HORDI Crop – Kekiri

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Kekiri

Cucumis melo

It is a nutritious crop that cures diseases such as diabetes, gastritis and urinary stones.

Released Varieties

Although there are no varieties recommended by the Department of Agriculture, many locally grown varieties are popular among farmers.

Climatic requirements/ Areas suitable for cultivation

It is a crop that prefers tropical climates. The crop grows successfully in the range of temperature 300 – 350 C . The crop can be grown up to 1000 m above sea level. It is a crop that can be grown year round.

Soil

It can be grown  with a wide range of soil types and is best suited for well drained soils containing more organic matter. The pH value of the soil range between5.5 – 7.5.

Seed requirement

500g of seeds is sufficient for one hectare of land. One gram of seeds contains 90 – 100 seeds

Spacing

Inter row spacing and the intra row spacing is 1.0m

Land preparation and Planting

Plough the soil to a depth of 20-30 cm and crush the larger particles to a slightly rougher texture. The planting holes are prepared as 30cm3 (length, width and depth) and the holes are filled with a large amount of decomposed organic matter and mixed with the topsoil. It is filled up to a 10 cm height. Plant about 3-4 seeds in prepared pits. At 2 weeks of emerging, remove weak seedlings allowing two healthy seedlings to grow

Cultivation Time

Year around cultivation

Fertilizer

Time of application

Urea  kg/ha

TSP kg/ha

MOP  kg/ha

Basal fertilizer

75

200

60

Top dressing (04 weeks after emergence of seedlings)

75

60

Top dressing (08 weeks after emergence of seedlings)

75

60

Note 1: It is better to apply phosphorus and potassium as basic fertilizers after a soil test.

Irrigation

It is necessary to irrigate daily until the seeds germinate. Watering every 3-4 days is sufficient depending on the requirement and climatic conditions. Unnecessary irrigation can cause vines and seed rotting.

Weed Control

It is important to control weeds in the early stages of the crop. Mulching also control weeds.

Pest Management

Melon fly, Aulacophora beetle, Epilachna beetle, aphid, white fly

Apply recommended pesticides, maintain field sanitation

Disease Management

Causal Organism: Erysiphe spp.

Symptoms

  • Spots develop on the upper surface of on the plder leaves
  • It causes the leaves turn yellow and whiter
  • Fruits are not infected

Management

  • Apply recommended fungicides, maintain field sanitation
  • Using good quality seeds
  • Used fungicide Sprays (Mancozeb , Captan)
  • Weed Control

Causal Organism: Pseudoperonospara cubensis

Symptoms

  • Infection of downy mildew begin as irregular yellow patches on leaves
  • These chlorotic lesions later turn brown
  • If conditions are favorable, white fluffy growth of the fungus develops on the undersides of leaves. Leaves may take on a blighted appearance.

Management

  • Apply recommended fungicides, maintain field sanitation
    • Mancozeb 64% + Metalaxyl 8% WP
    • Captan 50% WP
    • Flutriafol 25% SC
    • Potassium bicarbonate 82% SP
    • Azoxystrobin 250 / l SC

Causal Organism: phythium spp

Symptoms

  • Begin as brownish , water soaked lesions that quickly become large, watery soft and rotten
  • The rot generally begins on the parts of fruit in contact with the soil
  • White cottony mycelium is apparent on rotten tissue especially during humid weather

Management

  • Apply recommended fungicides, maintain field sanitation
    • Spray thiram 80% WP 14g in 10l of water or Thiophonate methyl 50% WP + Thiram 30% WP 10g in 10l of water
    • 6g Topsin 70% WP in 10l of water

Harvesting

When the fruit is well matured, harvest while cutting the stalk with a sharp knife.

Yield

 25,000 – 30,000 Kgs per hectare..