Bottle Gourd Cultivation in India: Package of Practices

Bottle gourd, also known as lauki or calabash, is a widely cultivated vegetable in India. Known for its health benefits and culinary versatility, it is an integral part of Indian cuisine. This guide provides detailed insights into the cultivation of bottle gourd plant, from sowing to harvesting, to help farmers maximize their yield and quality.

Bottle Gourd Crop at a Glance

Cropping Season

Bottle gourd can be cultivated throughout the year, but the main growing seasons are during the summer (March to June) and monsoon (July to October).

Crop Type

Bottle gourd is an annual, climbing vine that produces long, bottle-shaped fruits. It is grown for its tender fruits, which are used as vegetables.

Production and Consumption

Bottle gourd is widely cultivated across India, with major production in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. The vegetable is consumed locally and is a staple in many regional dishes due to its low-calorie content and high nutritional value, including vitamins and minerals.

Export

India exports bottle gourd to countries with significant Indian populations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, where it is popular in Indian cuisine.

Types of Bottle Gourd in India

There are three types of bottle gourd cultivated in India, each with unique characteristics:

Bottle gourd long: This variety is known for its elongated shape and is widely used in various culinary dishes.

Bottle gourd round: Recognized for its spherical shape, this variety is popular for its tender flesh and mild flavor.

Bottle gourd lattu shape: This unique lattu-shaped bottle gourd is favored for its distinctive appearance and versatility in cooking.

Required Climatic Conditions

Bottle gourd thrives in warm and humid climates. It requires temperatures between 25°C and 35°C for optimal growth. The plant is sensitive to frost and extreme cold, making it unsuitable for cultivation in cooler climates.

Soil Requirement

Bottle gourd prefers well-drained, fertile soils rich in organic matter. Sandy loam and loamy soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 are ideal. The soil should be prepared to ensure good drainage and prevent waterlogging, which can harm the plants.

Land Preparation

Prepare the land by ploughing once or twice, depending on the soil type. Mix 3 tons of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and 3 Liter of composting bacteria in the field, allowing it to decompose in open air for 10 days. Spread this mixture evenly over the soil and use a rotavator to achieve a fine tilth throughout the field. Prepare raised beds, 150 – 180 cm wide bed preparation, by using a tractor.

Sowing

Seed Rate

The recommended seed rate for bottle gourd is 1-1.25 kg per acre. Seeds should be sown directly in the field after proper land preparation.

Variety

Choosing the right variety is crucial for maximizing yield. Popular varieties include Pusa Naveen, Arka Bahar, and Punjab Komal.

1. Pusa Naveen: Known for its smooth, cylindrical fruits.
2. Arka Bahar: Produces medium-sized, cylindrical fruits with good shelf life.
3. Punjab Komal: Yields medium to large, light green fruits.
4. CO-1: A popular variety with long, slender fruits.
5. Syngenta Vinayak: Green glossy fruit, Cylindrical long.
6. Clause CBH-11: High fruit set variety with long, attractive fruits.
7. VNR Ranjha: Bulb shaped, light green fruits.
8. Sarpan Bottle Gourd 55: Dark green, cylindrical fruits.
9. Shine Julie F1: Cylindrical fruit, Dark green color.
10. Shriram Yamla: Medium-long Cylindrical, lustrous green in color. 
11. Acsen Hyveg Jaidev: Dark green fruits with round shape.
12. Gentex Shubhangi (RST 1103): Light green, Medium to long, Cylindrical in shape.

Seed Treatment

For effective seed treatment, use Thiamethoxam 30% FS at 10 ml / kg seed to protect against sucking pests. Combine with Carbendazim 50% WP at 3 gm / kg seed to prevent fungal diseases. This dual treatment ensures healthier germination and robust plant growth. 

Spacing

Maintain a spacing of 5 to 6 feet  between rows and 2 feet between plants within a row. This spacing ensures adequate air circulation and sunlight penetration, which are essential for healthy plant growth.

Nutrient Management

Fertilization

Balanced fertilization is essential for the optimal growth of bottle gourd:

• The total N:P:K requirement is 80:80:100 kg per acre.
• Basal Dose: During the final land preparation, apply 50% of the nitrogen and the entire phosphorus and potassium as the basal dose.
• Top Dressing: Apply 25% of the nitrogen at 30 days after sowing and the remaining 25% at 50 days after sowing.

Irrigation Management

Bottle gourd requires consistent moisture for optimal growth. Key irrigation practices include:

• Frequency: Irrigate immediately after sowing and then regularly at intervals of 5-7 days, depending on soil moisture levels and weather conditions.
• Methods: Drip irrigation is recommended for efficient water use and to reduce the risk of diseases.

Intercultural Operations

Weeding

Regular weeding is necessary to keep the field free of competing weeds. Perform two to three hoeing sessions during the early growth stages to control weeds.

Training and Pruning

Train the vines to climb on trellises or supports to improve air circulation and sunlight exposure. Prune excess lateral shoots to promote the growth of the main vine and increase fruit production. 

Crop Protection

Crop protection includes pest and disease management. Below are the pests and diseases that affect Bottle gourd crops.

Pest Management

Common pests affecting bottle gourd include, leaf miner, fruit flies, white fly, thrips, aphids, and red pumpkin beetles. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies should be employed:

Leaf Miner

Leaf miners are larvae that feed on the mesophyll tissue within leaves, creating irregular mines that may become necrotic. They can also tunnel into stems, hindering plant development, and sometimes attack the fruit as well.

Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water

Chemical Control: Spray Abamectin 1.9% EC – 0.5 ml OR Thiamethoxam 25% WG – 0.5 gm OR Cartap Hydrochloride 50% SP –  1.5 gm per liter water.

Sucking Pest – Thrips, Aphid, Whitefly 

In Bottle gourd crop, sucking pests like thrips, aphids, and whiteflies suck the leaf sap, weakening the plants and leading to stunted growth and reduced yields.

Mechanical Control: Install Yellow and Blue sticky traps @ 10 per acre

Organic Control: Spray Azadirachtin or Neem oil @ 2 ml per lit water

Chemical Control: Spray Acetamiprid 20% SP – 0.5 gm OR Thiamethoxam 25% WG – 0.5 gm OR Dimethoate 30% EC 2 ml OR Imidacloprid 17.8% SL – 0.5 ml per liter 

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies feed on the internal tissues of fruits, causing premature fruit dropping, rotting, and yellowing.

Mechanical Control: Install 4-5 fruit fly traps per acre in the field.

Chemical Control: Spray Bayer Fenos Quick (Flubendiamide 90 + Deltamethrin 60 SC) 0.5 ml OR Ampligo (Chlorantraniliprole + Lambda cyhalothrin) per liter water.

Pumpkin Beetles 

Pumpkin beetles damage the roots by feeding on them, while their grubs consume the leaves.

Chemical Control: Spray Acephate 75% SP – 2 gm OR Super D – 2 ml per liter water.

Nematode

Symptoms include premature leaf fall, wilting and decline in growth and fruit production. Roots of infected plants show typical galls / knots. 

Organic Control: Drench Paecilomyces Lilacinus @ 2 lit per acre.

Chemical Control: Drench Bayer Velum Prime – 300 ml per acre.

Disease Management

Bottle gourd is susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, and mosaic virus. Effective disease management includes:

Alternaria Leaf Blight 

Small, yellow-brown spots with a yellow or green halo initially appear on the oldest leaves.

Chemical Control: Spraying of Ridomil Gold @ 2 gram OR Antracol (Propineb)@ 2.5 gram per liter water. 

Cercospora Leaf Spot

The disease initially manifests as small spots with light to tan brown centers on older leaves. As it progresses, these lesions enlarge, covering significant portions of the leaf surface.

Chemical Control: Spray saaf fungicide @ 2 gm OR Curzet @ 2.5 gm/liter water.

Downy Mildew

Angular brown lesions appear on the upper side of Bottle gourd leaves, with purple to gray spores and mold on the underside; leaves turn brown and die but stay attached to the plant.

Chemical Control: Spray Avancer Glow @ 3 gm OR Curzet @ 2.5 gm OR Acrobat fungicide 1 gm /liter water.

Powdery Mildew 

White, powdery spots appear on the undersides of leaves, leading to leaf yellowing.

Chemical Control: Spray saaf fungicide @ 2 gm OR Bayer Nativo 0.5 gm OR Amistar Top 1 ml /  liter water.

Yello Mosaic Virus 

This disease is transmitted by whiteflies. Infected plants exhibit stunted growth and reduced fruit production, significantly impacting overall yield.

Chemical Control: Spray Geolife No Virus 500 ml with Thiamethoxam 25% WG – 100 gm OR  Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 100 ml OR Fipronil 5 % SC 100 ml per acre.

Fusarium Wilt 

Infected plants may display dark brown or reddish-brown discoloration in the vascular tissue when the stem is cut open. This symptom is often accompanied by stunted growth, eventually leading to plant death.

Organic Control: Drench biofungicide Trichoderma viride 500 gm per acre.  

Chemical Control: Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP – 500 gm OR Thiophanate methyl 70 % WP 400 gm per acre.

Harvesting & Threshing

Bottle gourd fruits are ready for harvest 50 – 60 days after sowing. Harvesting is done when the fruits are tender and immature. Mature fruits become fibrous and are unsuitable for consumption.

Yield

The yield of bottle gourd varies depending on the variety and cultivation practices. On average, the yield ranges from 26 to 30 tonnes per hectare.

Conclusion

Bottle gourd cultivation is a rewarding agricultural practice with significant potential for profitability. By adopting modern cultivation techniques and effective crop management strategies, farmers can enhance their yields and contribute to the nutritional security of their communities.

FAQs