FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Chilli: bacterial wilt resistant variety developed
M.J. PRABU
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Both green and red chillies are used for cooking
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COLOUR CHANGE: The pods of Ujwala are dark green in colour and turn red on maturing. — PHOTO: KAU
CHILLI IS a popular spice crop cultivated all over India.
It can be grown both as a rain fed crop and as an irrigated crop. The crop is found to grow well in loamy soils, which have a good facility for draining water.
Scientists at the Department of Olericulture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellanikkara, have developed a bacterial wilt resistant chilli variety named Ujwala.
Long pods
The pods of Ujwala are long, dark green in colour with a high degree of pungency. They come to harvest in about 75 days of planting, according to Prof. T.R. Gopalakrishnan, Head, Department of Olericulture, KAU.
"The variety can be used both as dry and green chilli. The pods are green in colour when young and turn red on maturing. Both the green and red chillies are used for cooking," he said.
Seed requirement
About one kg of seeds is required for sowing in a hectare. "The seeds should be treated with one gram of bavistan for every one kilo of seeds before sowing, to prevent damping off infestation (fungal disease)" he said.
The seeds are first sown on raised nursery beds, which are prepared by mixing farmyard manure and mulching (mixing dry/green leaves in the soil), according to Prof. Gopalakrishnan.
Germination time
Light irrigation must be done immediately after sowing in the nursery beds, and every morning thereafter. The seeds germinate in a week's time.
"In some areas fungal infestation is also noticed in the seedlings. Farmers are advised to drench the seedlings with one gram of bavistan diluted in one litre of water once a week," he said.
After one month, the seedlings must be transplanted to the main fields.
The main field should be mixed with 20-25 tonnes of farmyard manure, 75 kg of urea, 40 kg of phosphorus and 25kg of potash and ploughed into furrows. For rain fed crops, (especially in Kerala region), the seedlings have to be transplanted during April-May (beginning of south-west monsoon) and for irrigated crops, the ideal season for transplanting is during January-March (all over India).
The seedlings must be planted about 45 cm apart on the furrows. Light irrigation must be done immediately after planting.
During summer temporary shade may be provided to the seedlings and irrigation must be done 3-4 times a week.
Fertilizer requirement
After 30 days of transplanting, a second application of 35 kg of urea, 20 kg of phosphorus and 10 kg of potash must be done as a side dressing to the plants, according to Prof. Gopalakrishnan.
Weeding and earthing up may be done on the first and second months after transplanting.
The variety is found susceptible to leaf crinkling infestations caused by mites and aphids.
Pest control
Spraying roger 1.5 ml diluted in one litre of water once a week may help in the control of the pest, according to Prof. Gopalakrishnan.
For green chilli, matured green pods have to be harvested and for dry chilly, the green pods after harvest must be dried under the sun.
For more information readers may contact the Associate Professor and Head, Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU post, Thiruvananthapuram 680 656, phone:0487-2371918 (ext) 278, email: kau_oleri@yahoo.com
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