All
About /Vegetables/Carrot
Carrot (Doucus carota)
is a very poplar vegetable in Pakistan. It is rich in carotene, a
precursor of Vitamin A, and contains appreciable quantities of
thiamine and riboflavin. It belongs to the Umbelliferae family and
is probably a native of Europe and British Isles.
Trends,
Area, Production And Yield:
There has been a
progressive increase in area and production of carrots in Pakistan.
In 1998-99, the area increased to 10.94 thousand ha and production
194.92 thousand tonnes. The data since 1993-94 are as follows:
Table
-1. Area Production and yield of carrots in Pakistan (1993-94 to
1998-99)
Year
|
Area
(000
ha)
|
Production
(000
tonnes)
|
Yield
(t/ha)
|
1993-94
|
8.764
|
160.361
|
18.30
|
1994-95
|
9.318
|
171.737
|
18.43
|
1995-96
|
10.029
|
185.912
|
18.54
|
1996-97
|
10.558
|
192.441
|
18.23
|
1997-98
|
10.821
|
199.365
|
18.42
|
1998-99
|
10.942
|
194.927
|
17.81
|
The average shares of the provinces in the over all area and
production of carrots, based on the data of 1998-99 crop are given
in the following table.
Table
-2: Shares of provinces in area and production of carrot (1998-99)
Province
|
Area
|
Production
|
|
000
ha
|
Percent
share
|
000,
tonns
|
percent
share
|
Punjab
|
7.135
|
65.20
|
142.200
|
72.95
|
Sindh
|
1.942
|
17.75
|
21.516
|
11.04
|
NWFP
|
0.624
|
5.71
|
10.204
|
5.23
|
Baluchistan
|
1.24
|
11.34
|
21.007
|
10.78
|
Total:
|
10.942
|
100
|
194.927
|
100
|
Plant
characteristics
Carrot is a biennial vegetable, grown for its edible, fleshy
taproots. Its root which is cut crosswise shows two distinct areas -
an outer area and an inner area or core. High quality carrot is that
which has a large outer area compared to the inner one. The outer
area contains more sugar and vitamins than the inner one.
Carrot produces a thickened root and a whorl of leaves during
its first year of growth. At the beginning of second year, the
flower stalk starts from the crown and grows up to a height of 60 to
90 cm. Swollen taproot can reach a length of 20 to 25 cm but its
shape, colour and size depend upon the cultivar grown. Roots may be
yellow, red dark, blue and seeds are small and prominently ribbed.
Climate
Carrot is a cool season vegetable and is moderately
frost-tolerant. The best colour carrots are produced when
temperatures at the growth stage range between 15°C and 20°C Above
or below this level, carrot colour develops slowly and tends to be
rather yellow. Typical root shape is also produced at similar
temperatures, the ideal being 18°C. Carrot is prone to bolting in
its first year when subjected to low temperatures (frost levels)
Bolted carrot is tough, small and unmarketable.
Soil
Carrot thrives best on deep, loose loamy soil. To secure an
early crop, sandy loam soil is ideal one. A soil in the
pH range of 5.5. to 6.5 is the best. Long smooth slender
carrot, desired for fresh market, can be successfully grown only on
deep, friable, well-drained light soils, free of debris and rocks.
Otherwise the roots will be of poor shape.
Land
preparation
Since carrot seed is rather small, a finely pulverized
seedbed is important so that maximum number of soil particles may
contact the seed to facilitate germination process. Thorough
cultivation to a depth of 25 to 30 cm is essential. The ploughed
land must be disked well and planking should follow the disking.
Roots will be forked, if grown in poorly prepared soil. Land should
be thoroughly levelled for the efficient and economical use of
irrigation water.
Time
of sowing
Due to varying climatic conditions there is a wide range of
sowing time in Pakistan. Four main seasons are as under:
Early crops
It is planted during August and harvested during
November/December.
Mid-season crop
It is planted during September/October and is ready of
harvest during December/January.
Late-Season crop
It is planted during November and is harvested
in February/March.
Summer crop
The crop is raised in the hilly areas. It is sown in
March/April and is harvested form June to July.
Seed
rate and sowing method
A seed rate of 20 to 25 kg per hectare is usually practised.
Carrot is seeded about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep in the soil for better
germination. The optimum distance between row-to-row should be 60 cm
and plant-to-plant as 3 to 4 cm. Seed should be sown on both sides
of ridges.
The seedbed must be kept moist during the germination period.
The soils which crust badly are likely to prevent a good stand of
carrot.
Irrigation
There must be enough moisture in the soil at the time of seed
sowing to facilitate better germination. The first irrigation may be
needed five to six days after sowing and repeated again after five
to six days till the completion of germination. Water should be
applied gradually and moderately. To prevent curst formation, ridges
should not be submerged in water. Thereafter, the crop should be
irrigated after an interval of 15 to 20 days, depending on the
weather conditions.
Thinning
Thinning is important to achieve good-sized roots. When the
plants attain a size of about 5 to 7 cm, thinning should be carried
out so that plants are 5 cm apart on rows. It can be done in two or
three stages rather than all at once. Unless thinning is done at
this time, the carrot will not develop well or symmetrically.
Twisted, distorted roots are often caused by delaying thinning too
long.
Manure
and fertilizers
Unfinished compost or manure used as a fertilizer for carrot
induces rough and branched roots. These materials should be well
composted before being added to soil where the crop is grown. A well
rotten farm yard manure should be applied at the rate of 25 to 30
tonnes per hectare, at the time of land preparation for maintaining
proper physical conditions and fertility status of the soil.
General recommendation for chemical fertilizers is 52 kg
N, 45 kg of P2O5
and 62 kg of K2O and
half quantity of N should be applied before seed sowing. Remaining
half of N should be applied four to six weeks after sowing with
subsequent irrigation.
Hoeing
and weeding
Hoeing is very important, especially in the early stages of
growth to keep the weeds under control Since carrot grows very
slowly for the first few weeks, therefore it cannot compete
successfully with weeds. Earthing up of the crop should be done for
proper development of roots and eradication of weeds.
Harvesting
Carrots for fresh market are harvested when the roots are 2.5
to 3 cm in diameter at the upper end. The field should be slightly
irrigated a few days before harvesting. All the tops should be
removed since they wilt and begin to decay first.
Storage
Cold storage prolongs the life of carrot by slowing
physiological changes. Topping and bagging the carrot in transparent
film reduces the loss of weight and water during transportation to
the market. Carrots can be kept in good condition for six months at
a temperature of about 32°F with 90 to 98 percent relative
humidity. However, it deteriorates in quality in storage owing to
slow loss of sugar in respiration.
Recommended varieties
T-29
|