1) About the crop a) Name of crop Bottle gourd b) Common names louki (hindi); Dhoodhi bhopala (Marathi),

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1 1) About the crop a) Name of crop Bottle gourd b) Common names louki (hindi); Dhoodhi bhopala (Marathi), c) Scientific name Langenaria siceraria d) Family Cucurbitacae e) Origin India f) Importance Bottle gourd is an important cucurbit vegetable of Madhya Pradesh. The bottle gourd is a vigorous, annual, running or climbing vine with large leaves and a lush appearance. It grows fast and may begin to flower only 2 months after seeding. The vine is branched and climbs by means of tendrils along the stem. The foliage is covered with soft hairs and has a foul musky odor when crushed. The leaves of the bottle gourd are up to 15 inches wide, circular in overall shape, with smooth margins, a few broad lobes, or with undulate margins. Leaves have a velvety texture because of the fine hairs, especially on the undersurface. The bottle gourd flowers are borne singly on the axils of the leaves, the males on long peduncles and the females on short peduncles. The flowers are white and attractive, up to 4 inches in diameter, with

2 spreading petals. The ovary is inferior and in the shape of the fruit. Otherwise, the male and female flowers are similar in appearance. The anthers are borne on short filaments grouped at the center of the flower. The stigmas are short, thickened, and branched. The brownish seeds are numerous in a whitish green pulp. Each seed is somewhat rectangular in shape with grooved notches near the attached end. Nutritional value: Vitamin A and Vitamin B Medicinal value: Laxative, juice used for the diabetic patient 2) Cultivation a) Soil and climate Slightly wet to semi-dry ecological condition is suitable -Night and day temperature of c and c c-30 0 c is good for seed germination Soil requirement Well drained loamy soils are ideally suited though it can be grown on a wide variety of soils. ph less than 5.5 or saline and alkaline Soil shouldn t much acidic. b) Season and months january March and September October are the ideal seasons. For the rainfed crop, sowing can be started after the receipt of first few showers during May June. C) Varieties: Varieties in Konkan region: Varad, HGH 4 etc. Varieties in UKSS region: Samrat, Pusa summer prolific long/ round, Arka bahar, Pusa navin. Mainly Grown in: Maharashtra

3 c) Methods of cultivation Pits of 60 cm diameter and cm depth are taken. Well rotten FYM and fertilizersare mixed with topsoil in the pit and seeds are 4 5 per pit. Unhealthy plants are removed after two weeks and only 3 plants are retained per pit. e) Seed rate 3 4 kg /ha f) Spacing Spacing : Row to row: m Seed to seed : m Between hill rows : m Hill to hill within rows : m g)land preparation Ploughed with disc harrow followed by 3 cross ploughing with cultivator Added well rotten farm yard manure Planking after last 2 ploughing with cultivator makes the soil pulverized and leveled 40 50cm wide channels are made at distance of m The length depends on source of irrigation and slope of land h)sowing/ planting 3) Interculture operations Weeding and hoeing should be along and between the rows Applications of N and earthing up should be done before emergence of tendrils Tall grass growing above the foliage should be pulled up Trained to the veins to grow with bamboo or sticks a) Water management SYSTEM AND METHODS OF IRRIGATION I st 2 3 days after sowing. II st 7 8 days of intervals Rainy season : Seeds are sown in the I st week of June before the onset of the rains

4 After cultivation During the initial stages of growth, irrigate at 3 4 days interval, and alternate days during flowering/fruiting. Irrigation at 15 mm. CPE (approximately at 3 days interval for sandy loam soils) is more economical than irrigating once in two days especially during summer months for water economy. Erect pandals when the plants start vining. Conduct weeding and raking of the soil at the time of fertilizer application. Earthing up is done during rainy season. It is the process of putting the earth or soil just near the base for certain crops to give support to the plants applies stick. In Vegetables To facilitate irrigation. b) Fertilizer management I. Organic fertilizers 20 ton well rotten FYM or compost should incorporated at the time of land preparation II. Chemical fertilizers Apply tlha as basal dose along with half dose of N (35 kg) and full doses of PzOs (25 kg) and KzO (25 kg). The remaining dose of N (35 kg) can be applied in several split doses at fortnightly intervals: Spraying of Azotobactor : MH ppm or NNA 100 ppm at condition of two leaf stage c) Crop protection Salinity and alkalinity adversely affect the crop Nitrogen deficiency: Yellowing of vines an foliage and checks the vegetative growth

5 Excess of N dose: It promotes excess biomass accumulation which reduces fruiting It produces more male flowers which is undesirable Deficiency of K : Reduces plant height and area of foliage causing Management : Apply dosages as per requirement of N,P,K...etc. Mosaic diseases: Management: Carathain 10gm/10 lit. water. Pests Fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae) Apply carbaryl 10% DP in pit before sowing of seeds to destroy the pupae. In homestead gardens the fruits may be covered with polythene, cloth or paper bags to ensure mechanical protection. In large gardens apply carbaryl gm or malathion 30 40ml in 15 litre of water containing sugar or jaggery at 10 gll at fortnightly intervals at flowering and fruit initiation. Spray as coarse droplets on the ventral surface of leaves. Remove and destroy affected and decayed fruits. Epilachna beetle Remove and destroy egg masses, grubs and adults occurring on leaves. Spray carbaryl gm per 15 litre of water. Red pumpkin beetle Adult beetle eats the leaves, makes hole on foliage and causes damage on roots and leaves. Incorporate carbaryl 10% DP in pits. before sowing the seeds to destroy grubs and pupae. Diseases Downy mildew It is severe during rainy season. This can be checked by spraying mancozeb 50 gm in 15 litre of water(waiting period ofmancozeb is three days). Powdery mildew Can be controlle d by spraying combination of Mancozeb and carbendazim 35 gm per 15 litres of water. Mosaic Control the vectors by spraying dimethoate 35 ml in 15 litres of water. Uprooting and destruction of affected plants and collateral hosts should be done. Harvesting can be done only after 10 days (at least) of insecticide / fungicide application. The fruits should be washed thoroughly in water before cooking.

6 I. Weed management Weeding is the process of eliminating competition of unwanted plants to the regular crop in respect to nutrition and moisture. So that crops can be grown profitably. It also facilitates other operations like irrigation and fertilizer application. The advantages of weeding are 1. Conservation of soil moisture. 2. Reduced competition for nutrients, sunlight, space and water. 4) Harvesting & post harvest processing a) Method of harvesting b) days after sowing c) Rind of fruit is very tender d) The color of fruits skin starts becoming white, fruit rind hardens and seed coat also becomes hard and unfit for eating e) yield : Open pollinated Varities t/ha Hybrid Varities : < 30 t/ha f) Production I. Main product Depending on the variety and the season it produces 250 to 400 quintals of fruits per hectare. II. By productc) Post harvest processing The fully ripen fruits used for vegetable purpose Products : - Preparation of paratha - Preparation of khir Preparation of Bhaji.The marketable heads can be stored for 2 3 weeks if arranged in crates and placed in well ventilated place. They can be stored for several weeks in the Cold Storage at 0 0 C to C with 85 to 87% relative humidity. Available market: Local

7 In Maharashtra, Mumbai, Nashik, Thane, Palghar, etc.