Quality Seed Production of Carrot
Climatic Requirements
Carrots are widely adapted to cool climates, but generally restricted to regions with low rainfall during summer and early autumn. Seed production is suited to inland regions, away from coastal areas, where conditions are drier for maturing seed.
Land Requirements
Land should be free of volunteer plants.
The land of selected fields should be deep, with good drainage and fertility.
Isolation Requirements
The carrot is cross-pollinated by insects including bees. A good nectar supply easily accessible attracts many insects. The seed fields must be isolated from fields of other varieties, and fields of the same variety not conforming to varietal purity requirements of certification, by at least 1000 meters for foundation seed production, and 800 meters for certified seed production.
 |
| Carrot |
Also Read:- Classes of Seed
Method of Seed Production
Like other biennials both root to seed and seed to seed method can be followed. Generally, the root to seed method is followed because in the seed-to-seed method root rot is usually very high, as compared to the transplanted roots. The whole roots with the tips cut (to examine the color) are planted, keeping the crown exposed.
ROOT TO SEED METHOD
FIRST SEASON (MOTHER ROOT PRODUCTION)
1. Time of sowing. The sowing of seed crop should be done from 15th July to 7th August, depending upon duration of variety and climatic conditions.
2. Preparation of land. Carrots need deep, loose soil for their best development. Thorough pulverization of soil is essential.
3. Source of seed. Obtain nucleus/breeder's/foundation seed from source approved by a seed certification agency.
Carrot Seeds
4. Seed rate. 2.5 to 3.5 kg per hectare. The roots produced on one hectare are sufficient for transplanting 3 kg to 4 kg per hectare under seed production.
5. Method of sowing. For better development of roots, sowing on ridges is preferred to flat sowing.
The seed takes eight to ten days for germination. When the plants are 5 to 6 cm high, thin out the plants to a distance of 6 to 7 cm.
6. Fertilization. Apply 15 to 20 Tonnes farmyard manure per hectare to soil well before sowing and mix it into the soil thoroughly.
Apply 40 to 50 kg phosphorus and potash per hectare, at the time of sowing. Top-dress once or twice with 75 to 100 kg ammonium sulphate per hectare, after weeding.
7. Irrigation. Irrigate at eight to ten days interval as required.
8. Interculture. Carrots are a slow-growing crop. Therefore, weeding and hoeing should frequently be done, particularly in the initial stages.
One earthing-up by end of September, or early October, will keep the crop clean till the close of autumn, when it is uprooted for planting.
9. Plant protection. There are yet not many serious insect pests or diseases of carrots in India. Among the insects, some of which are important are carrot weevil, spotted leaf hopper, and carrot rust fly. These can be controlled by spraying Rogor 30 EC .05 per cent solution.
10. Selection of roots for transplanting. A thorough selection of roots is made on the basis of character of tops, whether short or heavy, color of skin, shape, and size of roots. The color of flesh, color and size of the core are the most important characters to be considered. The core should be of the same color as the flesh and as small as possible.
SECOND SEASON (SEED PRODUCTION)
Planting of selected roots. The selected roots after their tops are clipped and the tips pruned are reset in a well-prepared field.
Brief Cultural Practices
1. Preparation of land. same as described for the previous season.
2. Method of transplanting. The selected roots prepared in the manner already described are reset in the field at a distance of 75 x 22.5-30 cms. The soil is then firmed and tapped around the roots. Soon after transplanting the field is irrigated.
3. Manuring. Apply 20 Tonnes of well-rotted FYM per ha in soil well before sowing and mix it in the soil thoroughly. Apply 250 - 300 kg superphosphate and 100-150 kg muriate of potash at the time of last preparation of field. Make surface application of 250-300 kg ammonium sulphate per ha during April to May after hoeing and earthing. 4. Interculture. One weeding during March and another hoeing and earthing-up during April-May is required.
4. Roguing; Roguing should be done at bloom stage. Early bolters and off types should be removed from time to time as required.
5. Harvesting and Threshing
The best time for harvesting is when the secondary umbels (heads) are fully ripe and tertiary heads are beginning to turn brown. The crop ripens unevenly. Seed is commonly harvested by handpicking. Two to three pickings may often be necessary. After drying, the heads are threshed and cleaned. After cleaning, the seed is rubbed by hand to remove the bristles on the surface and graded by means of sifters and sieves. Before storage, the seed moisture content should be reduced to eight per cent.
6. Seed Yield
The seed yield per hectare is 500 - 600 kg.