Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
most important step for enhancing productivity, quality and profitability
in vegetables through protected cultivation. One thousand square meters
nursery green house is capable to produce nearly 15-20 lakhs of vegetable
seedlings in 6-8 batches resulting in an net income of Rs. 2.5-3.0 lakh and
moreover, it can also provide employment to nearly 4-5 youths for con-
ducting different operations in nursery raising throughout the year.
7.3 OFF-SEASON CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLE CROPS
UNDER PLASTIC LOW TUNNELS
Plastic low tunnels are flexible transparent coverings that are installed
over single or multiple rows of vegetables to enhance the plant growth by
warming the air around the plants in the open field during winter season
when the temperature is below 8 °C. Plastic low tunnels are often used
to promote the growth of plants during the period of winter season. Low
tunnels are supported above the plants by using hoops of GI wire and a
clear or transparent plastic of 20-30 micron is covered/stretched over the
hoops and the sides are secured by placing in soil. The plastic is having
vented or silted during the growing season as the temperature increase
within the tunnels. The farmers can grow different varieties of summer
squash (round fruited, long fruited), which is a emerging crop along with
cultivation of netted muskmelon varieties in place of traditional varieties
(Singh and Kumar, 2009). Bitter gourd and round melon are two other
crops with increasing demand and which usually fetches very high price
during off-season and can be grown successfully by using the plastic low
tunnel technology. This technology is highly suitable and profitable for the
farmers living in northern plains of India (Singh et al., 2004).
7.4 OFF SEASON VEGETABLE CULTIVATION UNDER WALK IN
TUNNELS
Walk in tunnels are temporary structures erected by using G.I. pipes and
transparent plastic. They are generally used for complete off season culti-
vation of vegetables like bottle gourd, summer squash, cucumber, etc. dur-
ing peak winter season (Dec-mid February) the basic objective and utility
of walk in tunnels is to fetch high price of the complete off season produce
