Beet Root Cultivation (Complete Guide)

Introduction

Introduction in this article, I’m going to tell you about the Beet Root Cultivation

• Botanical name – Beta Vulgaris
• Family- Chenopodiaceae

Top root and leaves are the edible parts of beetroot. Top root is swollen because foods are store in its colour due to the presence of the water-soluble red pigment called betacyanin

Cultivation

• Beetroot can be grown in all agro-ecological regions
• Grows well under dry conditions
• Adapted to wet weather conditions as well as for daily weather conditions

Soil requirements

• Well-drained loamy soils are suitable
• Addition of organic manure assures good growing conditions
• pH 6.3 – 7.5

Recommended varieties

• Crimson globe
• Detroit dark red
• Hybrid varieties-Red ace, Leader, Red eagle

Crimson globe

• Root to flat round shape roots
• Internal colour – dark red
• Redish purple outer colour
• Center of the root light red colour
• Most popular variety among farmers
• Maturation time 75-90 days
• Detroit dark red
• Globular shape
• Colour – exterior reddish-purple, interior deep reddish-purple

Field Establishment and Cultural Practices

Seed requirements – 5-6Kg/ha

Nursery management

• Select suitable site
• Land preparation – break large soil clods into small-sized particles
• Prepare raised beds – 3×1m and 15-20cm hight
• Apply organic manure 3-4 Kg
• Sterilization
• Make small furrows
• Seed treatment with fungicide
• Seed sawing and covered with sterilized soil
• Mulching and watering
• Cover the beds by using polyethene to avoid sun rays and rain
• Remove the mulch after 5-6 days
• Remove the polyethene cover 10 days before planting to hardening
• Land preparation
• Soil should be ploughed to a depth of 20-30 cm and worked to a very fine tilth
• Make raised beds or ridges
• Apply 10-20 t/ha of organic matter
• Make planting holes according to the recommended spacing of the crop (size of the hole 30×30×30cm)
• Add basal fertilizer mixture 2 days before planting

Field establishment

It soil pH is less than 5 apply dolomite 1-2 t/ha

Field establishment methods

1. Direct seeding
2. Transplanting

• Transplant healthy 4-6 weeks old seeding (one plant per hole) and shading
• Some farmers remove the top part of the leaves and a small portion of the top root before transplanting
• Spacing – 30cm between rows and 16cm within rows

Cultural practices

Fertilizer recommendation (Kg/ha)

	Urea	TSP	MOP
BD	165	270	125
TD 1	165		125

Irrigation

Irrigate at 3-4 day intervals depending on soil type

Weed management

Weed manually at 2 weeks after planting and again just before applying a top dressing of fertilizer

Pest and Disease Control

Diseases

Cerospora leaf spot

 Symptoms

• Fungal disease
• Lesions with circular white centres on young leaves
• Commonly affect during high temperature and pH conditions

Control

• Treat seed with recommended fungicides
• Rotate crops
• Destroy infected plant debris
• Spray foliage with a recommended fungicide

Dumping off

Symptoms

The seedling emerges and grows to a height of an inch or two than with and dies by showing fall off the stem near to the soil surface

Control

• Apply recommended fungicides
• Seed treatment
• Soil sterilization

Pests

Cut Worm

Damage

Cut plant at the base

Control

• Apply insecticides when damage is serious
• Prothifos – 50%
• Profenosphos – 50%

Leaf Miner

Damage

Larvae consumes internal tissues of leaves and make canals

Control

• Yellow coloured polythene traps
• Neem seed extract can be applied
• Apply recommended chemicals

Nematodes

Damage

• Damage to roots
• Deformed roots and forked roots can be observed

Control

• Turning of soil
• In – cooperate poultry manure 10 day before seeding

Harvesting

Harvesting Indices

• Harvesting can be done 70-90 days after planting
• 10-12 leaves
• Length of the leaves 10-15 cm

Method

Harvest by pulling the plant without damaging the leaves

Potential yield

• Hybrid Varieties:16-18 t/ha
• Other Varieties: 12-15 t/ha

Post- Harvest Handling

• Remove matured leaves
• Cleaning grade and handle roots carefully to avoid mechanical damage
• Pack roots in well – ventilated in crates
• Send to the market with or without leaves

check out my other article:Some Basic points that are important in Bitter Gourd Cultivation