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Gourds-ridge gourd and bottle gourd - importance –varietiesclimate
and soil-seeds and sowing-manuring- irrigation-intercultural
operations-harvesting - yield
The word Luff/ Loofah is of Arabic origin.
Importance andnutritive value:
Compared to ridge gourd, sponge gourd rich in carotene and
fibre.Ridge gourd contain high amount of minerals.Both of them have
delightous compound called as Luffein.
Botany: Fruits are club shaped and 10 ribbed. Fruits of ridge gourd are ribbed
where as the fruits of sponge gourd are smooth.
Varieties:
Sponge gourd:
1. Kalyanpur chikni: developed from VRC, Kalyan pur. Average
yield is 35 to 40 t/ha.
2. Pusa chikni: selection from Bihar collection. Released by IARI,
New Delhi.
3. Pusa sneha: released from IARI, New Delhi. Fruits are suitable
for long distance transportation. Crop is ready for 40 to 65 days.
4. Pusa supriya: fruits become ready for picking in about 45 to 60
days.
Ridge gourd:
1. Arka swathi: cross between medium fruits at IIHR – 54 and long fruit
at IIHR 18. Average yield is 52 tonnes per ha.
2. Arka sumeeth: it is a cross between early fruiting IIHR – 54 and long
fruited IIHR. Suitable for cultivation round the year on Karnataka.
3. Pusa nasadar: selection from Neemuch variety. Released from IARI,
Delhi 15 to 16 t/ha.
4. Punjab sadabahar: released from PAU, Ludhiana
5. Satputia: it is a cultivar from Bihar, bears hermaphroditic flowers,
fruits produced in clusters.
Climate:
it requires long and warm climate. Humid warm climate is preferable. It
grows best in rainy season. Optimum temperature is 24 to 370 C.
Soil:
Loamy soil is the best. Soil is rich in organic manure is preferable.
Optimum pH is 5.5 to 6.7.
Botanical name: Luffa acutangula - ridge gourd
Luffa cylindrical - Sponge gourd
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Chromosome no 2n = 26
Origin : Spain
31
Time of sowing:
Summer crop is sown during February to March. In south India rabi
crop is sown during the months of December. Rainy season crop is produced
in June to July. However, in hilly regions optimum time of sowing is April to
May.
Seeds and sowing:
Seed rate is 5 to 7 kg per ha. Sowing can be done either on raised
beds or in pits. Spacing is 1.5 to 3 m rows 60 to 120 cm between plants.
Manuring:
Nutrients have to be applied based on soil tests.15 to 20 t/ha well
decomposed FYM is to be applied at 10 to 15 days before sowing. NPK are
applied in the ratio of 100, 60 and 60. Half nitrogen, entire P and K are applied
at the time of sowing in raised beds of pits. Remaining nitrogen in applied 30
to 45 days after sowing.
Irrigation:
First irrigation may be given sown after planting later frequent irrigation.
Once in 4 to 5 days are given. Flowering and fruit development are susceptible
to soil moisture stress. Rainy season crop hardly requires any irrigation if there
is good rain fall. The crop is normally raised in basin or furrow system of
irrigation.
Interculture:
First weeding is 20 days after sowing another weeding is given to 30
to 45 days after first weeding.
Harvesting:
The crop is ready for first harvest about 60 days after planting. Fruits
attain marketable maturity in 5 to 7 days. Pickings are taken up at an interval of
3 to 4 days.Fruits should not be left on the plant till they get over mature.
Mature of just to mature are slowly picked. Average yield is 15 to 20 tonnes per
ha. Fruits can be stored at 3 to 4 days at room temperature.

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