Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

General Information

• Common Names: Calabash, Lauki, Doodhi, Sorakaya.
• Family: Cucurbitaceae.
• Origin: Believed to have originated in Africa, it is now cultivated globally in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Uses: Used as a vegetable in cooked dishes, soups, and salads. Also utilized for making traditional musical instruments, containers, and decorative crafts.

Origin, Area, and Distribution

• Origin: Africa.
• Area: Widely grown in India, China, South Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia.
• Major Growing States in India: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• Distribution: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Climate

• Bottle gourd thrives in warm and humid climates.
• Temperature: Optimal range of 20–30°C.
• Rainfall: Requires 50–100 cm of well-distributed rainfall.
• Sensitive to frost; prefers long-day conditions for vegetative growth.

Soil

• Well-drained loamy or sandy loam soils rich in organic matter are ideal.
• pH: 6.5–7.5.
• Avoid waterlogging and highly saline soils.

Improved Varieties

1. Arka Bahar: Uniform fruits, high yield.
2. Pusa Summer Prolific Long: Cylindrical fruits, heat-tolerant.
3. Pusa Summer Prolific Round: Suitable for summer cultivation, round fruits.
4. CO 1: Early maturing, long fruits.
5. Punjab Komal: High yield, tender fruits.
6. Samrat: Long fruits, suitable for commercial farming.

Seed Rate: 2–4 kg per hectare. Higher seed rate for direct sowing and lower for transplanting.

Cultivation Practices

Time of Sowing

• Summer Crop: January–February.
• Rainy Season Crop: June–July.

Land Preparation

• Plough the field 2–3 times to obtain a fine tilth.
• Apply 10–15 tons of farmyard manure (FYM) per hectare during land preparation.

Transplanting Techniques

• Sow seeds directly or transplant seedlings.
• Prepare nursery beds with well-drained soil and FYM.
• Transplant 2-week-old seedlings to the main field.

Planting Distance

• Row-to-row: 2.5–3 m.
• Plant-to-plant: 60–75 cm.

Fertilizer Requirements (Per Hectare)

• Basal Dose: 100 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅, 50 kg K₂O.
• Apply half the nitrogen and full phosphorus and potassium at planting.
• Top-dress the remaining nitrogen in 2–3 splits during the growing period.

Irrigation

• Requires frequent irrigation, especially during flowering and fruit development stages.
• Avoid waterlogging.
• Irrigate at intervals of 7–10 days during dry periods.

Weed Management

• Perform 2–3 manual weedings during the crop cycle.
• Mulching can help suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.

Training and Pruning

• Train plants on a trellis or support system for better air circulation and fruit quality.
• Prune unnecessary lateral shoots to promote growth and yield.

Harvesting and Yield

• Harvesting:
  • Harvest tender fruits before they mature fully.
  • Regular picking encourages new fruit formation.
• Yield: 20–25 tons per hectare, depending on the variety and management practices.

Physiological Disorders

1. Fruit Cracking: Caused by irregular irrigation or water stress. Management: Maintain uniform soil moisture levels.
2. Poor Fruit Set: Due to high temperatures or poor pollination. Management: Ensure proper pollination by encouraging bee activity or manual pollination.
3. Yellowing of Fruits: Result of nutrient deficiencies or pest infestations. Management: Apply balanced fertilizers and control pests effectively.

Pests and Diseases

Common Pests

• Red Pumpkin Beetle: Damages seedlings and leaves.Control: Apply neem-based pesticides.
• Fruit Fly: Lays eggs in developing fruits. Control: Use pheromone traps or neem extracts.

Common Diseases

• Powdery Mildew: White powdery patches on leaves. Control: Spray sulfur-based fungicides.
• Downy Mildew: Yellow spots on leaves with whitish growth underneath. Control: Use copper fungicides or resistant varieties.