MSc

The experiment entitled “Performance evaluation and standardization of
planting time in carrot (Daucus carota L.)” was carried out in the Department of
Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during October 2013 – March 2014.
The major objectives of the study were to identify ideal varieties for the plains of Kerala
to select suitable planting time and to study the influence of planting time on the
quantitative and qualitative traits of carrot. Fifteen carrot varieties were evaluated in
five different sowing dates with an interval of fifteen days which was commenced from
15 th October 2013 to 15 th December 2013, in randomized block design.
All the varieties of carrot and dates of sowing differed significantly and had
marked influence on all the quantitative and qualitative characters studied. Root length,
root girth, root diameter, and root weight directly contribute to yield. On comparing
different sowing dates maximum root length (14.94 cm) was seen in 15 th November
sowing. Root diameter and girth (4.23 cm and 13.29 cm respectively) were highest in
15 th October sowing. The maximum root weight (87.46 g) was recorded in 15 th
November sowing. Sowing on 1 st December produced highest root shoot ratio (1.52).
The maximum yield was recorded from early sown crop of 1 st November (7 kg/plot).
Among different varieties Desi Red produced the highest root length (18.08
cm). The highest root diameter and girth (5.45 cm and 17.13 cm respectively) were
recorded in Sarpan-601. Root shoot ratio (2.14) was highest in cultivar Kuroda (RKS).
Nantes and Sarpan-601 showed highest root weight and yield per plot was maximum
in Nantes (8.37 kg) followed by Sarpan-601 (8.18kg).
Among interaction Desi Red sown on 1 st November recorded the highest root
length (21.50 cm). The highest root diameter and girth (5.86 cm and 18.42 cm
respectively) were observed in Sarpan-601sown during all five dates of sowing.
Sarpan-601 sown on 15 th November exhibited highest root weight of 124.30 g. Century
sown during 1st December exhibited maximum root shoot ratio (2.42). Samson-196II
planted during 1 st November recorded lowest core size. The highest yield was recorded
in Sarpan-601 (9.95 kg/plot) sown during 15 th November. The yield per hectare ranged
between 11.42 t/ha to 27.91 t/ha and the highest value was recorded in Nantes and
lowest was recorded in Century.
Interaction between varieties and sowing time revealed that the performance of
all the varieties were very poor in the 1 st sowing (15 th October) and last sowing (15 th
December). In both sowings germination was very poor. In the 15 th October sowing all
the varieties had very vigorous vegetative growth with poor root yield whereas in 15 th
December sowing both vegetative and root formation were very poor resulting in very
poor yield.
The highest root dry matter (19.52 g/100g) was observed in 1 st November. The
highest value of beta carotene (4.77 mg/100g) was observed in the crop sown on 15 th
November. No variation was seen in acidity and TSS with respect to dates of sowing.
Characters such as root colour, root shape, root tail and root pubescence were not
affected by sowing time. The pubescence was seen only in tropical varieties but it was
absent in European types. European types exhibited orange coloured root with self
coloured core while Asiatic types exhibited red coloured root with distinct core. Asiatic
carrots were more inclined towards vegetative growth compared to European type
carrots.
From present study it may be concluded that the best time for sowing of carrot
in plains of Kerala may be from 1 st November to 1 st December. If the seeds are sown
during October the plants will have huge vegetative growth with minimum root yield.
When the sowing is done late in December, both the vegetative and root growth are
affected. Therefore to get a reasonably good crop of carrot, seeds should be sown from
1 st week of November to 1 st week of December.
Varieties like Kuroda Improved, Samson-196, Indam Kuroda, Kuroda (RKS),
Nantes and Super Kuroda-2 produced high quality roots. Varieties like Nantes, Sarpan-III
601, Pusa Rudhira, Pusa Meghali and Pusa Kesar produced higher yield and Kuroda
Improved, Super Kuroda-2 and Indam Kuroda recorded medium yield.
Considering both organoleptic acceptance, root quality and economic yield of
carrot the following recommendations can be made. Nantes is the best cultivar for
growing in Kerala with high yield, high TSS and high β carotene with medium total
sugar and good organoleptic acceptance followed by Kuroda Improved, Super Kuroda-
2 Indam Kuroda and Kuroda (RKS). All these varieties were having self coloured core
with high quality roots, high TSS, high total sugars and higher β carotene with medium
yield. They can also be recommended for cultivation in plains.
The varieties like Samson-196 produced very good quality roots with self
coloured core, high TSS medium total sugar and β carotene but the yield was very low.
Sarpan-601 and Pusa Rudhira, Pusa Meghali and Pusa Kesar produced high
yield but the root quality was very low in organoleptic acceptance and they were having
distinct coloured core. Hence these varieties may not be accepted by the farmers.
Among fifteen varieties only two varieties had pungent, very poor quality roots.
They were Pusa Kesar and Sarpan-601. Though both these varieties were high yielders
they cannot be recommended for cultivation due to high pungency.
All other varieties namely New Kuroda, Super Kuroda-1, Century, Flakker-2
and Desi Red gave medium quality roots with medium yield