1. Root Crops

2. Commonly grown root vegetables
Scientific name
Chromosome no
Origin
Raphanus sativus L.
2n = 18
European type: Eastern Mediterranean to Caspian sea
Japanese type: Coastal region of Japan
Daucus carota L.
2n = 18
Asiatic type:
South-western Asia
Brassica rapa L.
2n = 20
Beta vulgaris L.
Mediterranean region

3. Area and production statistics of root vegetables
Crop
Area
Production
India
Carrot
87,000 Ha
13,81,000 MT
Radish
2,08,000 Ha
29,68,000 MT
H.P.
1,916 Ha
38,988 MT
Turnip
633 Ha
15,428 MT
368 Ha
7,238 MT

4. Importance of root vegetables
Root vegetables include carrots, radish, turnip, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, horse radish and Jerusalem artichoke
Widely used as fresh for salad, cooking and pickles etc.
Nutritional and medicinal properties
Radish roots are good appetizer, effective in curing liver, gall bladder, urinary disorders and gastrodynia. Red carrots contain lycopene which prevents heart ailments and some cancers
Yellow carrots contain xanthophylls, pigment like beta carotene which helps in development of healthy eyes and prevents muscular degeneration and lung cancer
Purple carrots are rich in anthocyanins which act as antioxidant to hold free radicals in the body and also slow down blood clotting

5. Root crops are short duration vegetable crops and have high productivity and thus are ideal for sequential cropping, intercropping and relay cropping which enables maximum use of arable land
Botanically root crops belong to different families but their cultural practices are almost similar.

6. Daucus Carota L.
Good quality roots have a maximum of cortex and a minimum of core

7. Climatic Requirements
Carrot is a cool season crop though few tropical types tolerate quite high temperatures
Colour development and the growth of the root are affected by temperature
Carrots grown at 10-15°C and °C do not develop colour
while those grown at 15-20°C develop good colour
In general at high temperatures short roots are formed while long roots are produced at low temperatures

8. Asiatic type European type
They are also called as tropical or subtropical type
They are also called as temperate type
They are comparatively big in size , pungent in taste and generally red in colour (lycopene / anthocyanin rich).
They are small in size, mild in taste and orange in colour( carotene rich)
They are more juicy and have bigger core, a heavier top and can be grown much earlier than temperate type
Less juicy, small core, less foliage and are late.
They are annual type. Seed production is possible in plains as they do not require chilling/ vernalization.
They are biennial type. Seed production can be done only in hills as they require chilling/ vernalization.
e.g. Pusa Kesar, Pusa Meghali,Pusa Rudhira(self core red), Pusa Asita(black colour, late bolter), Pusa Vrishti(heat tolerant) and Pusa Vasuda(1st public sector hybrid developed through CMS system), Pusa kulfi (mustard colored rich in carotene, lutein, thiamine and niacin),
Half Long Nantes, Pusa Yamdagni, Chantaney, Solan Rachna, Pusa Nayan Jyoti
(hybrid rich in Vitamin A, β-carotene )

9. PUSA RUDHIRA
PUSA ASITA
SOLAN RACHNA
PUSA KESAR

10. PUSA NAYAN JYOTI

11. Sowing time and Seed rate
Region
Sowing time
South and central India (largely on the hills)
Jan-Feb, June-July and Oct- Nov
Incase of favourable climatic conditions carrots can be grown through out the year
North Indian Plains
Aug- Dec
Southern Bengal
Last week of Oct
Himachal Pradesh
Low hills
Aug-Sep
Mid hills
July- Sep
High hills
March-July
Seed Rate: 8 to 10kg/ha ( Seed contain germination inhibitor, CARROTAL, the seed may be soaked for 12-24hrs before sowing to hasten germination. Seed may be mixed with sand to facilitate even distribution of seed)
Spacing: 30cm x 8-10cm(the seed should be sown 1-1.5cm deep )
Flat bed planting method (25cm between rows) with planting on one side of a ridge (50cm between ridges) encourages forking
While planting on both sides of ridges gave higher yield in comparison to flat bed planting at equivalent density

12. Manures, fertilizers and Irrigation
Manure/fertilizer
Rate
FYM
100q/ha N
50kg/ha P
40kg/ha K
Full dose of FYM +Half of the amount of N + P + K before sowing and the rest half with second irrigation
Undecomposed FYM favors root forking and insect pest attack
Irrigation: Pre-sowing irrigation is essential for proper seed germination
Irrigation at frequent intervals for proper growth of roots is essential.
Weed Management
Critical stage for weeding is initial stage of growth as carrot seed takes days for germination
Pre-emergence application of ha)

13. Yield: Asiatic types: 250-350q/ha Post harvest handling and storage:
Harvesting:
Carrots should be harvested at proper stage, otherwise it become fluffy and unfit for consumption.
In general, root splitting, firmness, dry matter, carotene and sucrose increase with the age of roots, whereas the contents of glucose and fructose.
Common cultivars attain the marketable stage when their diameter is 2-4cm at the upper end.
In India harvesting is done manually, while mechanical harvesting is done in developed countries
It is advisable to give a light irrigation before harvesting, to ensure easy pulling of roots from the soil without any damage
Roots harvested with top are called bunch carrot( have more shelf life due to less water loss) while without the tops are called bulk carrots
Yield: Asiatic types: q/ha
European types: q/ha
Post harvest handling and storage:
After harvesting roots are washed, graded and tied in bunches of 6/12 roots.
Fresh carrots can be stored for more 3-4 days under ordinary condition
Long term storage at 0-4C with 93-98% RH for six months.

14. Physiological Disorders
Carrot Splitting:
Wider the spacing greater the roots tend to split
Early cultivars split more readily than late ones
Splitting tend to be reduced by low N and to be increased by chlorides
Irrigation after long dry spell also increases the chances of root
splitting
2. Cavity spot:
Disorder appears as cavity in the cortex; in most cases the subtending epidermis collapses to form a pitted lesion. This lesion may be infected if secondary organism are present
It occurs due to deficiency of Calcium(Ca) with an increased accumulation of potassium(K)
3. Forking:
Enlargement of secondary roots occurs which render them unmarketable
Its due to excess of moisture during root development and also due to hard soil strata

15. Radish Raphanus sativus
Radish is a popular vegetable in both tropical and temperature regions but predominantly its cool season crop.
Radish is a good source of vitamin C (pink skinned) contains 15 – 40 mg per 100g of edible portion and supplies varieties of mineral.
The leaves of radish are a good source of extraction of proteins on a commercial scale. The juice of fresh leaves is used as diuretic and laxative.
Tender pods are also consumed as a vegetable

16. Varieties recommended for H.P.
Depending upon temperature requirement for seed setting they are also of two types
Asiatic/ tropical/subtropical
European/ Temperate
Early and require warm temperature
Require low temperature for bolting and seed setting
Pungent
Less pungent
Produce seed in plains
Seed production is possible only in hills
e.g. Pusa Desi, Pusa Reshmi, Pusa Chetki, Punjab Safed, Japanese White, Chinese Pink, Early Mino White, Jaunpuri Mooli, Hisar Mooli No.1, Arka Nishant, Pusa Sweta,Pusa Gulabi, Pusa Jamuni, Pusa Mridula
Pusa Himani, White Icicle, Rapid Red White Tipped, Scarlet Globe, Scarlet long, Silver Queen, Palam Hriday, Kvatra(for polyhouse cultivation;short duration)
Varieties recommended for H.P.
European
Asiatic
Palam Hriday, White Icicle and Pusa Himani
Japanese White, Chineses Pink and Pusa Chetki

17. Soil and climate
Radishes can be grown on nearly all types of soils, but best results are obtained on light, friable loam soil that contains good amount of organic matter.
Being a short duration crop, it can be grown on soils that are not considered satisfactory for other root crops.
For early crop sandy loam soils with high organic matter content are highly suited for radish cultivation.
For summer crop a cool and moist soils gives best result.
Heavy soils or soils with rocky strata produce rough, misshapen (forked) roots.
The highest yield can be obtained at a soil pH in the range of 5.5 to7.0.
Radishes are best adapted to a cool or moderate climate.
Asiatic types have greater temperature adaptation and thus can resist heat more than the European types.
20-25°C temperature is ideal for radish crop. Water requirement enhances with rise in temperature.

18. RADISH PALAM HRIDAY

19. White Icicle Scarlet Globe Chinese Pink White Globe Japanese White
China white
White Globe

20. Sowing Time and Seed Rate
North Indian plains
European type
Asiatic type
Sep-March
August- January
In areas with mild climate radish crop can be taken throughout the year
Himachal Pradesh
Low hill
Mid hill
High hill
August-Sep
July-Oct
March- Aug
Seed rate kg/Ha & spacing
Asiatic
European
10kg, 30cm x 5-10cm
12-14kg, 45cm x 6-8cm
1g seed contain seeds

21. Year round schedule for raising of radish

22. Manures and fertilizers
FYM N P K
100q/Ha 90 50 40
Full dose of FYM, P, K and half N at the time of sowing. Remaining half of N should be top dressed in two equal instalments at an interval of a month
Weeding and Intercultural operations
Incase of Asiatic type(mid maturity) weeding and hoeing should be done 20-35days after
In temperate and early Asiatic types weeding and hoeing may be done days
Pre-emergence application of a.i./Ha or a.i./Ha or a.i./Ha or a.i./Ha may be used to control weeds.
Irrigation
Pre-sowing irrigation may be given preferably.
Depending up on the season and soil irrigation should be done as hard soil result in poor
quality roots and roots grown under suboptimal water conditions bear strong
flavor/pungency
Frequent irrigation is required in summer season

23. Harvest the crop when roots are tender(non pithy)
Harvesting
Harvest the crop when roots are tender(non pithy)
Light irrigation may be given before uprooting the roots to ensure proper harvesting of roots i.e. without any damage to roots
Roots are uprooted along with leaves.
After uprooting they are washed , tied in bundles and then sold in the market
European type are ready to harvest in days while Asiatic types may take days.
Yield
European type
Asiatic type
50-60q/Ha.
q/Ha.

24. Storage
Radish can not be stored for more than 2-3 days under room temperature without impairing its quality. They can be stored for about 2 months in cold storage at 0C and per cent relative humidity. In general late cultivars bear good storage potential with greater dry matter, sugars, crude fiber, P, Ca and Mg.

25. Physiological Disorders
1. Pithiness: a. Commercial value is affected as the parenchymatous cells collapse resulting in development of pores. b. Delay in harvesting also causes pithiness in the roots. 2. Forking: Secondary growth occurs in roots due to: a. Excess of moisture b. heavy soil c. hard or stony strata of the soil

26. Turnip- Brassica rapa L.
The fleshy thickened underground portion of turnip is actually the hypocotyl, the colour and shape may vary according to the variety/cultivar
The fresh roots are consumed in salads or cooked as a vegetable or used in pickles.
Young leaves contain high amount of ascorbic acid and iron and rank second in Vitamin A, are eaten cooked as greens
Cultivars depending upon climatic requirement for seed setting/production are of two types:
1. Asiatic/ tropical/sub-tropical: Heat tolerant can be grown for seed both
in plains and hills. Pungent in taste so are suitable for pickling.
e.g Pusa Kanchan, Pusa Sweti, Punjab Safed-4,
2. European/ Temperate: Produce seed only in hills/ under temperate
conditions. They are sweet in taste and are not heat tolerant
e.g. Purple Top White Globe, Golden Ball, Snow Ball, Pusa Chandrima,
Pusa Swarnima, Early Milan Red Top

27. PURPLE TOP WHITE GLOBE
SNOWBALL

28. Classification on the basis of morphological characteristics of the root and top
White Fleshed:
a. PURPLE TOPPED
i. Flat type: Purple Top Milan
ii. Globe type: Purple Top White Globe
b. GREEN TOPPED
i. Globe type: Green Top White, Green White
ii. Long type: Cowhorn
c. WHITE TOPPED
i. Flat type: White Milan, White Flat Dutch, Norfolk
ii. Globe type: White stone, Quick Silver
iii. Half-long type: White Egg, White Gem
iv. Long type: Lily White
Yellow Fleshed:
a. PURPLE TOPPED, GLOBE TYPE: Aberdeen Purple Top
b. BRONZE or GREEN TOPPED, GLOBE TYPE: Aberdeen Green Top, Amber
Globe
3. FOLIAGE CULTIVARS: Flat Japan, Shogoin, Seven Top

29. Sowing Time: North Indian Plains: Sep- Dec For H. P
Sowing Time: North Indian Plains: Sep- Dec For H.P.: Low hills- Sep-Nov Mid Hills- Aug-Oct High hills- April-July Seed Rate: 4-4.5kg/ha Spacing: 30-45cm x cm (30 x 10cm) Manures & fertilizers: SAME AS THAT OF CARROT Soil, soil preparation, climate and weed control, irrigation and intercultural operations: SAME AS THAT OF RADISH Harvesting: Should be harvested after reaching appropriate size as old turnips become fibrous and off flavoured. Harvested and sold along with tops Yield: q/ha

30. Beet root
Swollen roots are eaten boiled or as a salad or pickled or canned (large –sized roots). The tender leaves and the young beet plants are used as greens(pot herbs).
In Germany, it was first described in 1557 and was referred to as ROMAN BEET. The crop was introduced in USA in 1800 and was known as GARDEN BEET.
Beet root is rich source of Fe, folic acid, Ca, P, Vit A, protein and carbohydrates
Red pigment in beet root is betanin, the contents of which may range from mg/kg fresh weight.

31. Beet cultivars are classified on the basis of shape of roots as:
FLAT: Flat Egyptian
SHORT- TOP SHAPED: Flattened at top and bottom with rounded sides and conical
ROUND OR GLOBULAR: round or globular shaped roots e.g. Detroit Dark Red, Crimson Globe
HALF-LONG: Length is shorter than long types e.g. Half-Long Blood, Winter Keeper
LONG: roots are long(up tp40cm) e.g Long Dark Blood

32. Climate: Beets are hardy and can tolerate some freezing.
Colour texture and quality is affected by the temperature.
Excessive hot weather causes zoning- the appearance of alternating light and dark red concentric circles in the root.
Beet is very sensitive to low temperature. It bolts if exposed to °C for 15 or more days
Sowing Time: Hills: March- July
North Indian Plains: September- November
Southern Plains: July-November
Seed Rate: Beet seeds are seed balls that contain one or more seeds(2-6).
Seed balls are
Spacing: x 8-10cm
(Thinning is v important in garden beet)
Manures & fertilizers: N:P:K : :60-70)

33. Irrigation: Optimum moisture is desired for seed germination Deficiency of water affects seed germination and also the size of roots get reduced. 5-6 irrigations are (300mm) sufficient . When winter rains are sufficient then tree irrigations may be sufficient. Harvesting: Harvested when roots attain 3-5cm dia. Generally pulled with tops. Beet stores well at a temperature 0ºC along with 90% relative humidity. . Yield: q/ha

34. Physiological Disorder
Internal Black Spot or Brown Heart: Caused due Boron deficiency.
Bo deficient plant usually remain dwarf or stunted; leaves are smaller than normal. Young unfolding leaves leaves fail to develop normally and eventually turn brown or black and die.
Leaves get mottled and stalks split longitudinally.
Roots do not grow to full size remain distorted, rough. Surfaces are often wrinkled and cracked.
Within the fleshy roots hard or corky spots are found scattered throughout the roots, light coloured zones or cambium layers are present.

35. Internal Black Spot or Brown Heart

36. Diseases and pests Disease and causal organism Symptoms
Control/ management
Alternaria blight (Alternaria raphani)
Small yellowish slightly raised lesions appear on leaves, stem and seed pods
Use disease free seed
Seed treatment with seed
Spray Blitox or spray Indofil 0.25%
White rust (Albugo candida)
White powdery substance appear in patches on the under-surface of the leaves. Irregular spots appear on all parts of the plants
Use resistant variety
Radish mosaic virus
Small, circular to irregular, chlorotic lesion appear in between and adjacent to the veins.
No leaf distortion occur
Stunting or abnormal formation rarely occur
Grow resistant variety
Aphids may be controlled with
Weed hosts should be eliminated.
Radish Phyllody
Appears during flowering
The petals, sepals and carpels of affected flowers show phyllody and stamens become sepaloid.

37. Insect
Symptoms
Management
Aphids( Myzus persicae, Brevicoryne brassicae, Lipaphis erysimi)
Leaves and plants get devitalized, leaves and shoots curl up, become yellowish and finally wither
1. Spray
Mustard saw fly(Athalia lugens proxima)
Damages radish and turnip severely. Grubs feed on leaves and fruits.
1. Incorporate Chlorpyriphos 20 sand for 400m2 area