Bottle gourd

(Lagenaria siceraria)

1. Introduction:
The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is a very important vegetable crop in India and
belongs to Cucurbitaceae family. The vegetable in green stage and leaves with stem are used
as vegetable. The hard shell of the Bottle Gourd is used for different purpose. Is probably
one of humankind's first domesticated vegetable species, providing food, medicine and a lot
more. It probably originated in Africa.
The name bottle gourd is due to bottle like shape of fruit and its use as a container in
the past. Fruits at tender stage are used as a cooked vegetable and for preparation of sweets
and pickles. Hard shells of mature fruits are used as water jugs, domestic utensils, floats for
fishing nets, etc. As a vegetable it is easily digestible. It has cooling effect and has diuretic
and cardiotonic properties. Fruit pulp is used as an antidote against certain poisons and is
good for controlling constipation, night blindness and cough. A decoction made out of leaf is
taken for curing jaundice. Seeds are used in dropsy.
2. Land selection and preparation:
Plough the field to fine tilth and dig pits of the 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm size at 2.5 x 2
m spacing. The land is ploughed and brought to a fine tilth by 1-2 crosswise ploughing and
levelled. Furrows are opened at a distance of 1.5-2.5 m depending on the support system to
be adopted. Land preparation and sowing are similar to that of ash gourd.
Manuring:
The fertilizer doses to be applied depend on variety, fertility of soil, climate and
season of planting. Generally well decomposed FYM (15-20 t/ha) is mixed with the soil
during ploughing. The recommended dose of fertilizer to be applied per hectare is 50-100 kg
N, 40-60 kg P2O5 and 30-60 kg 25 K2O. Half the N and entire P & K should be applied
before planting. The balance N is given at the time of flowering. The fertilizer is applied in a
ring at 6-7 cm from the base of the stem. It is better to complete all the fertilizer applications
just before the fruit set.

3. Season and climate:

Season:
July and January are suitable for sowing.

Climate:
Bottle gourd requires a minimum temperature of 180C during early growth, but
optimal temperatures are in the range of 24–270C. The crop can tolerate low temperatures,
but extreme cool temperatures will retard growth and frost will kill the plant. The plants are
adapted to a wide variety of rainfall conditions. Bottle gourd tolerates a wide range of soil but
prefers a well-drained sandy loam soil that is rich in organic matter. The optimum soil pH is
6.0–6.7, but plants tolerate alkaline soils up to pH 8.0.
4. Selection of crop/ Variety/Planting material:

Pusa Navven:
Fruits cylindrical, straight and
free from crooked neck. Average
weight 550 g.

Arka Bahar.
Fruits straight without crook
neck medium sized each weighing 1.0
kg at marketable stage, fruit light green
and shining, yield 40-50 t/ha

Pusa Summer Prolific Long:

Long fruits having a length of 40-50
cm
Pusa Summer Prolific Round (PSPR)
Round fruits having a diameter of
15-18 cm

Pusa Meghdoot:
F1 hybrid between PSPL and
Sel.2 Fruits long and light green

CO.1:
 Selection from germplasm type.
 Fruits are with prominent bottleneck
at the top .fruits are pale green in
colour and yields 25-30t/ha

PKM 1:
 It is a induced mutant from H375 with in yield potential of 25t/ha in 135-140 days.
The fruits are extra-long (180-200cm).
Pusa Komal:
 Fruits medium size with oblong shape
and light green skin.
 Tolerant to CMV, early harvest (70
DAS), potential yield 40 t/ha.

Kalyanpur Long Green:

Fruits long with tapering with somewhat
pointed blossom end, yield 30 t/ha in 120 days.

Pusa Manjari:
F1 hybrid between PSPR and Sel.11.
Fruits round and light green.

4.1 Nursery Management:

 In hi-tech horticulture, plant 15 days old healthy seedlings raised in shade net houses.
 Raise the seedlings in protrays having 98 cells or in polythene bags.
  Transplant about 15 day’s old seedlings in the main field.
 The vegetable seed is sown by dibbling method.

Seed treatment:

Normally the seed rate for bottle gourd farming is 3.5 kg to 6 kg/ ha

Spacing:
2.0 to 3.0 m (row to row) x 0.5 to 1.0 m (plant to plant).

5. Water management:
Drip irrigation is most advantageous in the bottle gourd cultivation. The summer crop
requires frequent watering at an interval of 3 to 4 days. The winter crop is irrigated as and
when needed. Usually rainy season crop does not require irrigation.
Drip irrigation:
Install drip system with main and sub-main pipes and place the inline lateral tubes at an
interval of 1.5m. Place the drippers at an interval of 60 cm and 50 cm spacing with 4LPH and
3.5LPH capacities respectively.

6. Integrated nutrient management:

A) Introduction:

Integrated Nutrient Management refers to the maintenance of soil fertility and of plant
nutrient supply at an optimum level for sustaining the desired productivity through
optimization of the benefits from all possible sources of organic, inorganic and biological
components in an integrated manner.

6.1) Organic fertilizers:

 Generally well decomposed FYM (15-20 t/ha) is mixed with the soil during
ploughing.
 Vermicompos 150kg.
 Neem cake 100kg.

6.2) Bio fertilizers:

 (Pseudomonas /Trichoderma/ Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) / Azospirillum).
Seed treatment: One container/ 500gm for an acre of seed (if seed rate is >10 kg. use two
containers.). Soil Application: Mix 1 container (1liter) /5 kg (Solid) in 100 kg of farmyard
manure and cover it for 7 days with polythene. Turn the mixture in every 3-4 days interval
and then broadcast in the field. Foliar Spray: Dilute 1 container in 50 litre of water and spray
to the crop of an acre. Seedling (Root Dipping): Dilute 1 container/500gm in 10 litres of
water, keep the seedling roots immersed condition for 30 minutes and transfer it to the field.

PSB Trichoderma Pseudomonas

Azospirillum

6.3) Chemical Fertilizers:

Recommended Dose: 200:100:100 Kg/ha

Duration Fertilizer Total Fertilizer Nutrient applied % of requirement

Stage Crop stage
in days grade (kg/ha) N P K N P K
19:19:19 26.81 5.00 5.00 5.00 10.00 5.00 10.00
Crop
+ MN 11.00 1.43 - 4.95
1 establishment 10
13-0-45 29.03 13.35 - -
stage
Urea Subtotal 19.78 5.00 9.95
12-61-0 12.28 1.47 7.50 - 30.00 7.50 30.00
Vegetative 13-0-45 66.00 8.58 - 29.70
2 30
stage Urea 109.00 50.14 -
Subtotal 60.19 7.50 29.70
Flower 12-61-0 12.28 1.47 7.50 - 30.00 7.50 20.00
3 initiation to 30 13-0-45 44.00 5.72 - 19.80
first picking Urea 115.00 52.90 - -
 Subtotal 60.09 7.50 19.80
19:19:19 26.31 5.00 5.00 5.00 30.00 5.00 40.00
Harvesting + MN 78.00 10.14 - 35.10
4 45
stage 13-0-45 97.52 44.86 - -
Urea
Total Subtotal 60.00 5.00 40.10
115 days
duration
200.06 24.98 99.35 100 25 100
Total (or) (or)
25.00 100.00

6.4) Specialty fertilizer:

6.4.1) Soil application

DNP-G
Special features:
 DNP is a unique specialist fertilizer consisting of Organic
carbon, Organic Booster like amino acids, Nitrogen fixing
bacteria, Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria and plant
disease controlling fungi Trichoderma viride and also trace
amounts of essential minerals.
Dosage and application
 2-3 bags as basal dose/acre.
 2 bags as top dressing/acre.

PH-50
Special features:
 Improves nutrient uptake and important part of INM
 Provides carbon source for soil microorganisms to multiply
 Promotes vegetative growth and stimulates new root growth
 Promotes flowering and root setting
 Higher yield and better quality of the produce
Dosage and application: 25kg/acre
6.4.2) Foliar application :

Bio- Max
Special features:
 It increases fruit size.
 It stimulates flowering.
 Improves Performance by reducing nutrient
deficiency.
 Improves stress tolerance ability.
 Compatible with all Pesticides and
Insecticides.
Dosage and application:
 Dissolve 3 ml of “Bio Maxx” in 1 liter of
water.
 Spray 20-30days before flowering
 Second spray after fruit set. (I.e. when fruit attains bean size).

6.4.3) Drip application :

Bumper crop kit :

Bumper Crop helps in production superior
crops by providing balanced nutrition in available
form by reducing the disease incidence.
Dosage and application:
 For Drenching: Mix 1 packet in 100 litre of
water and drench the roots of plant for 30
minutes before sowing.
 Drip Irrigation: Mix I packet with 100– 200L of water and apply through Drip
Irrigation.
6.5 Nutritional deficiency symptoms:
1. Nitrogen:
Deficiency Symptoms:
 The leaves are usually light green color,
especially older leaves are yellowish.
 Fruits are short, light green and floral nose
would be huddled in condition.

Management:
 Apply recommended dose of nitrogen at the recommended time.
 Spray 2% urea solution for proper growth and development.
 It increases the fruit production by 15-20
per cent.

Phosphorus:
Deficiency Symptoms:
 They stop at a pale and flabby or they die
early. The body is short and thin. Fruits
are stained dull green and bronze.

 In the months of old leaves, transparent-looking, brown and necrosis are seen petioles
dry.
 The are dark green and dull phosphorus deficiency in watermelon are small.
Occasionally leaves bronze-coloured spots appear on the leaves.

3. Potassium:
Deficiency Symptoms:
 Deficiency results in restricted plant
growth. Small reddish brown spots
develop on leaves. These spots spread
from the leaf tip.
  Interveinal and marginal yellowing of the leaves may also develop in addition to
spotting.
Management:
 Apply basally 30 kg of potassium/ha.
 Spray 0.5 per cent (5 ml/lit.) potassium chloride when the deficiency is noted and
repeat once again after 15 days.
4. Magnesium:
Deficiency Symptoms:
Near the end of the
growing season, older leaves
develop interveinal chlorosis
which initially appears at leaf
margins and progresses inward.
Eventually entire leaves
become necrotic. Because
magnesium deficiency develops
late in the growing season, fruit yield is generally not reduced
significantly.

Management:
 Foliar spraying of 2% MgSO4 twice at fortnightly interval or soil application of
dolomite at 2 ton/ha or magnesium sulphate at 20 kg/ha.

7. Integrated pest management:

Introduction: Integrated pest management (IPM), also known as integrated pest control
(IPC) is a broad-based approach that integrates practices for economic control of pests. IPM
aims to suppress pest populations below the economic injury level (EIL).

Principles of IPM:
 Acceptable pest levels
 Preventive cultural practices
 Monitoring
 Mechanical controls
  Biological control
 Responsible use.
7.1) Insect pests:

1. Mites:

Symptoms of damage:

 Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves.

 Affected leaves curl downward along the margins of the leaf and attain an inverted
boat shape.
 Leaf petioles elongated and small leaves serrated and looks like buncy appearance.
 Leaves turn to dark grey in colour and reduce leaf sheath, stops flowering and
considerable yield reduction.
 In severe cases fruit wall becomes hard and white strips appears on the fruit.

Management:

 Spray Phasalone 3ml/litre (Severe conditions) Or Wettable sulphur 3g/litre of water or

Dicofal 5ml/lit of water
 Encourage the activity of predatory mite: Amblyseius ovalis
 Apply phorate 10 % G @10 kg/ha or spray any one of the following insecticide
 Insecticide Dose Dimethoate 30 % EC 1.0 ml/lit.

2. Aphid:

Symptoms of damage:

 Appear on the tender shoots, leaves and on

the lower surface of the leaves.
 Suck the sap and reduce the vigour of the
plant.
 Secrete sweet substances which attracts ants
and develops sooty mould. The pods that
develop black colour due to sooty mould lose
quality and fetch low price.
 The yields are also reduced by aphids directly and more through the spread of virus
diseases acting as vectors indirectly.
Management:

 Spray with 0.1% Dimethoate or Methyl demeton (2 ml in one litre of water) or 1.5ml
or Acephate (1g in one litre of water)
 Spray with alternate chemicals at 10 days interval till the end of aphid population
checked.
 The winged forms of aphids migrate from one field to another rapidly.
 Hence, spraying is to be done as far as possible within a day or two by all the
cultivators of particular locality.

3. Beetles, fruit flies and caterpillars

Symptoms of damage:

It is serious pest. Females lay eggs below epidermis of young fruits. Later on maggots
feed on pulp afterward fruits starts rotting.

Beetles fruit flies

 Caterpillars

Management:

 Beetles, fruit flies and caterpillars can be controlled by spraying Malathion 50 EC 1

ml/lit. Or Dimethoate 30 EC 1 ml/lit. Or Methyl demeton 25 EC 1 ml/lit.
 Do not use DDT, copper and sulphur dust as these are phytotoxic.

Diseases:
1. Powdery Mildew: Sphaerotheca

fuliginea
Symptoms
 Diseased areas turn brown and dry.
 Fruits remain underdeveloped
 Powdery, whitish, superficial growth on
the growing parts, stems and foliage.
The growth covers the entire area
superficially.

Management:

 Powdery mildew can be controlled by spraying Dinocap 1 ml/lit. Or Carbendazim 0.5

g/lit or Tridemorph l ml/l.
 Ensure proper air circulation
  Aerate the soil before sowing.
2. Downy mildew:
Symptoms:
 Owing to the presence of moisture, the
corresponding lower surface of the
affected leaves have a purplish growth.
 Yellow colored spots appear on the
upper surface of leaves which spread
upto the veins. It gets restricted at the
veins. This gives the leaf a mosaic
appearance.

 The leaves turn necrotic, yellow and ultimately fall off.

Management:

 Downy mildew can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb or Chlorothalonil 2 g/lit.

Twice at 10 days interval.
 While transplanting watermelons ensure that the plants are free of the disease.
 There must be enough air circulation in the crop and the humidity level must be kept
in check.
 Excess irrigation must be avoided- drip irrigation would ensure just enough water in
the soil.

9. Cultural Practices:
Training:
The vines are trained to spread on bowers made from thin coconut rope and bamboo
sticks particularly in rainy season to prevent the fruit from rotting and allowing the vines and
foliage for better exposure to light and air.

10. Harvesting:

Fruits are harvested at tender stage when it grows to one third to half. Fruits attain
edible maturity 10-12 days after anthesis and are judged by pressing on fruit skin and noting
pubescence persisting on skin. At edible maturity seeds are soft. Seeds become hard and flesh
turn coarse and dry during aging. Tender fruits with cylindrical shape are preferred in market.
Harvesting starts 55-60 days after sowing and is done at 3-4 days intervals. While harvesting,
care should be taken to avoid injury to vines as well as to fruits. Plucking of individual fruits
is done with sharp knives by keeping a small part of fruit stalk along with fruit. Average yield
is 20-25 t/ha for open pollinated varieties and 40-50 t/ha for F1 hybrids.

Yield:

The average yield is l00-150q/ha.

11. Post-harvest handling:

Storage:

Fruits can be stored for 3-5 days under cool and moist condition. For export purpose,
fruits are packed in polythene bags and bags are kept in boxes of 50-100 kg capacity.

Marketing:

Small holder farmers are reported to supply fresh market retailers such as Fruit Stop
with fresh green bottle. Gourd are grown on a restricted scale for the commercial curio
market. The main curio items for which they are used for resonating boxes for hand
xylophones and bottle and ladle gourds are decorated with beads.
 Cost of Cultivation and Profitability of Bottel gourd Crop per acre
No. of
Item Cost / unit Total
unit
1.Preparatory tillage
1.1 Ploughing by tractor with (1time)
M.B. plough 4 hour 500 2000
1.2 Ploughing by tractor with (2 times)
cultivator 4 hour 500 2000
1.3 Ploughing by tractor with (1 times)
Rotavator with planting 3 hours 600 1800

2. Layout
2.2 Planting material (3.5 kg
seeds/acre) 3.5 553Rs/kg seeds 2212
2.3 Sowing (4 labours for 1 days) 4 labours 300 1200

4.Manures and fertilizers

3.1 FYM 20t Rs.600/t 12000
3.2 Urea 200kg Rs. 6/kg 1200
3.3 SSP 100kg Rs. 9/kg 900
3.4 MOP 100kg Rs. 15/kg 1500
3.5 DNP-G 150 kg Rs 16/kg 2400
3.6 PH-50 50 kg Rs 70/kg 3500
Amino-G 10 kg Rs 70/kg 700
3.5 Expenditure on manures
application 5 labours Rs. 200/ t of FYM 4000
3.6 Expenditure on fertilizer
application (for 1 day) 4 labours 200 / labour 800
3.7 Neem cake 150 kg 600/bag 1500

5. Intercultural operations
4.1 Weeding (for 1 day) Two times 6 labours 250 1500
4.2 Herbicide 1L 550 550
4.3 Staking 1 6000 6000
6.Irrigation application
5.1 Labour charges (1men for
irrigation of 35 days) 35 200 7000
5.2 Drip water system ( Used for
further) 1 20000 15000
7.Plant protection
6.1 Labour for spraying (3 men per 3 labours 300 900
spray)
6.2 Malathion300ml 1000ml 600 600
6.3 Carbofuran 1000g 600 600
6.4 Pacilomyces lilacinu 1000g 450 450
6.4 Trichoderma viride 2kg 400 800
6.5 Bumper crop kit 1 kit 800 800
6.6 Dithen M 45 500g 500 500
6.7 Thiamethoxam 2 500rs/500gm 1000
6.8 Mancozeb & Metalaxyl 1kg 580rs kg 580
6.9 Carbendazim 1kg 550rs/kg 550
6.10 Ememectin benzate 1kg 1200rs/kg 1200
6.10 Miscellaneous cost 1 3538 3538
7.Harvesting and Marketing
7.1 Harvesting 5 labours 500 2500
7.2 Transportation 2500 2500

Total 83180

Yield / acre 6.5 tonns

Market value/kg 20 rupees
Total Revenue 130000

Profit/loss = Total revenue - total expences

profit 46820

References:
 Agropedia.
 Criyagen Agri App, Banglore.
 ICRISAT.
 TNAU,Portal.
 www.kisan.com.
 UAS,Banglore.
 UAS, dharwad.
 IARI, New delhi.
 IIVR, Varanasi.
 IIHR, Banglore.
 Kisankehati.com
 e agriculture
 Vikas pedia