BEETROOT
BY- Juhi Chandra
Assistant Professor
UMU, Ranchi
BEETROOT
BOTANICAL NAME Beta vulgaris L
COMMON NAME Chukander
CHROMOSOME NUMBER 2n=18
FAMILY Chenopodiaceae
ORIGIN Mediterranean region
USES
• (Chukandar) is not so popular vegetable crop in India.
• Its root contain high percentage of sugar. It is also rich in protein, Ca, P, Fe & vitamin C.
• It is mainly used as salad in five star hotels in India, and also cooked as vegetable preferably mixed with other
vegetables.
• Beet root is also suitable for pickling.
• Beet root is short stem plant, the simple leaves bear close spiral arrangement of leaves at the crown.
• Large sized beets are used for canning.
• The colour of the leaves may vary from dark red to light green
• PIGMENTATION
Red colour of table beets is due to betacynin, a nitrogen containing compound, with chemical
properties similar to anthocynins. Also contains a yellow pigment betaranthin.
• Climatic requirement:- The optimum temperature for root growth is 18-21oC obtained always in cool
climate and at a temperature below 10oC for couple of week’s results in bolting which affects root
development.
• Mild climatic conditions are suitable for beet growing under warmer conditions.
• Beet root shows alternate white and coloured circles when sliced.
• Excessive hot weather causes ‘zoning’ – the appearance of alternating light and dark red concentric circles in
the rot.
• It is a direct sown crop and can be harvested in 120-130days, whereas, transplanted crop comes to harvest in
135 to 150days.
• Soil requirement:- Deep well drained loam or sandy loams is the best for beet root cultivation. Heavy clayey
soils result in poor germination and stand of crop due to formation of a soil crust after rains or irrigation.
• Land Preparation:- Land is ploughed to a fine tilth by thorough ploughing making it loose and friable. Clods
are to be removed completely. Apply well decomposed farmyard manure at the time of final ploughing. Flat
beds or ridges and furrows are prepared. Water-soaked ‘seed balls’ which contain 2-6 seeds are drilled 2.5 cm
deep in rows at spacing of 45-60 x 8-10 cm. 5-6 kg of seeds is required for one hectare. Staggered sowing at
1-2 weeks interval ensures steady supply of roots during the season.
• SOWING TIME
Plains
Northern plains : September – November.
Southern plains : July – November.
Hills
March- July.The seed is sown in raised beds or furrows and before sowing seeds are soaked in water over
night for better germination.
• SEED RATE
It requires about 8-10 kg of seed for cultivation in one hectare.
• SPACING
30-45 x 8-10 cm at a depth of 2-3 cm on ridges
• Nutrient Management-For getting good yield, 200-250 quintals of well rotten farmyard manure should be
applied during field preparation.
• Besides, 200-250q Farm Yard Manure, 60-70 kg nitrogen, 100-20kg phosphorus and 60-70kg potash per
hectare should also be applied.
• Application of half to two third of total nitrogen along with whole quantity each of Farm Yard Manure,
phosphorous and potash is given as basal dose.
• The remaining half-to-one third quantity of nitrogen is applied after three to four weeks of sowing.
• Irrigation-T he crop requires 300 mm of water which should be supplied through 4-6 irrigations.
• Stagnation of water is harmful.
• INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS
Earthing up is essential to cover the exposed root.
• One or two hoeings should be done.
• Pre-emergence application of pyrazone at 1.5-2.0 kg a.i. /ha or Pendimethan at 1.0 kg a.i. /ha is recommended
for effective weed control.
• THINNING
The seed of beet root is multigerm which produce 3-4 seedlings per seed ball.
• Hence, thinning is an important operation. Remove extra seedlings leaving a single robust plant per seed ball.
• The thinning should be done n the seedlings attain 3-4 leaves.
• Also remove weak, diseased and insect attacked plants to maintain the distance of 8-10cmbween the plants in
a row.
• HARVESTING
The crop is ready for harvesting in 55-70 days after sowing.
• Harvest the roots when they attain the size of 3-5 cm in diameter.
• YIELD
250-300q/ha
• Varieties- Detroit Dark Red, Crimson Globe, Crosby Egyptian, Early wonder, Ooty- 1
DISORDERS
• Heart rot or Crown rot
The disorder is caused by boron deficiency.
• The leaves die in the crown which is covered with small deformed leaves.
• The older leaves wilt and become necrotic.
• The entire crown becomes necrotic and starts to decay.
• The inner portion of affected roots turns black and become unfit for consumption.
• Correction:
Soil application of borax (10-15 kg/ha) or foliar spray of boric acid (0.2%), 2-3 times at vegetative stage can check it.
• Avoid the sowing of beet in acidic soils.
• Avoid drought conditions by supplying reduced irrigation.
• Speckled yellows
It is due to the deficiency of manganese.
• The leaves of the affected plants show yellowish-green chloratic mottled areas which become necrotic resulting into breaking of
lamina.
• The leaf margins roll upward and turn into an arrow-shaped outline which remains upright.
• Correction:
Apply manganese sulphate @ 5-10 kg/ha or foliar spray of manganese sulphate (0.2%) 2 to 3 times
• Avoid planting on very sandy and alkaline soils.
VARITIES
