The botanical name of Beet root is Beta vulgaris L.; it belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae
Varieties: Ooty 1, Crimson Globe, Detroit Dark Red and Red Ball.
Soil: It comes up well in all types of friable soils. The suitable soil pH is 6.0-7.0. It is considered to be a cool weather crop.
Season and sowing: July – August.
Seed rate: Sow 6 kg/ha directly in ridges at a spacing of 10 cm.
Preparation of field: Plough to a fine tilth and ridges and furrows are formed at 30 cm apart.
Irrigation: Irrigate the field copiously immediately after sowing and afterwards as and when necessary.
Application of fertilizers: Apply FYM at 20 t/ha and 60:160:100 kg NPK/ha as basal and 60 kg N/ha after 30 days.
After cultivation: 20 days after sowing thin to a single seedling per hill.
Plant protection against Pests
Leaf miner and flea beetle: Spray malathion 50 EC 2 ml/lit.
Diseases and protection
Cercospora leaf spot: Spray Mancozeb at 2 g/lit.
Rhizoctonia root rot: Spot drenching with Carbendazim at 1 g/lit.
Yield: 20 - 25 t/ha in 120 days.
