BIBASWAN MOHANTY95A/11B.Sc (Ag)2011-15

• Botanical Name : Daucus carota• Family : Umbelliferae/ Apiaceae•Centre of Origin : Central asia•Pollination System : Cross pollinated•Chromosome no. : 2n=18

CARROT

INTRODUCTION

It is an annual or biennial herb with an erect and much branched stem, 30 to 120 cm tall arising from a thick fleshy taproot, 5-30 cm long bearing flowers borne in umbels.The main carrot growing states are Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.Haryana is leading producer of carrot in India followed by Andhra Pradesh

C = CAROTENE rich.A = precursor of VIT-A.R = RIBOFLAVIN rich.R = ROOT CROP.O = anti-OXIDANTT = TASTE of salad.

USED FOR:

Total area in India-62220 Ha Total production in India-1.15MT Haryana-Area-18870 Ha Production-0.36MT Rajasthan-Area-1120 Ha Production-4260T

Human consumption as well as for forage and particularly for feeding horses.Raw as SALAD , cooked in curries, pickles, sweetmeats.Black carrots are used for the preparation of a sort of beverage called “KANJI”-supposed to be a good appetiser

WORLD SCENARIO

SOILCarrots grows well drained, deep, loose, sandy loam soils rich in humus and having a pH 5.5-7.0.Soils free of clods are preferred for smooth straight roots.Compared to sandy soils, carrots grown on heavy soils tend be more rough and coarse as the soil compaction affects root growth and length. Very loose or highly compact soils are detrimental to growth of roots.

CLIMATECarrot is a cool season crop growing under a wide range of rainfall.A temperature range of 7- 23ºC is considered optimum for seed germination while for better root growth 10-15ºC is ideal.Very high or low temperature is not conducive for proper development of roots.At higher temperatures, the roots become shorter, thicker and non-juicy while at lower temperatures (10 to 15º C)they become longer. At 10-15ºC=develop poor color.

15-20ºC=develop good color. 20-25ºC=develop less bright color.

 LAND PREPARATION0 The land should be thoroughly ploughed so that the clods do

not interfere with the root development.0 Well decomposed FYM (25 t/ha) is mixed at the time of land

preparation. Application of fresh un-decomposed FYM should be avoided as it leads to forking of the fleshy roots.

SEASON OF PLANTING0 The crop is sown during January- February, June- July and

October-November.0 In the mild climate carrot can be grown almost all the year

round except few summer months.0 For regular supply of fresh and tender roots, the sowing

should be staggered and done at 15 or 20 days interval.0 The seed rate of5-6 kg/ha is recommended.

  METHOD OF PLANTING Carrot is a usually grown on ridge or at flat land to facilitate

good root development. The seeds are dibbled at 1.5 cm depth at a spacing of 30 x8

cm. For enhancing germination, the seeds are soaked in water for

12-24 hours before sowing

MANURE & FERTILIZER The fertilizer dose depends upon the fertility of soil and amount

of organic manure applied to the crop. For a good yield, 25 t/ ha of well-decomposed FYM is

incorporated into the soil. Generally, application of 100kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 60 kgK2O is

recommended for optimum yield.

INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS

If sowing is done thick, thinning should be done to allow each root enough space for its proper growth.

Intercultural operations like weeding and hoeing are necessary to check the weed growth and provide soil aeration.

Earthing up of roots along with weeding is done to prevent exposure of roots to atmosphere and consequent discoloration.

Stoddard solvent ,a petroleum product@700-1400 ltrs/hectare use as weedicide.

IRRIGATION Irrigation is given immediately after

sowing. Depending upon the planting season and

the available soil moisture, carrots may be irrigated at 10-12 days interval during winter and 5-6 days interval during summer.

Irrigation should be discontinued 2-3 weeks before harvesting to increase the sweetness and taste of the carrots.

VARIETIES

VARITIES USED IN OTHER COUNTRIES

USA-Processing purpose =red Cored Chantenay, Danvers Half Long, Imperator.

New Zealand-Akaroa Long Red, Spring Market Improved, aWanganui Giant

Japan-Suko Belgium-Belgian White France-Chantenay, Nantes, Oxheart, Touchon Australia-Red Elephant, Western Red, Yellow Netherlands-Early Horn

HARVESTINGThe edible roots become ready for harvesting in about100-120 days depending on the variety.A light irrigation may be given a day before harvesting to facilitate lifting of roots.Crop is harvested manually by uprooting individual plant with the help of KHURPI. Carrots for processing purpose are left in the ground for a longer period.After harvesting the green tops are cut and the carrots are separated and washed.Yield- Generally, Asiatic types yield 25-30 t/ha whereas European types yield 10-15 t/ha.The seed yield is 500-600 k.g/hectare.

GRADINGCarrots are graded according to their size , diameter or length.The carrot should ideally, be of uniform and similar shape for the variety, well formed , smooth, firm but of tender texture.It should also be free from harvest damage , decay , disease or insects.

PACKAGINGCarrots are packed in baskets or gunny bags before sending to market.These are sometimes marketed along with their tops to indicate freshness.

STORAGEa) Temperature is the most important factor

affecting the storage of carrots.b) Carrots can be stored for 3-4 days under

ambient conditions.c) However in cold storage, topped carrots

can be stored at temperatures of 0 - 4.4 C with 93-98% relative humidity for 6months.bn

d) Un topped carrots can be stored only for 10-14 days at 0 C.

Post harvest diseases of carrot

Sour rot - Geotrichum candidum Crown rot - Rhizoctonia solani Cottony soft rot - Sclerotinia sclerotiarum Phytophthora root rot - Phytophthora megasperma Black rot - Alternaria radicina Root dieback - Pythium debaryanum Bacterial soft rot - Erwinia carotovora sub sp. caotovora

Insect pest in carrot Carrot weevil Six spotted leaf hopper= transmit carrot yellow virus Carrot rust fly

CROWN ROT - Rhizoctonia solani Damping-off of carrot seedlings and a crown rot later and

during storage Field symptoms include premature senescence and death

of foliage On carrot roots - dark brown sunken lesions or cankers near

the crown or in other parts of the root – cavity spot

Cultural practices that reduce crown injury and enhance soil drainage and air circulation within the canopy are recommended.Plant debris from previous crops should be removed before planting carrots.Carrots should not follow perennial crops such as alfalfa. Quintozene – sprayed in the soil before sowing-effective control.

CONTROL

COTTONY SOFT ROT / WHITE MOULD - Sclerotinia sclerotiarum

Foliage - water soaked, dark olive-green lesions associated with collapsed tissues

Lesions expand rapidly over the entire leaf, petiole, and rosette with infected tissues

Covered by abundant cottony, white mycelium

Lesions of sclerotinia rot advancingon carrot petioles and the rosette Collapsed leaves and petioles

CONTROL Storage - Good ventilation Use of clean containers, maintenance of temp

near 0oC and RH - 95%MANAGEMENT Maintaining adequate soil drainage Avoid prolonged periods of water saturation Storage conditions - temperature at 32º F and RH

<95%

ROOT DIEBACK- Pythium debaryanum, P. aphanidermatum

Pythium brown rot and forking. Root dieback of carrots produces excessively branched or

stubbed roots. Fungus kills young tap roots after seed germination,

reducing root length and/or stimulating forking. Forking and stubbing occur, but these symptoms can also

be caused by soil compaction, nematodes.

CONTROL

Avoiding excessive wateringBy providing good field drainagePlanting carrots in deep, friable and

well drained soilsPost emergence fungicides -

Mefenoxam - to control damping-off

BACTERIAL SOFT ROT - (Erwinia carotovora sub sp. carotovora)

Cells become water soaked, middle lamella is destroyed and the cells collapse

Soft, watery or slimy consistency Rotted tissues – grey to brown, accompanied by foul odour In the field, tops of rotted carrots turn yellow and wilt as

roots break down

CONTROL Careful handling at harvest - minimizes bruising of

carrot roots Washing - dipping in a solution of sodium

hypochlorite (5.25%) Storage condition - temp- just above freezing(0oC),

RH 90 % Crop rotation - alfalfa, beans, beets, corn

SOUR ROT – Geotrichum candidum

Soft, watery, colorless decay on carrot roots Decayed area - covered with dull, white spores of the pathogen and a vinegar-like odour may developFungus - soil inhabitant that infects carrots through woundsIn storage – warm temp (greater than 32°F) and improperly ventilated

CONTROL

In the field Good field drainage Minimizing wounding of carrots

In storage Good sanitation (use of new or disinfected storage

containers) Precooling and storing carrots at 32º F is essential

CRATER ROT- Rhizoctonia carotae-

Band of dark brown necrosis around the crown and horizontal brown canker-like lesions mostly on the crown and upper roots

Small pits subsequently developed beneath the lesions, that enlarged into sunken brown crater lines with a white, flocculent mycelium produced under high humidity

Typical crater rot caused by R. caratoe on carrot roots. Note: dark brown decay (arrows) around the crown and upper parts of the root.

BITTERNESS Carrots can develop off-flavors or bitterness in cool storage.

The cause of these off-flavors is the production of compounds in carrots called isocoumarins. Isocoumarins develop when carrots are exposed to ethylene.

Ethylene is a gas produced naturally by many fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas and tomatoes during ripening.

Carrots can be stored in sealed plastic bags in domestic refrigerators containing ethylene producing fruit.

PHENOLIC BROWNING

Phenolic browning (or surface browning) is seen as a browning or discoloration of the surface of carrot. It can develop when carrots are washed and stored in cool     rooms for long periods before packing. Abrasion caused by mechanical washing often removes the epidermal layer (outer skin), exposing the carrot tissue to oxidation of phenolic compounds, which turn brown, or black in severe cases.Phenolic browning can be confused with ‘5 o’clock shadow’ or boron deficiency of carrots.

MANAGEMENT

Rapid removal of field heat. Application of  Dowicide (Ophenylphenol)

@ 98 g/L. 6 – methoxy mellen increase resistance Cholorothalonil – Seed and soil application. 8 years rotation with non host crop. Using disease free seed. Bacillus subtilis  & T.viride application.