| Scientific Name |
Abelmoschus esculentus L. |
| Hybrid |
F1 Prerana |
| Soil |
Loose, well-drained, rich soils with pH 6–8. |
| Land Preparation |
Plough 2–3 times for fine tilth. Prepare ridges/furrows or raised beds. Dibble seeds on sides of ridges or beds. Soak seeds 6–12 hours before sowing in summer for better germination. |
| Spacing |
60 × 30 cm |
| Climate |
Tropical/sub-tropical; cannot tolerate frost. Sensitive to drought, low night temperature, shade, and high day temperatures (>42°C causes flower drop). |
| Season |
All seasons |
| Seed Rate |
6–7 kg/ha |
| Fertilizers & Manures |
| Type |
Quantity / Notes |
| FYM |
20–25 t/ha |
| Nitrogen (N) |
200 Kg/ha |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) |
100 Kg/ha |
| Potassium (K₂O) |
100 Kg/ha |
| Any special cases: No |
|
| Irrigation |
Irrigate immediately after sowing. Water stress during flowering & fruiting affects yield. Subsequent irrigation depends on soil texture & climate; in black soils, every 5–6 days. |
| Weed Control |
Manual weeding |
| Diseases |
| Disease |
Symptoms & Management |
| Powdery Mildew |
White powdery residue on leaves, brown & defoliation.
Control: Carbendazim 1 ml/L, Karathane 0.5 ml/L, Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% @0.5 g/L, Meptyl dinocap 0.5 g/L |
| Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) |
Yellow veins, leaf thickening, stunted growth.
Control: Dimethoate 1.5 ml/L, Acetamiprid 20% WP @1 g/L, Diafenthiuron 47% + Bifenthrin 9.4% SC @1 g/L |
| Blossom Blight |
Choanephora cucurbitarum infects blossoms & young pods.
Control: Bavistin 0.1% spray 5–6 times at fortnightly intervals |
| Enation Leaf Curl Virus |
Leaf distortion & thickening.
Control: Same as YVMV |
| Rhizoctonia Wilt |
Wilting due to blocked xylem/phloem.
Control: Fosetyl AL 80% WP 1 g/L + Carbendazim 50% WP 2 g/L, Chlorthalonil 50% WP 2 g/L, Metalaxyl 8% WP + Mancozeb 64% WP 2 g/L |
| Fusarium Wilt |
Wilting from blocked xylem/phloem.
Control: Aliete 1 g/L + Carbendazim 50% WP 2 g/L, Chlorthalonil 50% WP 2 g/L, Metalaxyl 8% WP + Mancozeb 64% WP 2 g/L |
|
| Pests |
| Pest |
Symptoms & Management |
| Shoot & Fruit Borer |
Terminal shoots wither, bud/flower drop, boreholes in fruits.
Control: Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG 0.5 g/L, Chlorantraniliprole + Lambda-cyhalothrin 0.5 ml/L, Flubendamide + Thiacloprid 0.5 ml/L |
| Whitefly |
Chlorotic leaf spots, premature defoliation, vector of YVMV.
Control: Quinalphos 25% EC 1 ml/L, Acetamiprid 20% WP 1 g/L, Diafenthiuron 47% + Bifenthrin 9.4% SC 1 g/L, Propargite 50% EC 2 ml/L |
| Aphids |
Sap-sucking, leaf curling & drying.
Control: Acephate 75% SP 1.5 g/L, Dimethoate 1.5 ml/L, Imidacloprid 30.5% SC 0.25 ml/L, Diafenthiuron 50% WP 1 g/L, 30–35 blue sticky traps/ha |
| Red Cotton Bug |
Discoloured/shriveled seeds.
Control: Phosphamidon 40 SL @ 600 ml/ha |
|
| Harvesting |
Maturity: 40–45 days. Harvest tender fruits at maximum size using knife or bending pedicel. Use cotton gloves. Morning harvesting recommended; sprinkle water at night to keep pods fresh. |
| Yield |
25–30 t/ha |
