
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
- Direct seeding
- 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
One Reply to “Beet Root Cultivation (Complete Guide)”
So nice with full coverage yield also good only one thing Please also give cost of return