INTRODUCTION |
· GERBERA CULTIVATION CAN BE VERY PROFITABLE FOR FARMERS OF GOA WHO HAVE SMALL LAND HOLDINGS BUT GOOD MARKET FOR THIS HIGH VALUE FLOWER. TRANSPORTATION BY TRAINS AND BUSES IS POSSIBLE TO REACH MUMBAI, DELHI, CHENNAI AND OTHER NEARBY MARKETS WITHIN 12-36 HRS. FLOWERS FETCH PRICE OF RS. 40-50/ TEN SPIKES DURING NEW YEAR SEASON, FESTIVALS, CHRISTMUS, VALENTINE DAY CELEBRATIONS ETC. FLOWERS FETCH VERY GOOD PRICE IN MARRIAGE SEASONS ALSO. GROWERS CAN AVAIL FINANCE FACILITIES UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES OF STATE AND CENTRAL GOVTS SO THAT VENTURE BECOMES VERY REMUNERATIVE. |
· GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII) IS A HERB AND ITS FLOWERS ARE LIKE DAISY. FLOWER STALKS ARE LONG, THIN AND LEAF-LESS. IT FLOWERS YEAR-ROUND IN WARM, HUMID CONDITIONS. IT CAN ALSO BE GROWN AS A FIELD CROP IN OPEN AIR ON RAISED BEDS, AS A GREENHOUSE PLANT UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS (PROTECTED CULTIVATION) AND AS A POTTED PLANT3 |
WHAT IS POLYHOUSE AND WHY IS IT REQUIRED ? |
· IT IS A GREENHOUSE COVERED WITH UV–STABILIZED THICK TRANSPARENT WHITE POLYETHYLENE. THE STRUCTURE IS MADE OF GALVANIZED IRON PIPES WITH AERODYNAMICALLY SUITED DESIGN TO WITHSTAND WINDS. THE LOW COST STRUCTURES ARE MADE OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE TIMBER AND BAMBOOS BUT THEIR DURABILITY IS LESS |
· THE NATURALLY VENTILATED POLYHOUSE IS SUITABLE FOR GERBERA CULTIVATION UNDER GOA CONDITIONS. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE FAN AND COOLING SYSTEM. OPENINGS ON SIDES AND ON TOP PROVIDES SUFFICIENT VENTILATION. THE NETS ARE PROVIDED AT OPENINGS TO AVOID ENTRY OF INSECTS. |
ADVANTAGES OF POLYHOUSE · IT PROVIDES |
CONDITIONS MOST SUITABLE FOR GERBERA CULTIVATION
THE SUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR HIGH QUALITY FLOWER PRODUCTION ARE: · RH 70-75% (HIGH RH INCREASES DISEASE INCIDENCE AND FLOWER DEFORMITY) <LI|>TEMPERATURE 20-30 0C (LESS THAN 12 0C AND HIGHER THAN 35 0C ADVERSELY AFFECTS FLOWER PRODUCTION) · SHADE NET FOR 50-70% SUNLIGHT (400 WATT /SQ. M IS REQUIRED). THE SHADE-NETS CUT THE SCORCHING SUNLIGHT TO 50- 70% </LI|> |
POLYHOUSE AREA AND OTHER FEATURES · FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION, THE UNITS OF THE SIZE OF: 500-1000 SQ M AND ABOVE ARE VERY VIABLE. POLYHOUSE OF AREA LOWER THAN 500-1000 SQ. M WOULD ALSO BE FEASIBLE FOR COMMERCIAL CULTIVATION PROVIDED LABOUR AND OTHER OVER-HEAD COSTS ARE REDUCED.. THE HEIGHT 5-6.5 M IN THE MIDDLE IS SUFFICIENT FOR AIR CIRCULATION · VENTILATION NETS ON SIDES AND TOP ARE COVERED WITH POLYETHYLENE SHEET FOR PROTECTION FROM RAINS DURING MONSOON · FOG OR MIST-SYSTEM TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE AND INCREASE RH DURING PEAK SUMMER SEASON ( APRIL- MAY) IN GOA CONDITIONS. IT HAS TO BE OPERATED FOR SHORT DURATION DURING PEAK HRS IN SUMMER WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH AND HUMIDITY IS LOW |
FERTIGATION SYSTEM · IT IS AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF POLYHOUSE. DRIP SYSTEM FOR FERTIGATION CONSISTS OF PUMP, FILTER AND LIQUID FERTILIZER MIXING UNIT. THE DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLD, LATERALS WITH DRIPPERS (ONE DRIPPER PER PLANT) AND WATER TANK ARE THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS SYSTEM. WATER SUPPLIED TO THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE CLEAN AND TANK OF 5000 LIT IS SUFFICIENT FOR 500 SQM UNIT. |
SOIL REQUIREMENT AND GROWING MEDIUM · SOIL USED IN GROWING MEDIUM SHOULD HAVE PH 5.5 TO 6.5. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 1 (MS/CM ) FOR SOIL AND IRRIGATION WATER. SOIL TEXTURE SHOULD WELL-DRAINED AND POROUS AS THE ROOTS MAY GO UP TO 50-60CM DEEP. DON’T USE POULTRY OR OTHER MANURES. SOIL AND FYM TO BE MIXED IN 2 TO 1 PROPORTION WELL ROTTEN FYM SHOULD BE MIXED THOROUGHLY IN THE SOIL BEFORE STERILIZATION. |
STERILIZATION OF GROWING MEDIUM · STERILIZATION OF SOIL IS REQUIRED FOR REDUCING RISK OF PHYTOPHTHORA. PYTHIUM, FUSARIUM FORMALIN OR FORMALDEHYDE (1 LIT. IN 10 LIT WATER) IS SPRINKLED (1-2 LIT/SQM) WITH ROSE CAN ON MIXED GROWING MEDIUM LAYER OF 1-1.5 FEET HEIGHT AND COVERED WITH PLASTIC REMOVE PLASTIC AFTER 1 WEEK, FLUSH THE TRACES OF FORMALIN WITH WATER 50-80 LIT/ SQ M WAIT FOR 1 WEEK FOR GOOD TILLAGE CONDITION OF SOIL |
PLANTING BEDS AND INITIAL FERTILIZER APPLICATION · RAISED BEDS OF 80 CM WIDTH ARE SUITABLE FOR PLANTING, BASE SHOULD BE90 CM WITH HEIGHT 45-60 CM. GRAVELS CAN BE PUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BED FOR BETTER DRAINAGE. KEEP 45 CM SPACE BETWEEN BEDS AS WORKING SPACE.
· ADD AND MIX 2.5 KG SSP AND 0.5KG MAGNESIUM SULPHATE @ 10SQ M BED AREA.
· PLANT THREE ROWS OF PER BED WITH 30 CM DISTANCE ON ONE BED. PLANT TO PLANT DISTANCE SHOULD BE 30 CM. PLANTING IS DONE WITH ROOT BALL AND CROWN IS KEPT ABOVE SOIL SURFACE (1 CM). IRRIGATE LIGHTLY AFTER PLANTING. IN 1000 SQ M AREA, 900 PLANTS CAN BE PLANTED WITH 3 ROWS WHILE IN 500 SQM AREA, 2500 PLANTS CAN BE ACCOMMODATED |
CULTURAL OPERATIONS AFTER PLANTING · THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS MAINTAINED AT 70-80% FOR FIRST 4 WEEKS. IRRIGATE PLANTS LIGHTLY WITH ROSE CAN AFTER PLANTING DAILY FOR 4 WEEKS (TWICE IN A DAY). DRENCHING OF SOIL WITH FUNGICIDE CAPTAN AND BENLATE (1G/LIT) AFTER 3 AND 6 DAYS, RESPECTIVELY IS RECOMMENDED. SPRAY NUVAN (DICHLORVOS) (1.5 ML) AFTER 9 DAYS. |
FERTILIZERS AND IRRIGATION (FERTIGATION) · AFTER ONE MONTH PLANTS GET ESTABLISHED AND LIQUID FERTILIZERS CAN BE GIVEN THROUGH DRIP. APPLY 20:20:20 N:P:K AT ALTERNATE DAY @ 0.4 G / PLANT) THROUGH DRIP DURING 2ND AND 3RD MONTH ALONG WITH MICRONUTRIENTS AND CALCIUM CHELATES. FROM FOURTH MONTH ONWARD APPLY 15:8:35 OR 16:8:24 N:P:K + 0:0: 50 AT ALTERNATE DAY @ 0.4 G / PLANT AS THE FLOWERING PICKS-UP. CALCIUM NITRATE (250G) AND CHELATED MICRONUTRIENT MIXTURE (REXOLIN OR FERTILON COMBI-II TRADE NAMES) AT 25 G (FOR ROUGHLY 1000 PLANTS) SHOULD BE GIVEN ONCE IN 8-10 DAYS THROUGH DRIP. GROWN-UP PLANT NEEDS 700 ML WATER / DAY HENCE DRIPPER FLOW AT EACH PLANT HAS TO BE CHECKED AND ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.
· MIX THE LIQUID FERTILIZER IN WATER IN A SMALL TANK OF FERTIGATION SYSTEM, ADJUST THE FLOW THROUGH MIXING UNIT BY ADJUSTING THE VALVES. FLOW CAN BE MEASURED AT DRIPPERS.
· CHECK THE FLOW OF DRIPPERS OVER ENTIRE AREA, IT SHOULD BE EVEN TO ALL PLANTS. FOR EXAMPLE : 1000 PLANTS REQUIRE 700 LIT WATER AND 400 G FERTILIZER QUANTITY. (700 ML WATER WITH 0.4G FERTILIZER TO EACH PLANT). |
INSECT-PESTS AND THEIR CONTROL · THRIPS, LEAF MINER AND MITES ARE VERY COMMON PESTS AND NEED TO BE CONTROLLED IMMEDIATELY AS AND WHEN APPEAR. THE SPRAY SOLUTION QUANTITY CAN BE DOUBLED OR TRIPLED AS THE PLANTS GROW SO AS TO COVER ALL PLANTS.
WHITE FLY:
LEAF MINER:
THRIPS:
MITES:
LEAF EATING CATTERPILLER:
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HARVESTING · GERBERA PLANTS PRODUCE FLOWERS 7-8 WEEKS AFTER PLANTING. PLANTS HAVE PRODUCTIVE LIFE UP TO 24-30 MONTHS. ONE PLANT YIELDS 30-40 FLOWERS PER YEAR AND 75 TO 100 FLOWERS IN 30 MONTHS. FLOWERS ARE READY TO HARVEST WHEN 2-3 WHORLS OF STAMENS ARE DEVELOPED.
· PLUCK THE FLOWER AT THE HEEL WITH ANGULAR CUT. PLUCKING SHOULD BE DONE IN MORNING OR EVENING. |
POSTHARVEST QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT · FLOWERS WITH STALK LENGTH 45-55CM AND DIAMETER 10- 12 CM FETCH VERY GOOD PRICE AS THEY ARE ‘A’ GRADE FLOWERS. VASE LIFE IS 8-10 DAYS. FOR BEST VASE LIFE PUT THE CUT END OF THE FLOWER IN CLEAN WATER AT 15 0C FOR 4 HRS. ADD 10 ML SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE IN 1 LIT WATER BEFORE PLACING THE FLOWER. FOR LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT CORRUGATED BOX/CARTONS ARE USED. GERBERA DOES’NT NEED COOLING LIKE ROSE OR CARNATION AND HAVE REASONABLY LONG SHELF LIFE. |