EFFECT OF PLASTIC LOW TUNNEL ON YIELD AND ECONOMICS OF SUMMER BOTTLE GOURD [Lagenaria siceraria(Mol.) STANDI] BY EARLY PRODUCTION OF SEEDLINGS

D. SINGH¹*, Y.S. CHANDRA², S. KHANDELWAL³, POONAM^4
1College of Agriculture, Kumher, 321201, Bharatpur, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
²ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navgaon,301025, Alwar, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
³ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navgaon,301025, Alwar, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
⁴ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navgaon,301025, Alwar, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
* Corresponding Author : dsingh.kvk.dholpur@sknau.ac.in

Received : 30-11-2022     Accepted : 27-12-2022     Published : 30-12-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 12       Pages : 12090 - 12092
Int J Agr Sci 14.12 (2022):12090-12092

Keywords : Off season, On-farm testing, Plug-trays, Plastic low tunnel, Polythene sheet, Bottle guard
Academic Editor : Amit Anil Shahane
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to College of Agriculture, Kumher, 321201, Bharatpur, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India and ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Navgaon,301025, Alwar, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, 303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of plastic low tunnel on yield and economics of summer bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl] by early production of seedlings during 2021 and 2022 at Alwar, Rajasthan. Seeds were sown in plug-trays on 15th January when minimum temperature and maximum temperature were 8°C and 21°C respectively under plastic low tunnel covered by transparent polythene sheet of 30micron thickness. Seedlings were shifted on 25th February when minimum temperature and maximum temperature were 15°C and 33°C, respectively. Seedlings produced under low plastic tunnel produced first picking earlier (30-35 days after transplanting) and higher yield 215 q/ha. with higher B:C ratio of 1:3.91 in comparison to farmer’s practice (control) of direct sowing of seeds on 25th February to 05th March in open field when temperature was suitable for growth which produced first picking later (65-70 days after sowing) and lower yield of 186.5 q/ha. with B:C ratio of 1:3.42. There was 15.28 % increase in yield over farmer’s practice. The technology gap in productivity of 35q/ha was computed. The technology index value of 14 was recorded. The results indicated that the gap existed in the potential yield and demonstration yield is due to soil fertility and weather conditions. By conducting on farm testing of proven technology of earlier seedlings production in off-season in plastic low tunnel yield potential of bottle gourd can be increased. This will substantially increase income as well as the livelihood of farming community

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