Temperate Vegetables (1+1)

CULTURAL PRACTICS

NURSERY MANAGEMENT

• Knol khol is basically a transplanted crop and the procedure is similar to that of cabbage and cauliflower.

TRANSPLANTING

• Normally, the seedlings become ready for transplanting in 4-6weeks after sowing.
• After hardening and before uprooting of seedlings for further transplanting, the nursery beds should be watered to make soil wet.
• This will minimize the root injury when the seedlings are uprooted and fast establishment of seedlings.

SOWING TIME
Planting Time: Under North eastern plains.

	Seed sowing	Transplanting
Early crop	August	September
Main crop	September	October
Late crop	October	November

SEED RATE

• About 1000-1500g seed is required to raise Knol khol crop in one hectare area.
  

SPACING

• The planting distance may be 30-40cm from row to row and 20-25cm from plant to plant, according to the variety, soil fertility and intercultural operations.
• When planted at closer spacing, the knob size may be reduced and shape may be elongated.

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

• Quantity of manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash should be given as per the nutrients available in the soil, which is determined by soil test.
• Well decomposed FYM@ 100q/ha should be mixed thoroughly in the soil before planting.
• The nitrogen, phosphorus and potash are applied in the ratio of100:60:40-60kg/ha, respectively.
• Entire quantity of FYM, phosphorus and potash and half quantity of nitrogen should be applied at the time of field preparation time.
• The remaining half quantity of N is top dressed 30-40days after transplanting.

WATER MANAGEMENT

• Knol-khol plants are very sensitive to soil moisture stress.
• When plants face shortage of water during the early stage of growth. The initiation of knobs swelling will be delayed and yield will be reduced if the water is insufficient at this stage. This cannot be reversed even if plentiful of water supply is given at the later stages of the growth for higher yield.
• At least six irrigations must be provided during entire growth period which will come out to be nearly 300mm water.
• Knol-khol is generally irrigated by furrow method of irrigation, but excessive irrigation in early stages causes superficial rotting of knobs and washing of the nutrients.
• Late crop is irrigated at 10-15days interval depending upon the weather conditions..

INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS

• The regular intercultural operations are required to keep the crop free from weeds and to raise a healthy crop.
• Two to three weedings are required.
• Weeds can also be controlled by pre-plant application of weedicides like Lasso @1.5-2kg/ha a.i./ha
• Earthing up is essential to cover the exposed roots and for this, one or two hoeings should be done.

HARVESTING

• The harvesting should be done before the knob gets over mature.
• The over mature knobs have poor edible quality because of more fibre content.
• Usually the knobs may be harvested when they are of 6-8cm diameter.
• In late maturing varieties, sometimes, bigger knobs of 10-12cm diameter are also harvested.
• For harvesting, the stem is cut just above the ground or can be pulled easily by hands.

YIELD

• The yield of this crop varies with the variety, climatic conditions and as per the management practices.
• The yield per hectare varies from 12-30tonnes under Indian conditions.
• Individual tuber may weigh 200-250g

STORAGE

• It can be stored successfully for 25-30days below 2^oC at 95-100per cent RH.