Carrot Agricultural Best Practices: Essential Requirements

Carrots like other crops, are a type of vegetative crop consumed by Indians. Its soft leaves are used to make vegetables, while its roots are employed in both medicinal and food.

Climate & Soil:

Carrots require deep, loose loamy soils for proper root development. Carrots cannot be grown in heavy soils or in soils that are too loose. Carrots prefer a pH range of 5.5 to 7 for a high yield and good quality roots. It is vital for the property to have good water drainage. Carrots are mostly a cool-season crop, but some enhanced cultivars can withstand high temperatures to a degree.

Carrots grow best at temperatures between 16 and 24°C although seeds germinate best at temperatures between 20 and 30°C. Temperature has a considerable impact on root colour development and quality, with a temperature range of 15.5 to 21°C providing the best colour development. Temperatures below 15.5°C and above 21°C, on the other hand, reduce carotene concentration, lowering root quality. The combination of a high temperature and an erratic supply of water produces root depression, resulting in a rough surface.

Selection and preparation of the land:

Flatten the field before sowing and plough it twice or three times deep. After each ploughing, use pots to break up the lumps. While preparing the field, thoroughly mix the farm yard manure. By eliminating clods, stones and other debris, the soil should be ploughed to a fine tilth to a depth of 30 cm.

At the time of the last ploughing, mix the necessary fertiliser dose and level the soil. Prepare ridges and furrows 30 - 45 cm apart later, before sowing.

Even elevated seed beds with a width of 1mt, height of 15-20 cm and length of 10mt or convenient length dependent on plot size can be prepared for sowing, especially in locations with poor drainage during long wet days. Furrows with a width of 40 cm should be created between the beds to provide watering.

Nutrient treatment at the soil's base:

1. FYM and biofertilizers per acre: Farmyard manure (FYM)  8 to 10 tonnes enriched with Biofertilizers (5 kg), Trichoderma (2 kg), and Pseudomonas (2 kg). Combine biofertilizers with FYM and leave for 5 days before applying to the main field or soil. Rotovate or cultivate the FYM after it has been applied to ensure that it is adequately mixed with the soil.
2. Note: The FYM mix contains Trichoderma and Pseudomonas cultures, which aid in the killing of pathogens in the soil as well as providing plant resilience to various biotic stresses.

   The farm yard manure improves the soil structure, texture, organic carbon content, porosity, bulk density and population of soil microorganisms, all of which contribute to the preservation of correct soil pH and electric conductivity.

   Per acre of carrots, essential nutrients are needed.

   60 kg of nitrogen (N), 50 kg of phosphorus (P), and 65 kg of potassium (K), as well as secondary, micronutrient and growth enhancers.

Fertilizers for basal treatment prior to seed dissemination:

45 kg of urea (1 bag)

DAP (Diammonium Phosphate)-100kg

Potassium Muriate - [MOP]-100 kilogramme

10 kg micronutrient mixture

25 kg Magnesium Sulphate

ten kg of root growth boosters

5 kilogramme Furadon

200 kg neem cake

Sowing, spacing and seed rate of seeds:

The seed rate is determined by the type of variety or hybrids that farmers intend to plant. 1.5 to 2 kg of hybrid carrot seeds and 3-4 kg of other varietal seeds are needed per acre. Plants should be spaced 5 to 8 cm apart.

Farmers do not have the practise of soaking seeds in water for 12-24 hours before sowing, which ensures better and earlier germination of seeds.