production Technology of Root

Crops
Major root crops
1. Radish: Raphnus sativus, Family: Cruciferae

2. Carrot: Daucas carota, Family: Umbelliferae

3. Turnip: Brassica campestris var. rapa, Family: Cruciferae

4. Beet: Beta vulgaris, Family : Chenoodiaceae

Minor root crops:

Yam, Taro, Sweet potato, Parsnip, Celery, Horse radish etc.

 Origin
1. Radish: Found growing wild in the Mediterranean region thus it
is said to be originated somewhere in South East Europe.
Thompson and Kelly (1975) reported to be probably native of
Europe or Asia.

2. Turnip: It is almost of Asian or European origin but wild form

are available in Siberia.

3. Carrot: Wild form are available in South Weatern Asia and the
Mediterranean, few in Africa, Australia and America. As per
encyclopedia Britannica it is originated from Afganistan.

4. Beet: Originated from the Mediterranean region.

 Uses

Radish:

• Rich sources of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and other different

minerals.

• Pink skinned radish are generally richer in Ascorbic acid.

• Young and tender roots are eaten as raw and cooked vegetables.

• Pungent flavor is due to volatile isothiocynates.

• Raw roots are used to prepare pickles and as well for dehydrated
product.
Turnip:

• It is the rich sources of Vitamins and minerals.

• Fresh roots are used as raw salad and cooked vegetables.

• Young leaves are rich sources of ascorbic acid and iron.

Carrot:

• Rich source of carotene.

• Used as soup, salad and pickles.

• Leaves are said to be eaten in many countries.

• Oil from seeds is used for flavoring liquors and all kind of
food substitute.
 Botany
Radish: Both annual and biennial herb, the leaves are
lyrate pinnatifid varying from 10- 15 cm in small rooted
cultivars to as much as 45cm long in large rooted
cultivars. Edible portion of roots develop from both the
primary root and the hypocotyl. Flesh colour is white
and some red cultivars are white tipped. Inflorescens
are terminal raceme. Flowers are small white, rose with
purple veins.
Carrot: Annual or biennial herb. Leaves are pinnately
compound with long petioles expanded into a stalk at
the base. Edible portion is enlarged fleshy tap root.
Plant bears compound umbels. Flowers are perfect and
so called carrot seed is actually a fruit.
:Turnip: Fleshy thickened underground portion is
actually hypocotyl. The below ground portion may be
white or yellow white. The skin colour of above ground
may be red, purple, white, green or yellow. Leaves are
oblong to oval.
Beet: Upper portion of root develops from hypocotyl
and lower portion from taproot. The concentric rings
during cross section are result of alternate formation of
vascular tissue and storage parenchyma tissues. Colour
varies from orange red to dark purple red. Leaves are
ovate , dark green or reddish. Inflorescens is botanically
a large spike. Fruits are in aggregate, formed by the
cohesion of 2 or more fruits held together by calyx
called seed balls.
 Climatic requirement
Radish:

• Average optimum temperature: 18 – 24ºC.

• Asiatic varieties require higher temperature for root development

than temperate varieties.

• Radish roots become tough and pungent due to higher

temperature during warm period.

• Plant bolts earlier due to higher temperature.

• In European and Japanese types low temperature induces

flowering.
Turnip and beet:
• Average optimum temperature: 18 – 28ºC.

• Hardy crop: can tolerate frost and mild freezing

temperature.

• Under high temperature root becomes: woody, tough

and bitter taste.

• Excessive hot weather in beet causes zoning.

• Exposure of beet to low temperature causes bolting.

 Climate

Carrot:
• Average optimum temperature: 18 – 20ºC.

• Tropical or Asiatic varieties: require higher temperature where as

temperate varieties needs low temperature for root development.

Due to high temperature: lack of carotene pigment development

Above ground portion ------------ green

Underground portion -------------- white

 Edaphic Requirement.

Roots crops can successfully be grown in wide variety

of soil but well drained loam and sandy loam soil rich in
organic matter is considered best. Heavy soils are not
prefered since after irrigation or rain a hard crust is
formed on the surface which restricts the germination
of seeds as well as proper growth of roots. Heavy soils
produces rough misshapen roots with number of small
fibrous lateral roots. Best grown in pH range between
6- 7.
 Varieties

Radish:
European or temperate types:

Smaller in size, sweet in taste and are short duration (4 weeks), Ex.
are White Icicle, Red White Tipped etc.

Asian or tropical types:

Larger than European type, slow growing and long duration (45- 60
days). Ex. are White Neck, Mino Early, 40 Days, Pyuthane Red,
Pusa Chetaki, Tokinasi etc.
Descriptions of some radish varieties :
Varieties Areas of Types Maturity Growth Leaf Root color
adoption habitat margin
40 Days Mid hills & Early 35-40 days Erect Entire White
Terai

Pusa Chetaki Terai Early 40-45 days Erect Entire White

Mino Early All areas Early to 40-45 days Spreading Serrated White
mid type

White Neck All areas Mid to late 60- 65 days Erect Serrated White

Pyuthane Red Mid hills Medium to 60-65 days Erect Entire Red
late

Tokinashi All areas Late/heat 60-65 days Spreading Serrated White

tolerant
 Varieties
Turnip:

There are two types:

European or temperate type and Tropical or Asian type. In Nepal,

only temperate type ( Purple Top White Globe ) variety is popular.

Purple Top White Globe (PTWG):

• Globe shaped root mature in 60- 70days.

• Upper half purple and lower half white

Other varieties are Pusa Chandrima(E), Pusa Kanchan (A), Golden

Ball(E), Pusa Swarnima(E), Pusa Sweti(A), Early Milan Red Top(E),
 Varieties
Carrot: Major cultivated varieties in Nepal are Nantes Forto, Kuroda
Mark, Nepa Dream, Sigma and New Kuroda.

On the basis of root type , there are two types:

A. Nantes type- Slender roots with stumpy end : Nantes Forto, Pusa
Yamdagni, Half Long Nantes etc.

B. Chantenay type- Wedge shape with tapering end : Imperator,

Royal Chantenay and Red Cored Chantenay
Varieties
• cBeet: Only biennial types are available. Cultivars
are usually classified on the basis of the shape of the
roots.

1. Flat: Flat Egyptian

2. Short- top shaped; Early Wonder, Asgrow Wonder
3. Round or globular: Detroit Dark Red ,Crimson Globe
4. Long: Long Dark Blood
5. Half Long: Winter Keeper, Half Long Blood
 TTime of sowing

For Radish Terai Mid hills High hills

Mino Early Nov - Jan Aug - Dec Mar - Aug

White Neck Nov - Jan Aug - Dec Mar - Aug

Pyuthane Red Nov - Jan Aug - Dec Mar - Aug

40 Days Sep - Jan Jul - Oct ---------

Pusa Chetaki Sep - Jan Jul - Oct ---------

Japanese White Oct - Dec Jul - Oct Jul - Sep

For carrot, turnip Sep - Oct Jul - Feb May - Jul

and beet
 Field preparation

• Proper land preparation is preferred for better

development of root crops.

• The field should be ploughed for 3 -4 times.

• Clods should be broken so that there is no interference in

root development.
 Manures and Fertilizer

• 3:2:2 kg NPK and 1 ton FYM or compost / ropani.

• 2:2:2 kg NPK and 1 ton FYM or compost/ ropani as basal

dose .

• Remaining 1 kg N one month after seed sowing as top

dressing
 Irrigation
It is very difficult to give a definite recommendation
regarding the amount of irrigation to be given as it depends
on several factors:
1. Season 2. Type of soil 2. Presence of organic
matter 4. Age of the crop
• Plenty and continuous moisture helps rapid germination,
development of tender and attractive roots.
• If soil is dries up : roots become pungent, tough, rough
and unattractive.
 Intercultural operation

• Weeding: Regular weeding

• Hoeing: Generally two times (manipulation of soil)

• Thinning: During two week of seed germination or at the

time of first hoeing

• Earthing-up: First earthing- up during early stage of

growth. For seed crop another earthing-up during
flowering and fruiting to prevent lodging.
 Seed rate and spacing

Crop Seed rate Spacing

Radish 500gm/ ropani 30- 45cm x 5- 10 cm

Carrot 300gm/ ropani 30- 45cm x 5- 10cm

Turnip 200gm/ ropani “

Beet 50 gm / ropani “

In case of seed production of root crops the plants are maintained at wider
spacing
 Harvesting
• Harvesting time of radish depends on varieties:
30- 45 days in early varieties, 50- 70 days in mid & late
varieties and 20 – 30 days in European varieties.
• Carrot roots are harvested at proper stage before root splitting
• PTWG matures on 60 -70 days where carrot on 110 – 120 days.

• Roots should be harvested when they are still tender.

• Delayed maturity results: pithy, fluffy, bitter taste & unfit for market

• Light irrigation during harvesting helps in easy uprooting the roots.

• Harvesting is done manually.

• After harvest, the roots could be washed, cleaned and graded before
sending to the market
Yield
Radish:
Average yield: 1000-2000 kg/ropani
Early varieties: 1000 – 1200 kg /ropani
Late varieties – 1500 – 2000 kg /ropani
Turnip: 700-1500 kg/ropani
Carrot: 600-700 kg/ropani
Beet : 1000 – 1200 kg/ropani

Storage: Cannot be stored for more than 3-4 days

under ordinary condition. However it can be stored for 2-
3 months in cold storage at 0- 4.4 deg. celcius and 90-
95% RH.
Diseases
1. White rust
Caused by Albugo candida

• Symptoms appears on leaves and flowering shoots.

• White pustules appears on leaves (under surface) and flowering

shoots.

• These pustules form in large patches.

Control:

• Spray Dithane M-45 @ 15 days interval

Diseases
2. Leaf spot
Caused by Alternaria species

• Concentric lesion appear on leaves.

• Bluish fungal growth may be seen in centre of spots.

• Later petioles and stems are affected.

Control

• Hot water treatment to the seeds

• Seed treatments by Bavistin or Thiram @ 2.5 gm/kg seed

• Spray Dithen M-45 @ 15 days interval

Diseases
3. Black rot
Caused by Xanthomonas compestries (Bacteria)

• Chlorotic areas near leaf margins – progress towards main vein.

• Entire areas seems in V shaped.

Control:

• Crop rotation

• Infected plants should be collected and burnt

Diseases
4. Bacterial soft rot
Caused by Erwinia carotovora (Bacteria)
• Wounds during harvesting or by insects helps for disease
incidence.
• Abundant moisture on root surface favors diseases.
• The infected roots: soft, becomes watery
• A foul odor arises from the decayed roots
Control:
Avoid root injury, crop rotation, keep root surface dry and store
in appropriate temperature.
Diseases
5. Radish mosaic virus (Viral disease)
• Small, irregular areas appear on leaves, chlorotic areas appear.

• Little or no leaf distortion is noticed

• Stunting or abnormal growth of the plants

• Virus transmits through aplids.

Control aphids to manage this disease.

Insects
1. Aphids
2. Mustard saw fly
3. Semi looper
…………………………………………………………………….
1. Chewing & Biting type
(Butterfly, moth, caterpillar, beetle, grasshopper)
Use contact pesticides: Malathian, Cypermethrin, Endosulphan
and Nuvan)

2. Sucking type
(Bugs, hopper, jassids, aphids)
Use systemic pesticides: Rogar, Chloropyriphos, Dimethioate
Seed production
A. In-situ method
Vegetable seed production from the same plot of land (without
transplanting) where the seed was sown in the beginning.
Ex: Seed to seed method

Advantage
• It is comparatively economic method (low cost of production
than other methods)
• Seed yield is higher than other methods

Disadvantage
• Poor quality seed is produced
• The land is occupied for long time from seed to seed
Seed production
B. Ex-situ method (Root to seed method)
Mature roots are uprooted and their varietal characteristics are
confirmed. After giving proper root and shoot cut, they are
transplanted in the field where it has to mature.

Advantage
• Quality seed can produce ((Root part can judge)
• True to type seed can be produced.
• It can be fit in cropping system
Disadvantage
• High production cost
Seed production
Methods of seed production in Radish
1. Seed to seed:
• Seeds can be produced from the selected best true to type plants
from the main fields.
• This method is used if quality nucleus seed is used

2. Root to seed
• Maintain isolation distance 1000-1600 meter.
• Mature true to type roots are selected
• Properly cut: 1/3rd top part and 1/4th root part
• Prepare land and fertilization accordingly
• Transplant those selected root on 90x20 cm² (RR x PP) during
mid November to mid December.
• Field inspection and roughing: Normally three times: vegetative
stage, flowering stage & fruiting or pod formation stage
Seed production

• Allow the pods to fully ripe as there is no problem of shattering.

• When majority of pods are brown, the seeds stalks are cut and
kept in small piles to dry.

• Extract the seeds and dried in sun for longer storage.

• High moisture content results in poor germination and iincidence

of fungus.

• Average seed yield : 600-800 kg/ha

Seed production
Methods of seed production in Turnip and Carrot
1. Seed to seed
• Normally seeds can be produced from the selected best true to
type plants from the main fields.
• Seed to seed is adopted if quality nucleus seed is used.

2. Root to seed

• Similar other methods as radish seed production

• Turnip: 60 x 40 cm² and Carrot: 75 x 10-30 cm²(RR x PP)
• Av. seed yield: Turnip: 500-600 kg/ha & Carrot: 300-500 kg/ha,
Beet :
 Shattering is a serious problem in turnip. Therefore it is
advisable to cut the whole crop when 60- 70 % of it turns
yellow brown in colour but not fully dried.
In case of carrot, shattering is not a serious problem and
seeds are usually harvested when secondary umbels are
fully ripe and third order umbels have started to turn
brown.
In case of beet, the maturity and ripening of beet seed
starts from the base of the inflorescens. Generally when
70- 80% of seed ball get hardened and those at the base
of the inflorescens turn brown, the crop is harvested
otherwise there is possibility of shattering of seed during
harvesting.
THANK YOU